Chapter 9

I did the right thing, of that I was sure. And, besides, it didn’t matter. The past was past, dammit. I had no choice but to put up with it and move on, as I had been doing all my disastrous life.

I took a deep breath, over and over again, and forced myself to rebuild. I was a businesswoman with a juicy proposal. I was not a dreamy girl who trembled in the presence of tonight’s irresistible protagonist.

I can do it. I can go up to him, say hello, and tell him that I’m not going to tolerate him pushing me away. That five years had passed, that we were both adults and that he was going to have to listen to me.

Clear. Direct. Straight to the point.

Good. I can handle it. No problem.

I took a step toward him, followed by another.

I straightened up and flashed the professional smile on my face that I had honed over the five long years I had worked for the CEO of Dermont