niel'

easily swayed b

ever let emotions cloud your judgment. That was how I built my success, how I earne

e first time in years, I f

as Lillian

fficient and professional. I had barely noticed her before, not becaus

y was di

morning of back-to-back meetings, mind-numbing negotiations, and

near the break room, laughing at something a colleague had

e that, I wa

hit me like a pu

ripping the file in my ha

lous, Nathaniel

er dark hair framed her face, or the way she absentmindedly tu

enga

nd, the woman who had been by my side for the past th

Isabelle might as well

ime in my life, I felt

st

who wasn't

without acknowledging anyone. The moment the door shut behind me,

ng. I wasn't going

ce in a sea of workers who came in every morning and

rom the moment I had brushed pas

had parted in surprise when I had accident

wn, that ignoring this

had no

w with certainty, it was this. Natha

rter would be the bigg

Noticing her effortless gra

ded to stop. And I knew ex

e woman I had spent three years building a future with. She was beautiful, sophisticated,

oing to remind myse

s from my assistant, and drove straight to Isabelle's

and we'd spend the evening together, reconnecting. I'd channel every bi

ody had turned into anticipation. I loosened my tie, rak

g up to the front door. I didn't knock. I had a spare key, we were e

n I hea

I knew t

istakable rhythm of bodies moving t

rained from

d to rationalize it, maybe I was imaginin

ine groan. Definitely not mi

. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to turn around

m door, which was ha

bel

fia

anothe

back, her voice breathy and desperate as she whispe

nt, I coul

't bre

rough my chest, she didn't ev

ozen at the doorway, watching my

y, something ins

orward, del

against the hardwood

athless, still tangled in sheets and sin, and wh

ling up, clutching the sheets to

ld, empty and d

t was there

, with panic. I didn't even look

nned to marry. The woman I had just spent the

ony bu

, please,

ound and wa

ord. Not anot

she had just wrecked me. She cal

top. Didn'

haled, shoving a hand through my h

ave been d

ve been f

I felt

ief

sted sense

re was nothing h

ave to restrain

I allowed myself to thin

make the matter beautiful, she was

ust couldn