“I needed you just as much as you needed me. That’s what love is, Harper, so I’ll be waiting here when you’re ready. When you remember that the pain of being together is better than the pain of being apart.” And for the first time ever, I see a lone tear fall down his cheek, and I can’t hold it together anymore.

Quickly stepping into the corridor, I close the door behind me with a bang, and the tears pour down my face like the dam has finally broken.

I press the button on the elevator like a demon, wanting the doors to open before he has a chance to chase me. But there is no sound of his front door opening as the elevator opens in front of me. And the moment I step in, I feel a presence that I’m not alone. One of our security team in his black suit steps in behind me, pressing the button to close the doors.

Not looking back toward me, he gives me the privacy to sob on my own. But just him being here, ready and waiting for me to leave this morning, has the words in my head repeating over and over again.

He knew I was leaving.

And I don’t know what hurts more. That I’m walking away from the one man I finally allowed myself to love, or that he is letting me go.

Chapter Eighteen

FORREST

“Fuck!” I yell the moment I hear the elevator doors close, and the gut-wrenching noise of her sobbing disappears.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I continue slamming my hand on the back of the door as I accept that she did it. No matter how hard I wish I was enough for her to trust me to care for her heart, I’m obviously not.

For a few seconds I thought she wanted to stay with me and that she was giving me time to show her how good we could be, but I was wrong.

Like a switch was flicked, she changed before my eyes. It was like something freaked her out, and I have no idea what the hell it was. For once I can’t read her, and she just completely confused the hell out of me.

Resting my forehead on the door, I take a few deep breaths and then stand and start marching to my office.

Time to put Operation Harper into place.

Picking up my phone, I send the text message I was hoping I wouldn’t need to, but deep down, I always knew I would.

Forrest: She’s gone.

Rem: We’ve got her, I won’t let anything happen to her.

Flynn: She’s already messaged Felisha. We’re here waiting.

Nic: Sorry, buddy. But give her the space she needs. She’ll come back.