Chapter 80 Chapter 80
I picked it up and continued reading.
“Sorry, I know I said I never wanted to see you or your shadow for the rest of my life, but it was the only way I could protect myself and my heart. Since it happened, I have never allowed anyone else to touch me, only you, and I’ll die knowing that. You act like an arrogant asshole; you’re domineering and cold, but underneath all of that, you’re a man, you’re human, and you have a heart. When you asked me to marry you, for one second I allowed myself to think if it could be real, but we were from different worlds. I knew you cared about me, but I realized you loved me. The day I asked you to leave was the day I realized it. When I told you to leave, you did. If I asked you not to touch me, you didn't. You gave me my way. You started falling for me before either of us realized it, and I guess I was falling for you before I knew it. Don't let my death consume you, please. Just keep those memories of me and continue living. I loved you; I really did, and if there was another way, then after everything, I would have come to you. See you in another life, Rhyland. Love, Tessa.”
I dropped the letter; she loved me. She actually loved me. I pulled one of my shirts out and smelled it; it really did smell like her. I pulled out the white one and saw the faint lipstick mark on it. At the bottom was a ring box. All the rings I gave her were in it. There was something else. A square package wrapped in brown paper.
I picked it up and turned it over. There was a sticky note on it.
“This is for you, so you can remember me.”
I unwrapped it carefully; it was a picture frame. I turned it over, and my breath just... stopped. It was her. In a way I had never seen her before. It was a small slice of time trapped behind glass that I couldn't look away from.
She was sitting in a chair, looking way more relaxed than I’ve ever seen her. She was wearing a strappy black dress, the kind that looked simple but probably cost a fortune, and it made her skin pop against the dark fabric.
Her hands were tucked right under her chin, propping her up like she hadn't got a single worry in the world, her hair. It’s that reddish-brown color that looked like it was glowing even though the room was dim. Her hair was messy but in a way that actually worked, spilling over her shoulders while she just... smiled.
It wasn’t one of those fake smiles she gave me. It was real. Looking at it felt surreal.
The girl in the frame looked so light, untouched by the mess that was her life. I ran a thumb over the edge of the wood, feeling the grain, and for a second, I almost expected her to blink or say something. But she stayed still, just sitting there in her black dress, smiling back at me while I was stuck here trying to figure out how to continue living knowing she was gone.
I kept staring at it; her smile was what I was staring at. She looked so happy and carefree, and she looked so happy. I picked up my phone and texted Jax. A few minutes later he came out to the balcony.
“Boss?” he asked.
“24x36. “Two copies of this,” I said, handing him the picture. He took it from me carefully.
“Have it laminated and framed for me,” I said.
“I’ll have it done, boss. I’ll make an extra copy in a small size. Where should I put it?” he asked in a tone I had never heard before.
“The large one, the living room, and my room. The small ones in both offices.”
“Okay, boss,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said, which was something I had never said. He didn't reply; he just nodded and left as silently as he came. I sat there and drained the last of my scotch before going to bed.
Month two
I was in my office staring at the picture on my desk. Her picture, her smiling face. It’s been two months since she’s been gone. The minute you walked into my apartment and into the living room, her picture was right there. When my parents came over, they saw it but didn't say anything. Family dinner was quiet; they didn't try to force me to talk, they just gave me space.
Avani tried meeting me, but I had them turn her away. She was currently in Manhattan; a few weeks ago, Joe reported she lost the child due to some accident. Now she was back in Manhattan and still partying like there was no tomorrow.
Six months. It’s been six months since she’s been gone, and in month three I hit rock bottom; I was at the lowest I had ever been. I accidentally saw a girl that looked like her, and guilt and regret instantly filled me. That alone caused me to drink for an entire week; I just stayed in the apartment and drank myself into a stupor, and they just let me. After the guilt and regret subsided, I pulled myself together and got back to work.
It was Monday morning, and the boardroom felt like a tomb before the team even walked in.
I didn’t even look up when the doors opened. My eyes were locked on the projected spreadsheets. The red numbers needed to be black by the end of the hour.
Four people entered. I heard the click of heels and the scuff of dress shoes, but I didn't acknowledge them until the lead reached the chair directly across from mine.
I looked up. My face was a mask of cold stone. I didn't see a woman; I saw a representative of Normad Global.
"Sit," I said. One word. No. "Good morning." No "Welcome to Rhyland Global."
She sat, and her team followed suit, opening laptops with practiced precision.
"The valuation," she said, her voice steady. "We find the current asking price…"
"Non-negotiable," I cut her off. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't need to. I kept my expression dead, staring straight through her.
She paused, her eyes narrowing. Most people stuttered when I did that. She didn't. "The logistics overhead is too high. We need a six percent reduction on the buyout price to offset the risk," she said.
"Zero," I said. "The risk is yours to manage. The assets are worth the premium."
"Zaiel, be realistic," she said.
"Do not use my name; it is Mr. Rhyland," I snapped. My voice was a low growl. "This is a boardroom. "Stick to the data," I said.