Page 88 of A Billion Dollar Romance

“Now, though, youdoneed to take responsibility.”

“I know,” I said, and she nodded. “I’m trying. I know it means a lot to you, so I’m trying.” I sighed. “I won’t let Verity down.”

It was quiet for a long moment, and then–“Verity, James?”

“Yes. I know all that I’ve done is unforgivable, but I–I want to be a better steward of the company, to be better for Verity, the employees, everyone who relies on me–”

“James,” Alice said, sinking into one of the chairs on the far side of the desk. “Oh, James. I don’t mean Verity, you silly boy.”

“What?”

“I meant Edie.”

I stiffened. “I’m sorry, Alice. I know you like Edie, but…” I wasn’t sure how to phrase it. “Edie is fine. She doesn’t need me.”

Better than fine. She’d have a book deal, soon enough. A splashy debut. Ripped from the headlines. She’d publish it under her pen name, with nobody the wiser. My lips twisted.

“That may be true, although I’m not so sure,” Alice said, seriously. “But you need her.”

I closed my eyes for a moment. She was right. Or at least–I used to.

I’d thought I needed Edie, as part of my life of enough: my friends, my company, and her.

“No, Alice,” I said. “I don’t. You were right all along. She was just playing my silly game, after all.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. Maybe you don’t recognize it–it’s been a while, hasn’t it,” Alice sniffed, “but that girl loves you.”

I thought of the book Edie’d written. Hersecret project.

Her romance.

I’d only read the first chapter before I called Samantha. I hadn’t known what else to do. She’d been surprised to hear from me, and even more surprised when I explained what had happened, but as I read aloud over the phone, she’d stopped me, said, “You’re saying Edie wrote this?”

“That’s right,” I’d said.

“James, you know what this is, don’t you?” she’d asked, and I’d felt the pit in my stomach yawn wider, even as I agreed.

I’d stayed up all night reading it, promising to give it to Samantha the next morning. I’d finished it somewhere around one am, and read it again, searching for meaning. For clues.

But had she felt it?It was the question that had been keeping me up at night, afraid I’d done the wrong thing, sending her away.Had she felt it? Or was she justthat good–

“That girl loves you, James,” Alice said, as if reading my mind. She straightened up in her chair. “And you’re damn close to ruining that, too. So if you want to take responsibility for something… I suggest you start with her. Verity will keep. It has so far. Now if you’ll excuse me,” she said, standing up from her seat primly. “I have my duties to attend to. As do you, I believe,” she added, nodding at me.

I nodded back.

“Shall I cancel your ten o’clock, sir?”

“Yes, Alice, thank you.”

“And the eleven?”

I smiled.

CHAPTER43

Edie

I spent all morning pacing.