The Merger

Chapter 43

Lucas Handler

The sky outside is gray. The plants in my office are a desaturated green. Everything has lost its vibrancy making me even more sure about the decision I spent the last couple of weeks thinking about. Talia will hate me even more if she finds out about it, but does it even matter if she already hates me?

After I tried calling her multiple times with no answer, I realize now that things between us are officially done and she wants nothing to do with me. My younger self fucked it all up before we even got a proper chance to be together.

I lost the one person I've ever truly loved. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't do anything without replaying my conversation with her. Seeing the hurt I caused her feels as though I'm being stabbed a thousand times over.

A week ago I called Andrew's dad in a last-ditch effort, but any semblance of hope I carried for reconciling with Talia was squashed instantly. The man did indeed fire her based on what his son had told him all those years ago.

And now, the day we've been anxiously waiting for has finally come. The strategy presentations. Not only am I sweating over what I'll be sharing with the board, but I'll be seeing Talia again before she goes into the room. We each have one hour to present and Talia is up first.

With my stomach in knots, I make my way over to the seating area outside the conference room. My pulse spikes as soon as Talia comes into view. Her tall heels click as she paces next to the door in her battle-ready business attire, waiting to be summoned by the board who is already in the room. Every time I lay eyes on her, she takes my breath away. As I approach, she looks over at me and freezes.

"Hey," I say, breaking the deafening silence between us.

"Hey," she responds while briefly moving her gaze over my suit.

"Are you ready?"

"Born ready." The firmness in her voice makes it clear she's still very angry with me.

My stomach hardens as I hold my chin up. "You're going to crush it."

A moment of hesitation flickers across her face. Wringing her hands together, she takes a deep breath and nods.

Shadows move through the drawn shades of the conference room and my heart picks up speed. Someone is coming to get Talia very soon and my moment alone with her is slipping away as fast as it came. "I still love you, Talia. No matter how much you hate me. No matter how much bitterness you carry towards me right now. I will never not love you." Just as I finish speaking, the glass door to the conference room opens.

"We're ready for you Talia," Bill calls out.

Her eyes grow wide before she straightens her back. She looks over at me, and for a moment pain shoots through my chest as I register the sadness in her features. "See you around, Lucas," she says before disappearing into the conference room.

It feels like all the wind has been knocked out of me. I run a hand through my hair. Keep it together! I make sure to distract myself for the next hour by packing up things in my office. Before the hour mark is fully up, I make my way back to the seating area to wait until she finishes.

My knee bobs up and down rapidly as I wait and keep my gaze glued to the glass door. Sounds of clapping travel to my ears and I shoot off my seat when I register movement in the room. Talia comes out with a bright smile covering her face.

"Hey," is all I can say. My stomach flips as I take in her smile. "How did it go?"

"Really well."

"Awesome, I'm glad to hear it."