Page 82 of Accidental Groom

“I tried to leave in time,” I say gently. “I did. But I wasn’t just in Switzerland because of planning issues. I wanted to meet with a few of the board members and they didn’t get in until first thing this morning, and I didn’t have enough time to do both?—”

“Then you should have left it?—”

“—I wanted to speak to them aboutyou.”

Her mouth closes, her brows knitting together as she looks down at me.

“I pitched a restructuring of the global events division of the business. It’s not strong right now, it’s been neglected foryears, and with the new location opening soon, it would make sense to reignite it. And I want you to run it.”

She blinks at me, her eyes blowing wide. “What?”

“I want you to head the events division of Highcourt Hotels,” I repeat. “Every single resort. Every brand launch, every gala, every grand opening. All of it. Starting with Switzerland, if you want it.”

Her breath stutters on an exhale, and I swear I canseethe gears turning behind her eyes. Surprise, doubt, a flicker of something else, too — hope, maybe. But then it dims again. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to decide right now,” I say gently, giving her thighs a gentle squeeze. “But I mean it. You’ve got more talent in your little finger than most of my existing team.”

She swallows, her hands tightening in the blanket. “I still work for my family.”

“And you’ve done a fantastic job for them, but they don’t treat you like they should,” I say simply. “I would.”

I let my hands drag up to her hips, just holding her over her clothes, my thumbs tracing soothing little patterns over the fabric.

“You deserve something that’s yours,” I add.

Elena presses her lips together, her eyes going a little glassy. “That’s a really big offer, Harry.”

“I know.”

She nods, slowly, carefully. “Thank you.”

I purse my lips and push up to my feet again, taking a deep breath. “I’m going to make something to eat,” I say, giving myself a reason to step away, to give her some time to think about this on her own without me looming over her. I press a kiss to her temple, just quickly, soft and simple. It’s the kind of kiss that I hope says that I’m still here, even when I’m not very good at saying it out loud.

But she doesn’t lean into it. She doesn’t lift her chin like she used to, doesn’t breathe me in.

She just sits there.

Rejection simmers in my blood immediately, up from my stomach and thrust outward at all angles into my chest. I push it down, but it’s there, refusing to be ignored.

I know I fucked up. I’m aware. Butthis?This feels like more than that.

Maybe George had a point. Maybe I do need to ask who Ross is. Maybe I need to figure that out for myself.

Chapter 29

Elena

The rain starts just after noon. I watch it from the window in the upstairs office of the cottage, sheets of water streaking over the glass. It’s not a soft, gentle drizzle that softens the world and makes you want to curl up with a book or in someone's lap — it’srelentless, cold, and loud. It batters the roof like it has a point to make.

I stare down at my phone, my brain running a million miles an hour. The rain’s too heavy to distract me. I need something else.

Sarah answers on the second ring, her voice bright and chirpy despite the weather. “Hey, El! Did you fall off the face of the Earth or just into one of those massive piles of money your husband keeps around?”

I snort. “He doesn’t have massive piles of money.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” she says, and I canhearthe grin in it. “I swear you’re getting one of those old-money accents. Has to be the piles of money influencing you.”

I smile despite myself. “I do not.”