Page 86 of Best Kept Vows

A ripple of laughter went through the room. As HR leader, she always admonished us when we swore.

Elliot arched a brow, his stare dripping with disdain. “I got to say, if you couldn’t do it, how the fuck—sorry, Stacy—how the fuck does Bryce think he’s going to?”

Marek let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Bryce has an ego big enough to fit Enmarket Arena.”

Elliot shook his head. “Jesus Christ.”

A sharp knock sounded at the door, and Bryce walked in like he already owned the place. Perfect timing, I thought as Elliot muttered, “Speaking of ego.”

Bryce looked obnoxiously pleased with himself. His Brioni suit was crisply pressed, and his Rolex caught the light as he made a show of checking the time.

“So.” His voice dripped with smugness. “I hear I have some big shoes to fill.”

Morse snorted. “You mean the ones you wouldn’t be able to walk in without breaking your fucking ankle?”

I smirked, but I didn’t engage. Bryce wasn’t worth my energy.

“I hope you’re ready for the challenge, Bryce.” Marek clapped him on the shoulder as I walked to the door. “Because you’re going to be doin’ it alone.”

Bryce blinked. “What do you mean?”

David stood, buttoning his jacket. “We’re all leaving.”

Bryce visibly stiffened. “What?”

Elliot stretched, cracking his neck. “I’m giving my notice as of now.”

Stacy, ever the professional, stood with a polite smile. “I’ll stay on for two weeks to process all these exits. But that’s it.”

Marek grinned and joined me at the door. “You have fun, buddy,” he threw over his shoulder at Bryce.

Bryce looked stunned. Then furious. “Are you serious? You’re all fucking leaving?”

“Good luck, Bryce,” Morse chirped. “You’re going to need it.”

I walked out, my team following, and with every step, I felt lighter. By the time I reached my car, I felt like a Goddamn king.

CHAPTER 29

Ophelia

“It’s done,” Sebastian told me over the phone.

He was driving to the house, and that didn’t feel right to me. I didn’t want him to be alone. “Ah…come here.”

“Here?”

“To Savannah Lace. Ah…we can have lunch at the cafeteria, and you can stay at my place.”

I heard his soft laugh. “You taking care of me, baby?”

I made a face he couldn’t see. “Maybe.”

“I like it,” he said huskily. “I like it a lot.”

“How do you feel?” I asked tentatively.

“Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” he remarked without hesitation. “I just let go of the thing that had been sucking the life out of me, and I feel fuckin’ amazing.”