Chapter 187
Lena's POV
I finished my remaining work quickly, my mind already drifting toward the evening ahead. The thought made me nervous and excited in equal measure.
Reynolds Industries' lobby was as sleek and imposing as ever, but the security guard recognized me now, waving me through with a polite nod. I took the elevator to the executive floor, my heart picking up speed as the numbers climbed.
Jack was at his desk outside Rowan's office, and he looked up with a smile when he saw me. "Lena. He's just wrapping up a meeting—should be another five minutes. You can wait in his office if you want."
"Thanks," I said, ready to go to Rowan's office.
"Miss Grant," he suddenly called me.
I turned around, seeing his expression shift, something uncomfortable crossing his face. "How's Diana doing recently?" he asked.
"She seems good. Focused on work." I paused. "And you two? Everything okay?"
"Yeah, of course." But he didn't quite meet my eyes. "I've just been swamped with this acquisition deal, haven't had as much time to check in on her as I'd like. If you could... maybe make sure she's not overdoing it?"
I studied him for a moment, sensing there was more he wasn't saying, but I didn't push. "I'll keep an eye on her."
"Appreciate it."
I let myself into Rowan's office, the space both familiar and strange. I'd been here before—brief visits to drop off files or documents during our marriage—but I'd never really looked at it. Never felt entitled to occupy the space the way I did now.
The office was quintessentially Rowan: clean lines, minimal decoration, everything precisely organized. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, and his desk was a study in controlled efficiency. I trailed my fingers along the edge of his bookshelf, noting the mix of business texts and what looked like vintage mystery novels tucked in the corner.
My phone buzzed—Emily, asking for an update. I smiled and typed back a quick response, then set the phone down and turned back to the desk.
That's when I saw it.
The drawer wasn't fully closed, and something inside caught the light—a corner of silver wrapping paper, elegant and deliberate. I shouldn't have looked. I knew that even as my hand moved toward it, even as I pulled the drawer open wider.
The gift box was small, expensive-looking. The kind of packaging that came from jewelry stores that didn't bother listing prices. And tucked under the ribbon was a card, the handwriting unmistakably Rowan's.
Welcome back, Nora. I'll always be here for you.
The world seemed to tilt sideways.
I stared at the words, reading them again and again as if repetition might change their meaning. The card was recent—the ink still dark, the paper uncreased. And the gift itself, whatever it was, sat waiting in its pristine box like a promise.
I'll always be here for you.
The same words he'd said to me. The same promises he'd made just last night, holding me in that cabin, his voice rough with emotion as he swore he wouldn't leave again.
My hands were shaking as I closed the drawer, careful to leave it exactly as I'd found it. My chest felt tight, my breathing shallow, and somewhere in the back of my mind a voice was screaming at me to stop, to think, to ask questions before jumping to conclusions.
But all I could see was Rowan at the airport, roses in hand, welcoming Nora back with that same careful attention he now claimed to reserve for me. All I could hear was the gossip at Madison & Partners, the knowing looks when people mentioned "Rowan's college girlfriend." All I could feel was the sick, twisting certainty that I'd been a fool.
Again.
The office door opened behind me, and I didn't need to turn around to know it was him.
"Lena." His voice was warm, pleased. "I didn't expect you to—is everything okay?"
I forced myself to turn, to meet his eyes, to keep my expression neutral even as my heart was shattering for what felt like the hundredth time. "I just remembered I have something I need to handle. I should go."
His brow furrowed. "Now? I thought we were—"
"I'm sorry." I was already moving toward the door, toward escape, before I could do something stupid like cry or scream or demand explanations I wasn't sure I wanted to hear. "I'll call you later."
"Lena, wait—"
But I was already past him, already in the hallway, my heels clicking against the polished floor as I walked faster, faster, until I was nearly running for the elevators. I heard him call my name again, heard his footsteps behind me, but the elevator doors were closing and I was inside and then I was alone.
My reflection stared back at me from the polished metal doors—pale, wide-eyed, barely holding together. I pressed my palms flat against the cool surface and focused on breathing, on not falling apart in a semi-public space, on making it to my car before the careful control I'd maintained finally cracked.
The lobby passed in a blur. The parking garage was blessedly empty. And then I was in my car, hands gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles went white, and the words from that card were playing on repeat in my head.
I'll always be here for you.
Had he said the same thing to her? Promised her the same future he'd promised me just hours ago? Was I really so desperate, so pathetic, that I'd fallen for the exact same routine twice?
My phone buzzed. Rowan's name flashed on the screen.
I turned the phone face-down and started the engine.
I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I couldn't go home, couldn't face the apartment where he'd held me this morning, couldn't look at the coffee cup he'd used or the chair where he'd sat promising me forever.
The card's message burned behind my eyes, and I finally understood what my mother had been trying to tell me all those years.
Love was just another word for leverage. And I'd given Rowan Reynolds every piece of leverage he'd ever need.