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She got a hint of a smile at that. “I’m glad.”
“You can’t leave. Schultz needs you.” He reached out and gently lifted her chin to get her to look him in the eyes. “I need you.”
“Kurt—” She paused at her mistake, then pushed his hand away. “See, I can’t even call you the right name. Your real name. I didn’t fall in love with Sebastian Schultz, and it feels wrong to call you that.”
He rounded the desk and moved toward her. “Love?”
Her cheeks immediately colored.
“You love me?” His heart warmed as he stepped closer.
“No.” She angled away from him. “I loved the man I thought you were. But that’s not who you are. I don’t even know you at all.”
“You do know me, Gen.” He stepped into her personal space and raised his hand to touch her cheek.
She tilted her face to the side, but not completely away from him. “I told you not to call me that,” she whispered.
“I fell for you too, you know.”
Her eyes met his, and though she was hurt and angry, he could see the love there. Everything around them faded away as he leaned in, longing to press his lips to hers, to show her how much he loved her.
“No.” She shook her head and pushed against him at the last second. “Stop. This is too confusing.”
His soul ached with disappointment as he stepped back, giving her the space she asked for.
“Please accept my resignation and leave me alone.”
She flew out of the office, taking his heart with her, and he sank into the nearest chair. He’d never felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest before, but he had to believe this is what it would feel like. The ache was excruciating. Her absence was devastating. He wasn’t sure if there was anything he could do to make her understand.
TWENTY-FOUR
After years at her former employer, she had felt no remorse at all when she finally left and moved on to a new job. But only two months had passed since she’d stepped into the Schultz building, and leaving now gutted her. The work had been wonderful and challenging, the people kind and welcoming, and she loved feeling like she was truly a part of a family and that the work she was doing actually meant something.
How could I have been so stupid?
As her final day at Schultz Chocolate was coming to a close, she gathered her belongings. Not that she had much there to gather. She took the little name plate from her desk and placed it in a box along with a couple frames containing pictures of her family and Charisma.
“I can’t believe you’re actually leaving.”
Genevieve was surprised to see Skylar standing before her with arms crossed over her chest. It was the first time she’d seen her since the regatta. She had kept to herself since giving Sebastian her notice, quietly serving her time until her two weeks were up. It had probably been foolish to think she could get out of there without seeing a Schultz.
“Yeah.” It was all she could say at the moment.
Skylar entered the room and closed the door behind her, glancing around the large office. “You sure you want to leave all this?”
Genevieve nodded and continued putting a few more things in the box.
“You can tell me what you really think of me,” Skylar said. “I can take it.”
Genevieve looked up at her then. “I feel very betrayed. By all of you. And I have to go because I don’t think I can trust you. Any of you.”
“May I tell you a story before you go?” She raised her eyebrows questioningly. “I think it will help you to understand.”
Her chest was tight, as if she might cry again, and she did not want to do that in front of Sebastian’s sister, a woman who she had thought was her friend.
Skylar took a seat in the chair across the desk, and Genevieve sat down in her desk chair.
“Bash has earned a reputation of being distant and cold for a reason. He’s kept people at arm’s length, especially women, because he’s been burned in the past. More than once. When he loves, he loves with his whole heart, as I’m sure you know.”