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Megan wasn’t sure what to say to that. “I can imagine that you’re upset. But I think you have to take her seriously.”

“I’m asking you to back off. Plain and simple. That’s something I’m serious about.”

“I hear you, but what if I can’t do that?”

“Then I’d say you’re dishonorable because you’d be ruining her life. I mean that sincerely and with no malice. Help her find her way back to herself.”

Megan hesitated, staring at her desk before raising her gaze back to his. “Look, I think we’re both insane if we think this is our decision and not hers. I know that you’re hurting, and I get that this is hard.”

“You forgot fucking embarrassing.” He looked up at the ceiling, uncomfortable. “She left me, and people are starting to realize it.”

Ah, yes. The Carmichael reputation. “I think this is probably a conversation for you to have with Ally, not me.”

“Oh, so it’sAllynow? We’re there?” he scoffed.

“Brent.”

“Don’t.” He stood. “I’ve never had anything against you. You’ve always been a stand-up person, respected in business, and fun around a punch bowl. But this is different.” He was getting a little loud. “This is my life. So you think long and hard.”

Was that a threat? This wasn’t like him. But he was desperate and grasping at straws. “Or what?”

“Or you’ll leave lasting damage.” His shoulders sagged. He held up a hand and let it drop. Defeated. “You can have nearly any woman you want. Why this one? You’ll go on with your life when it ends, and hers will be in shambles. Do something before that happens, Megan.”

“I have no intention of hurting Allison. We’ve been very clear with each other.”

“Are you sure you haven’t already?” The question hung in the air, unanswered. He buttoned his jacket. “I’ll see myself out.” Moments after he excused himself from her office, Kelsey appeared, wide-eyed.

“Hey, you okay?”

“I’m okay.” She was rattled, though. That was for sure. She exhaled slowly and gripped the edge of her desk. “It could have gone a lot worse.”

“He didn’t go all Gaston on you?”

Megan laughed because the Disney comparison to Brent wasn’t inaccurate. “I didn’t say that. But he held his temper for the most part, and we had a civil, if strained, conversation. I think the guy’s starting to realize that she might be serious.”

“Is she? And where’s your head?”

“God, K.” She frowned and took a seat. “I need to tread carefully here. While part of me wants to grab Allison’s hand and run off into the sunset, it’s entirely premature. We’re still getting to know each other. If anything, this has reminded me that there are factors beyond my control at play. And they could come back to bite me if I’m not careful.”

“Don’t you dare run scared. That’s not who you are.”

She smiled. “It’s not typically, no. But it feels like there’s a lot on the line.”

“Good things are worth the price tag they come with. You don’t pick up a Chanel bag for ten dollars for a reason.”

She softened and reflected. “I do like Chanel.”

“We all do. So work for it.”

A pause. “She’s coming over tonight. Big night.”

“The plot thickens.” Kelsey raised an eyebrow, tapped the doorframe, and pointed at Megan. “Stay the course. Find your Chanel happiness like you damn well deserve. Shut out the rest of the noise.”

But alone in her office, Megan heard Brent’s words over and over again in her head:You’ll leave lasting damage.

The question was, damage to who? She had a sneaking suspicion she might be standing in front of a speeding train. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair as a sinking feeling came over her because the reality of her situation was getting harder and harder to ignore.

Chapter Twelve