Sleeping With the Boss(42)

“None of them know.”

“I won’t tell them, but don’t try to play the high and mighty card with me, princess. You’ll lose. Just be her friend. I don’t care what you do. I’ve only heard about your reputation. Nothing more.” He turned and stared at Heather. “I’ll be breaking up with her on Monday. Make sure she’s well looked after. I don’t like the thought of her suffering.”

Ashley nodded her head.

He walked to Heather, kissed her deeply, then escorted her out to his car. When he got her home, he made love to her for the rest of the night. Julian knew he was saying goodbye to her. He didn’t want to, and he wished he could progress to the next stage, but he couldn’t.

All too soon it was Monday. He dropped her off at her house before going to the jewellers he used. The owner had agreed to open the shop for him to pick an item of his choice. Nathan had agreed to find her a position in his company. A well paid one. Julian had made the fatal mistake of falling for an employee. He didn’t want Heather to suffer from him mistake.





Chapter Fifteen





Heather spent the whole Monday morning nervous. Julian appeared at work an hour late. He looked angry, frustrated, and in the mood to break up. She got his coffee and left his office quickly. Her heart was breaking inside. She knew he was going to end it. Heather didn’t know how she knew; she just did.

At lunch everyone began filing out for their break. They sent her smiles and hoped she had a good lunch break. She didn’t think she would.

Ten minutes passed, and then Julian called her in to his office. She got up and walked inside.

“Shut the door,” he said.

She closed the office away and approached his desk.

He handed her a fabric box. She took the box but didn’t open it. Heather felt like she was going to throw up. There was no long speech or anything. Just handing her a box. She wouldn’t accept that. She needed an explanation.

“What the fuck is this?” she asked.

Keep it together, Heather. You’re stronger than this.

She bit her lip to keep the tears at bay.

“I told you how my relationships end, Heather. Consider it my goodbye gift.” He picked his phone up and dialled a number.

What the hell was happening? She didn’t know what to do. This was the strangest break-up she’d ever had to live through. The pain in her heart was hard to take in.

“I see.” She placed the jewellery case back on the desk, and then she turned and walked away. She heard him slam the phone down. He grabbed her before she got the chance to leave his office.

He caught her elbow, dragging her back. When he turned her she was shocked by the emotion on his face. Especially when she knew her own face didn’t have any. She was numb. She felt nothing.

“This is yours. Consider it a token of my affection.” He tried to give her the box, but she refused to take it. That box would mean she accepted being thrown away. She wouldn’t take something with so little meaning.

“You had fun, Julian. Fine. I don’t need some crummy piece of jewellery you got someone else to get for you. I know how this works, remember? I was the person who did it for all your other women.” She pulled her arm out of his grip. “See you around.”

“Wait,” he said.

She turned back to him.

“I’ve got you a position elsewhere. My friend appreciates your experience.”

“I don’t want a job, Julian. I’m done. I gave you my resignation six months ago. I quit. I’ll find other work.”

Heather moved to her desk and collected her things. She’d been expecting this, so she’d cleared out her desk a bit at a time.

He stood watching her. She moved towards the elevator still feeling numb. The tears didn’t come.

She left the building, ignoring any calls to her. Heather walked the short distance to her home. The peace of the walk would help her. She needed to clear her head. What had just happened hadn’t sunk in yet. The love of her life had just dumped her.

A laugh escaped her. She walked up her garden path, unlocked her door, then walked straight into her sitting room. After removing her jacket, she curled up on the couch holding onto the pillow as it was life support. Elijah came down stairs. She heard him but didn’t say anything.

“You’re home early,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Elijah.”

He knelt in front of her. She stared at her brother with his long hair and rebellious tattoos.

“You’re not fine, are you, Heather?”

She shook her head. The first tear began to fall. “No, I’m not fine.” She sobbed. “I’m the furthest from fine.”