“It wasn’t like that,” she countered. “My plans only gave me the courage to go after what I wanted. I didn’t wake up one morning and decide I should milk my last month for all it was worth. It wasn’t me just looking for some cheap thrill.”
“Much like our employment contract, our sexual relationship was predicated on the notion that we both wanted to be together. The first has changed for you, the latter for me. We are done here, Allison.”
She flinched at the sound of her full name on his lips. “I don’t want to be done,” she said. “Just because I’m getting a different job doesn’t mean I care for you any less. If you’d think about this logically for a moment you’d see the two aren’t connected at all. We can still be together even if I don’t come into this office every day.”
A cruel smile curved his lips. “I am being logical. A man in my position needs to be able to have a certain level of trust with his partners. You’ve been lying to me for weeks. I’m better off without you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Don’t I?” He took a step forward. “I daresay it will be even easier to replace you in the bedroom than it will be in the office.”
The blow forced her back. “Don’t cheapen what we had.”
“And what exactly was that?” he demanded, stalking closer. “A few nights of pleasure while you got in your kicks sleeping with the boss.”
“It was far more.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” She stopped retreating, lifting her chin as he advanced on her.
“Did you start to care?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Did you want more?” He was a step from her.
“Every day.”
He stopped before her, forcing her to tilt her head back to meet his hard gaze.
Darian leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. “Did you fall in love with me?”
Her breath froze in her chest. What could she say? She knew a trap when she saw one. Telling the truth would only end badly.
Yet how could she not? If this was the last conversation they ever had, she didn’t want to regret not fighting for him with everything she had.
He leaned back enough to meet her gaze. Staring into his blue eyes, only one word rose to her lips.
“Yes.”
His fingers lifted, ghosting over her cheek as if in a caress he couldn’t bring himself to make. Allison held her breath, waiting for his response as her heart beat in painful hope.
“What a shame.”
His hand dropped as he stepped past her.
The breath left her in a whoosh. She stared unseeing at the office as her brain tried to interpret what had happened.
Woodenly, she turned to find her lover by his desk.
“HR will forward you your pay,” he said, writing a note on a pad of paper. “Gillian can conduct the rest of your replacement interviews.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“Would you like to argue whether you are entitled to any of your end-of-year bonus?” he asked, his tone bored. “I’d have to check with the legal department.”
“I don’t give a damn about that,” she replied. “What I care about is you.”
“Yes, your desertion makes that clear.”
“Stop being childish, Darian. We are more than just colleagues who sleep together and you know it. Don’t let this ruin what we have outside the office. Please.”
He turned his gaze back to her, crossing his arms over his chest. “Did I or did I not make it very clear I was not interested in a real relationship?”
“News flash: whether you like it or not, you’re in one.” She marched closer. “We spend most of our waking hours together and a hell of a lot of the sleeping ones, too. We exclusively sleep together, share meals together, watch movies together. We tell each other things we wouldn’t mention to anyone else. Sounds like dating to me.”
“Then you’re mistaken.”
“You are so willing to face facts in your business world, yet so scared of them in your personal life. You don’t have to be scared to care about me, Darian.”
“You’re seeing what isn’t there.”
“The hell I am. Admit it, King. I wasn’t the only one falling here.”
He turned back to his desk. “I’ll speak with HR and get you that bonus. If there’s nothing else, I think you should leave now.”
She stamped her foot in frustration. “This isn’t a problem you can throw money at,” she cried. “I know that’s all you understand. It’s your answer for dealing with any emotional situation involving someone close to you.”