“Sable Concierge will survive without him. You said it yourself. If he wants to behave this way, I can tie up loose ends without speaking to him. We are in the twenty-first century, you know—the height of electronic media.” If Eli wanted to be left alone, she’d leave him alone. Hell, he might not notice.
But even as she had the thought, part of her called herself on the lie. Of course he’d notice. Eli noticed everything.
“What about you?” Chloe, clearly not done pushing, leaned on Isa’s desk, her curly red locks framing her cute, freckled face. “Are you sad?”
Isa looked away from her computer screen into her friend’s concerned hazel eyes. Then she blew out a breath and told Chloe the truth about that, too. Isa wasn’t like Eli; she couldn’t shut people out. She cared about people. She cared about her friends. She cared about him, dammit.
“I’m frustrated.” Isa turned in her chair. “I’m also unwilling to be treated the way he’s treating me. If he wants to behave like an adult, then together we can adult. But if he wants to be a man-child, then he can do that by himself.”
“You’re smart.” Chloe straightened and folded her arms over her chest. “You are smart and strong and one day, I’m going to grow up to be as strong and smart as you.”
“Chloe, you’re my age.”
“True. But if I had a really hot guy who was really good in bed, I’m not sure I could walk away.”
Isa let out a weary chuckle. “Well, lucky for you, it doesn’t require any smarts to climb into bed with a man who is wrong for you.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Chloe turned and strode to the door but before she left, she gave Isa a smile. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Isa wasn’t fine, but she would be. She’d have to be.
“Okay. Let me know if you want to delegate any of your communications with Cranky Crane. I’ll be in my new office.” Chloe swept around the corner and Isa smiled in her wake.
Isa reached for the mug of coffee waiting at her right elbow. It felt good to be back in her office. It felt good to be back in control.
In control of her work and her life.