He shoots me a look as he drops into the one opposite of Iris’s seat. “She’s not coming back. Saving her chair won’t change that.”
“She’s still my wife. That chair is hers regardless of her occupation status, so use the other one.”
“Isshe still your wife?”
“Get out,” I seethe.
He shrugs. “I’m just asking.”
“No, you’re looking for a fight.”
“Maybe I am. At least that way we can settle this. I don’t like working with all this tension around us.”
“There is nothing to settle. This is between me and her, regardless of whatever impression you might be under.”
“She came to mecrying, Declan. I’m not going to sweep that under the rug because you decided a little too late that you made the wrong choice and you want her back.”
My fists clench against my lap. “I’m not doing this with you.”
“Then sign the paper and I’ll leave.”
I grab an ink pen to sign her resignation letter, but stop myself. My hand hovers above the blank signature spot.
Cal clears his throat. “If you really love her, then this needs to be done.”
“Even if it feels wrong?”
“Of course it feels wrong. You’ve both been co-dependent on one another for far too long.”
“At least all that rehab I paid for taught you something.” Even if it didn’t keep him away from drinking again, at least he learned a thing or two about bad habits.
He flips me off. “This job shouldn’t be the thing that keeps you together just like it shouldn’t be the reason that drives you apart. So, if you want a chance at a successful marriage, you need to let her go as your employee.”
I press the pen against the page and sign my name beside hers.
“Here.” I shove it away from me before I have a chance to shred it.
“It’ll be okay.”
“It sure as fuck doesn’t feel okay. Not when it feels like I’m losing her before I ever even had her to begin with,” I snap.
His face softens. “It’s not too late to get her back.”
“How do you know?”
“Because for some goddamn reason, she loves you despite all the reasons she shouldn’t.”
“She never told me.”
“What?”
“She never told me she loved me.” My voice drops.
“That doesn’t mean she stillcan’t.” He leaves my office with Iris’s signed resignation letter.
I pull out my phone before I can stop myself. I’m not going to go back on my deal to give Iris space, but that doesn’t mean I need to be silent while doing so.
I pull up our chat and text her a single word to express how I feel.