Chapter 63
Claire turned on her heel and walked away without another word.
I stood there in the Starbucks, staring at my untouched coffee. My hands were shaking. Not from fear. From pure, white-hot rage.
That lying bastard.
I dumped the coffee in the trash and pushed out onto the street. The cold Boston wind slapped my face, but I barely felt it.
My phone buzzed.
"Chloe?"
"Just left work. Where are you? Still at the office?"
"No, I—" My voice cracked. "My car's still at the shop. Can you pick me up?"
"Of course. Give me ten minutes."
I'd texted Adam yesterday about getting my car back. He'd said he was traveling for two days. When I asked for the address so I could pick it up myself, he never replied.
---
Chloe's BMW pulled up, and I slid into the passenger seat.
"Hey." She glanced at me. "You look like shit."
"Thanks." I leaned my head against the window.
She pulled into traffic, heading toward Amy's daycare. "Okay, but seriously. I told you to just buy new. But no—you had to get a used car. And look—it's been what, one month? Already broken down. At this rate, you'll spend more on repairs than the damn thing cost."
"I know." My throat felt tight. "I thought I'd get lucky. Find a good deal. Forgot I don't have good luck."
"Hey." Her voice softened. "It's not your fault. Shady used car dealers are everywhere. At least you didn't lose that much money."
I didn't answer. Just watched the brownstones blur past.
"Maya."
"Hmm?"
"What's really wrong?"
I turned to look at her. "Adam's girlfriend came to see me today."
Her hands tightened on the wheel. "Wait. I thought you said he didn't have a girlfriend?"
"He told me he didn't. But she showed up at Starbucks and informed me she's been with him for three years. That she was in London studying, and now she's back, and they're together. And she'd really appreciate it if I stopped throwing myself at him."
"That fucking asshole." Chloe's knuckles went white. "He's got a girlfriend and he's been chasing you? Jesus Christ. Good thing you turned him down, or you'd be the other woman without even knowing it."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah. Lucky me."
"I swear to God, men are the worst. They have everything—money, options—and they still can't keep it in their pants. Then their girlfriends come after us instead of dealing with their lying boyfriends."
We drove in silence for a minute.
"Maya." Chloe's voice was gentler now. "You know Adam's not worth it, right? Let him go. I'll introduce you to some hot young guys. Lawyers. Doctors. Tech bros with stock options."
My chest hurt. I want to let him go. I really do.
"I'm trying," I whispered.
Five years. Looking for him. Hoping. Wondering what happened. And then he shows up, and he's this untouchable billionaire with a life I can't even imagine. And a girlfriend who looks like she stepped out of Vogue.
"You know what your problem is?" Chloe pulled up to a red light. "You're like a frog in a well. Your whole world is Adam Sterling. But once you meet other guys—good guys—you'll forget he even exists."
"Maybe."
"Not maybe. Definitely. In fact—" She grabbed her phone from the cup holder. "I'm calling some friends right now. We'll do a double date this weekend."
"Chloe, no—"
"Yes!"
"I have Amy!"
She groaned. "Ugh. Kids ruin everything. You can't even go out and have fun."
I almost smiled. "I like spending time with her."
"I know you do." She squeezed my hand. "But you deserve a life too, you know? Someone to help you. Support you. Not just... do everything alone."
"So." Chloe's eyes slid to me as she turned onto Commonwealth Ave. "Are you going to tell Adam about Amy?"
My stomach dropped. "I... don't know. I was thinking about it. But after meeting Claire today..." I swallowed. "She gives me bad vibes. If she knew about Amy, she might—I don't know. Cause problems."
"Yeah." Chloe nodded slowly. "If she's territorial enough to track you down, who knows what she'd do if she found out about Amy."
We picked up Amy and headed back to my place. After Chloe left, I stared at my phone.
One new message.
Adam: I'll be back tomorrow.
I deleted it without replying.
---
The next day, Julian and I had a business lunch with a supplier at a boutique hotel near Faneuil Hall.
The meeting went well. Too well, actually. Julian was in a good mood, laughing at the supplier's jokes, ordering a second bottle of wine.
We left the private dining room on the second floor, heading for the lobby. I was texting Amy's daycare to confirm pickup time when I heard it.
"Julian!"
A woman's voice. High-pitched. Excited.
I looked up.
She was beautiful. Mid-twenties, champagne-colored dress, honey-brown waves cascading down her back. And she was running straight toward us.
No—not us.
At me.
"Oops!" Her eyes locked on mine, widening in fake surprise.
Everything happened in slow motion.
Her body lurched forward. Arms windmilling. Heading straight for me.
I was standing at the top of the staircase. One step back, and I'd fall.
A hand grabbed my waist. Yanked me sideways.
I crashed into Julian's chest. His arms locked around me, pulling me close. My face pressed against his shoulder. I could hear his heart hammering.
We stood there, frozen. Practically embracing at the top of the stairs.
Oh God.
"What the hell are you doing?" The woman's voice turned shrill. She lunged forward, trying to shove me away. "You threw yourself at him on purpose!"
"That's enough." Julian's voice was ice. "You almost pushed her down the stairs, Miss Hartley."
Miss Hartley. This must be Sienna from the Hartley family—the one Thomas Garrison had been pushing Julian to consider.
"My heel broke!" She lifted her foot. The stiletto was snapped clean off. "It was an accident! But she—" She jabbed a finger at me. "—used it as an excuse to throw herself into your arms!"
"You're delusional." Julian's arm was still around my waist. Protective. "Maya didn't do anything wrong."
"Oh, Maya." Sienna sneered. "Of course you remember her name. You never remember mine!"
"Miss Hartley." Julian stepped in front of me, blocking her. "You need to leave. Now."
"Leave?" She laughed, sharp and bitter. "Ever since that arranged meeting our families set up. I thought—I thought we had something. But you look right through me like I'm nobody. And you—"
"Enough." Julian's voice went cold. "That meeting was business. Nothing more. If you thought otherwise, that's not my fault."
Sienna's face went white. Then red. "You're really choosing this... this secretary over me?"
"There's no choice to make. I was never interested in you. Now move."
"You'll regret this." Her voice shook. "Listen to me, you little bitch. He's mine. And you are not going to steal what should be mine."