Annika pinched the bridge of her nose, a mix of irritation and disappointment bubbling inside her. “Okay. You know what? You just go ahead and revel in your odiousness. When karma bites you in the ass, you’ll be really sorry.”

“Pretty sure karma’s on vacation, but I’ll be sure to give her your hello when she stops by.”

Annika narrowed her eyes at him. She’d thought that herself on multiple occasions before, but why the hell would Hudson think karma wasn’t working beautifully for him? The man had everything. “Whatever.” Annika turned to go.

“See ya at the party tonight.” He paused, considering her. “I assume you’re not too affronted to want to partake of the booze and ogle some good-looking men? Or women. There’ll be plenty of models to choose from.”

Annika shook her head. “Goodbye, Hudson.”

“See you later, Annika.”

Visions of Heather, the terminator, and Hudson Craft danced in her head all morning until finally, at noon, Annika grabbed her purse from the closet. “I’m gonna get some lunch,” she said to June, who was busy coding. “Want anything?”

June shook her head, but didn’t look up from her computer, which was par for the course—when she really got into what she was doing, she’d mentally disappear for hours at a time, and the office would seem as if no one was there. Annika usually didn’t mind the solitude, but today it was giving her way too much time and space to think. She wasn’t even able to get into doing a pitch outline for EPIC. In any case, she still had weeks to go, so she could afford to step away for a little bit.

Annika took the elevator down and headed north on Worthington Avenue, toward the little restaurant that had the most delicious quinoa bowls she’d ever eaten. But her annoyance and disappointment weren’t dissipating as she’d hoped they would.

She just couldn’t believe Hudson Craft. How callous did you have to be to not care at all about people being dumped in such a cold, unfeeling way? What kind of person came up with a company like Break Up in the first place? Where was the guy who’d told her he thought the arts were seriously undersupported and that tech could be the way to change that? Where was the guy who’d caressed her cheek with such heartbreaking tenderness that Annika had pressed his hand to her face and closed her eyes, just to revel in the moment? Where was the guy who’d pulled out her chair, who’d walked on the outside of the sidewalk because he was just that chivalrous? It was like she was now getting to know his evil twin.