I see now that he took care of me, in his own understated, gossip-prone way.

“Take care of yourself, Big Dean,” he says, the grooves at the outside corners of his eyes deepening as he gives me a wide smile. “Won’t be the same without you coming in here every damn day of the week.”

I set the box down on the reception desk and pull him in for a hug. “Make sure they give you a retirement party, okay?”

Harold chuckles as he draws back. “They’re too selfish. Everyone knows that.” He whispers a parting comment: “And you’re too good for this place.”

I’d like to think that’s true, but I don’t know up from down anymore.

“Dean?” a voice behind me asks.

I spin around to see Kimberly Bailey a few feet away.

“Kimberly. What are you doing here?”

She wrings her hands as she talks, a pinched expression on her face. “I was hoping I’d catch you, but I’m primarily here to see Olney and Henderson.”

It’s unclear what business she still has with them considering she declined the firm’s offer. That, along with my lying to the partners about dating Solange, is why I’m leaving this building for the last time.

She points to a bench to the left of the elevators. “Can we chat for a minute?”

“I’ll watch your box,” Harold says.

Once we sit, Kimberly takes a calming breath. “So I’m just going to come out and say it: Nia and I are best friends.”

I’m not surprised. They’re completely in sync, and it’s apparent to anyone who sees them that they treasure each other as people first. “Some of the most successful romantic relationships are founded on friendship.”

Kimberly fiddles with the thin platinum band on her left hand. “No, what I mean is we’re best friends”—she turns to meet my gaze—“and nothing else.”

Oh.

Oh.

What?

“You mean—”

Kimberly lets out a heavy sigh. She’s going to chafe if she continues to slide that ring up and down her finger. “Nia and I faked our relationship, and after I dug around a little, Peter finally admitted that you were fired for doing essentially the same thing. So I knew I had to set the record straight, first with the partnership, and then with you.”

I can’t fathom that Kimberly and Nia aren’t a romantic couple. The affection in their eyes. Their intense chemistry. The ease with which they touched each other. It was all an act? “Why did you feel the need to lie?”