Page 52 of Consumed By You

“My brother doesn’t date, Darcy. He never has, so I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but you’re living in a fairy tale world if you think he’s going to change.” He shuts the door and strides in, sitting down in the chair in front of my desk. “I don’t blame you for getting caught in his web. I mean, he’s your boss, he has money, and—”

I glare at him in shock. “I’d never be with him for his money, Alex.”

“All women say that. They don’t mean it.” He shakes his head. “So you were just gonna go after both of us? Is that your game?”

“I never said I was going to be with you, Alex.”

“You sure fucking made it seem like it in Seattle! You told me to call you.” He crosses his arms and leans back. I don’t understand the look of betrayal in his eyes.

“I was drunk and upset. I like you. You’re an amazing guy, but—”

“This is exactly why I don’t try to form serious relationships. Something always happens to destroy my faith in them.” He stands, shaking his head angrily. “I’ll see you later.”

“Alex, I don’t understand—”

He yanks opens the door but falls back a step when he notices Benjamin leaning against the wall, his head down. Alexander storms past him into the hallway.

Benjamin doesn’t say anything to me. He just stands straight and goes back into his office, while my mind struggles to comprehend what just happened.

I force myself out of my office to Benjamin’s double doors. I take a deep breath and knock softly.

“Come in.”

I open the door slowly and see him standing, staring out the window. His suit jacket is gone now.

“None of that was what you think, Benjamin.”

“I think it’s exactly what I think.” His voice is eerily quiet.

“And that is?”

“I think you do this a lot.” He exhales loudly, finally turning to look at me with fiery loathing in his eyes. “Tell me, if I hadn’t given into this fucking charade of a relationship, how long would it have taken you to run to my brother? What is it? Status? Money? Is it sex that makes you do this?”

“Excuse me?” I gasp, taking a step back. “You know what? I never told your brother I was ever even interested in him.Hehit onme!”

“I just fired my best employee in the finance department because I heard him talking about what happened in the break room. You had me completely fooled. Honestly.”

I’m out of breath. My knees are aching I’m so rigid.

“You know I’m not after your money or status! How could you even say that?”

“You did a fantastic job, and now,” he chuckles darkly, “you can get out. You’re fired. Effective immediately.”

“B-Ben—” I stutter, stunned.

“It’s Mr. Scott to you. Get out. I will have Dimitri drop your luggage off later tonight.” He dismisses me and sits, picking up paperwork.

I spin around, feeling as if someone’s suffocating me. I need to get out of here.

I grip the door handle so I can control myself enough to say one last thing to him. “This is you. Afraid. Afraid of what you feel for me, and that’s why you’re doing this! You know how much I care about you, but you’re too much of a coward to just fucking accept your feelings! I’ve neveroncemadeanyindication that I wanted anything out of this relationship except you. You were all I wanted.” My vision is blurred by the scalding tears in my eyes.

I’m staring at him but he refuses to look up at me.

Whatever. It doesn’t matter.

I open the door and shut it quietly. As soon as I close my office door, my entire body starts to tremble, tears flooding down my cheeks. I look around the office in a daze. I don’t even have anything that belongs to me. I just need to get out of here.

I snatch my purse from the drawer, and with one last glimpse around, close the door, not bothering a second glance in the direction of my former boss’s office.