Page 80 of The Surrender

He waves a finger between us. “What, like me and you?”

“Yes.”

“We’re not public?”

“Not at my workplace, no.” Nor with my ex, but, surprisingly, we’re both in agreement on that.

“Well, that’s becoming obvious,” he mutters. “Why haven’t you shared our relationship with anyone here?”

“My private life is my private life. No one here needs to know about it. Or theydidn’tneed to know. I can’t take your portfolio on, Jude. It’s a conflict and would be frowned upon.”

“That’s stupid.”

“It’s just how it is.”

“Well, I’m here now.”

“Yes, you are,” I say shortly. “And now I have to figure out how to handle this so no one thinks I’m sleeping with you for your money.” I flash him a sarcastic smile. “Ironic, huh?”

He gives me a tired expression. “Quite.”

“Why can’t you stay with your current adviser?”

“He’s moving abroad and has passed me off to one of his replacements. We don’t jell.”

“Then I’ll recommend to Gary that one of the senior partners takes you on.”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

“Can I have a kiss?”

“No. Leave.”

He blinks, injured. “This isn’t going how I expected.”

“What do you want me to do, Jude? You’ve put me in a really difficult situation, and now I have to figure out how I’m going to get out of it with my integrity intact.”

“Are you saying no one can ever know about us?”

“Did you hear me say that? Until you stormed my workplace, people knowing about us wouldn’t have been an issue, but then you went and arranged a meeting with me to discuss your financial affairs, and suddenly I find myself in a situation where my integrity and business practice could be put under the microscope.” I lean closer, getting more and more worked up. “I’m on the cusp of making partner, Jude. I’ve worked my arse off for this, and you’ve just swooped in and potentially shat all over my progress because you had a large dose of possessiveness.”

He’s silent, clearly thinking of what he should say to that. There’s nothing he can say.

“Just go,” I breathe, motioning to the door. I’m surprised when he slowly rises, no question.

“I’ll see you after work.” It’s not a statement, more a question. I don’t like this uncertainty on him, but I need him to know that any interference with my career is a hard no.

“I have things to do.”

He withdraws, stung. “Like . . . ?”

“Apartment stuff.”Translated: I need some breathing space from you.And I know Jude’s concluded that too.

“Right,” he says, nodding mildly, chewing the corner of his lip in contemplation as I look at him with an unwavering, steely gaze. He reads that well too. “So when am I seeing you next?”

“I’ll call you.”