Sleeping With the Boss(43)

He caught her in his arms. She let him hold her. It was the first time she’d ever cuddled her brother. All the other times she’d pushed him away.

“He dumped me, Elijah. He was going to give a piece of jewellery as a thank you.” She let it all out. The pain and suffering. The love she felt for him. How was she going to move on with her life after everything that had happened? “You were right. I was nothing but a sex toy to him. A living, breathing slave who’d do anything for his attention.”

Elijah stroked her hair. She appreciated the comfort he offered. For once she wanted to be held by her brother.

“You meant more than that,” he said.

“How do you know? If I meant more to him then why did he throw me away like the others?” She rubbed her nose.

“Because a man like Julian doesn’t keep a woman in his life for six months then ditch her. I saw the way he looked at you. You were more than a fuck-bag, Heather. He loved you very deeply.”

“Well that makes everything worse. He doesn’t even want to fight his doubts. This hurts too much.” Heather watched him reach for his mobile, which lay on the coffee table. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Getting your friends. You need them right now.”

She listened to him talk to her friends. Heather wondered how he managed to get her friends’ numbers. In minutes he threw the phone to the other end of the room. “They’ll be here soon.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“I’m not leaving you. They’ll bring the ice-cream, but I’m never leaving you again.”

“Why, Elijah? I thought you hated me?”

“You were the one always pushing me away, Heather. I figured you’d work out your own issues.” He stroked her hair.

“Mom and dad have always preferred you. No matter what I do, you’re their favourite,” she said, admitting to the jealousy she’d kept buried deep.

“Not my problem. I don’t expect us to get over our problems today or even in a week. We’ve got rivalry between us to last us a millennium, but I’m still your brother. If I wasn’t worried about you so much, I’d go and kick his ass.”

She chuckled, resting her head on his chest. Their problems as siblings were not solved. That would take time. At least they could push them aside in order to be together now. She didn’t know how she’d cope without Elijah at that moment. Her heart was breaking. She’d walked out on the man she loved without trying to fight for him.

“Come on, you need a shower and some pajamas. This is going to take some time. Go and wash, and I’ll make you a cup of tea.” He pushed her up the stairs.

Heather went willingly. There was nothing she wanted more than a hot bath to wash away the pain. At least it would be second best to Julian.

****

Julian stood in shock. She was the first woman to refuse his gift. He opened the case and looked at the heart-shaped pendant he’d purchased for her. This was the first gift where he’d spent all the time picking out. He wanted her to remember him. He wanted her to have a piece of him on her at all times.

Instead of chasing her out of the office into the street he went back into his office. He sat down feeling raw. His eyes hurt. The knot in his throat was unbearable. Julian put his head in his hands trying to fight the pain.

He lost.

The tears sprang to his eyes, and the sob in his throat escaped. He’d done it. He’d broken up with a woman he loved more than anything else in the world. Rubbing his chest, he tried to stop the pain. Nothing happened.

He stared at the fabric box he’d given her, then opened his drawer. There in the bottom of his drawer lay the small square box. When he’d seen the ring he knew it would be perfect for Heather. Without thinking he’d purchased the ring.

“Who is the lucky lady, sir?” the owner had asked.

“What?”

“You’ve just bought an engagement ring.”

The revelation of his choice had shocked him. He hadn’t wanted to put it back.

Now, sitting here, he realised he’d made a big fucking mistake. Julian wanted Heather to be his woman for the rest of his life. He didn’t want another man to claim her for his own.

Julian got out of his office chair and made his way out of his building. He knew he needed to get to Heather, to his woman. The elevator doors pinged open into the parking lot. Julian made his way over to his car and stopped when he saw three angry women. Ashley, Amber, and Connie. He knew they wouldn’t be able to get into the building, but the parking lot was easily accessible to anyone off the street.

“We did warn you that we’d come and hurt you if you hurt her,” Ashley said. Even the threat of knowing about her reputation wasn’t enough to stop her from helping her friend. Julian admired her for it.