“It’s business, dear, you of all people should understand,” she says. “You let her go without a fight. In any case, if you want to buy the branch, give us a call.”

“What about the entire company?” I ask, fishing for more information.

“Can you afford it?” she laughs. “I’ve already placed a few calls, I’ve no doubt that someone will snatch it soon. Send your offer, if you think you can buy us.”

“Have you told her?”

“I’ll call her soon, we have more pressing meetings to attend,” she says and finishes the call.

“You’re not thinking about buying them, are you?” Devon asks after I hang up.

“Miller, look at me,” he says.

“We had plans to buy other companies, expand,” I say and shrug. “If that’s what Claire wants, yes, I’ll buy it. I can’t lose her, Devon.”

I lift a shoulder and start searching for information about Blend. Then, I call Dad, because I might need him to lend me some money. My cashflow is tied to some of his properties. After placing a few calls to some of my connections, I am confident that whatever happens next won’t affect Claire.

“Make sure you check in with Weston Ahern, he’s working some numbers for me. Call or text when everything is ready,” I tell Devon. “I need to see Claire.”

“You’re a crazy son of a bitch,” he calls out.

When the elevator doors open on the twentieth floor, the thick atmosphere begins to choke me. No one is smiling. In fact, I see a few people with red eyes staring into the horizon.

As I approach Claire’s office, I spot Danielle and ask, “Where is she?”

Danielle shrugs. “In her office. She got a call from Shelby and shut her door. There’s something big going on, she’s not going to tell me what’s happening, but I know.”

What I’ve learned since I’ve been working is that assistants know more than you think. They research and they are always on the alert. So, I ask, “What have you heard?”

“I heard from Jonathan’s assistant that he’s moving to Singapore with his boyfriend. We think they’re selling the company and firing everyone.”

“Let me talk to her.”

She looks so pale and broken. “What’s going to happen to us? I just moved here.”

“We’ll take care of you and everyone. I promise,” I assure her.

When I enter, Claire is sitting by her desk, staring at the screen blankly. Tears forming in her eyes. My heart breaks for her.

“Babe,” I say, pulling her into my arms and as her head leans on me, she starts crying.

“Talk to me, Claire,” I ask, hating that she’s hurting.