His unabashed flirtation made sense now. He was laying everything on the line. Why not? He would be gone soon. Gone because of Hudson.
God, my head hurt. I sighed and threw a glance at David. “You don’t have a big crush on me.”
“You’re right. I’m totally in love with you.”
The wind left my lungs. I had to stand up and walk away, putting distance between us. The man I’d moved in with hadn’t even told me he loved me. And he’d gone and betrayed me so deeply. What was I even doing with Hudson? Was I crazy? Should I be running away with David?
The answer was, of course, no. No matter how much David felt for me, it didn’t make up for how much I felt for Hudson. Even after what he’d done.
Thank god, I didn’t have to say it out loud.
“I get it,” David said. “I just really needed you to know how I feel before I go.”
I turned back to face him.
“And now you realize that I really have to do this. I can’t stay here with you. And Adora…”
I nodded. I got it, too.
“But I’m only a phone call away. You can dial me up anytime you need anything. Like, if you have questions about The Sky Launch, or if you want to hear my voice.”
I leaned against the desk, my hands gripping the edging. “Did he tell you who was taking your place?”
“He hinted. We both know it’s you.” He leveled his stare at me. “Come on, we knew it was coming the minute you started seeing him.”
“No, I didn’t know it was coming. I really didn’t.” My relationship with Hudson had been complicated from the beginning, surprising at every turn. Still, in my wildest dreams, I had never imagined his intention was to put the club in my hands. I would have been far less shocked if he’d wanted me stowed away in his penthouse, barefoot and pregnant. And that was a pretty shocking idea in itself.
“I’m not saying it’s unwarranted. You deserve to run the club. Truly.”
David’s sincerity was touching. It also made me all the more pissed at Hudson. Even though David was happy about the promotion, even though it probably was for the best that he moved on elsewhere, away from me—it still wasn’t right how the situation had been handled. I’d been lied to and misled.
I had to go confront him. I straightened, tugging my dress into place. “Hey, I just remembered that I need to stop and pick up the new sample menu design.”
“I thought Graphic Front was emailing it.”
My mind was so unsettled I couldn’t get my excuses right. “They are. I mean, they did.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “I want to see it printed. Feel the weight and all that. Anyway, I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
David smiled. “I’m really not the one you report to anymore.”
I looked away, hiding my wince.
“Hug it out?”
This time I didn’t decline. I stepped into his embrace, finding it warmer than I remembered. “Thank you, David. For everything.” I buried my head in his shoulder. I wasn’t going to cry—I was too mad for that—but I did feel a burst of affection.
I stepped back before he took it the wrong way, before I got swept away with the need to be comforted. “And congratulations. I’m glad things are working out for you.”
I texted Jordan to pick me up. Then I grabbed my bag and pulled all my rage and heartache inside myself, holding the emotions in the pit of my stomach. Saving them for Hudson.
Chapter Eighteen
When I stepped out of the elevator at Pierce Industries, I didn’t even stop to check in with Trish, Hudson’s secretary, before I rushed into his office.
“Ms. Withers!” Trish followed after me.
Hudson sat behind his sleek black desk, the phone cradled between his cheek and his shoulder with his fingers perched on his keyboard. He glanced first at me then behind me at Trish. “Hold on a moment, Landon,” he said into the receiver.
He pushed the hold button. “It’s okay, Patricia.”
I didn’t wait for the click of the door to shut behind Trish as she left. “Finish your phone call and meet me in the loft.” I was heading for the elevator at the back of the office. “And so you know, we’re gonna fight.”
The private elevator went to Hudson’s loft—the bachelor pad where he and I had spent many of our first sexual encounters. I hadn’t been back there since he’d invited me to the penthouse, and while I would have expected a rush of nostalgia, I felt nothing but betrayal and rage.
In the loft, I only had time to throw my bag on the couch before the elevator returned with Hudson. He stepped into the loft, located me pacing, and took a seat in an armchair, his attention completely focused on me.