Losing Control by Rachael Stewart

Author:Rachael Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-06-10T18:46:43+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE EVENING IS going swimmingly. The food was excellent, the presentation perfect, the response better than I could’ve hoped for.

Yes, swimmingly—so long as I discount the bit beforehand, back at the flat.

I know I should be glad—should be happy that the investors have lapped up my words, are paying me and the company the attention it deserves. But I’m too focused on Cain.

I can’t get his expression out of my head. His pain. His anguish. I wanted to press. I wanted him to let me in, to open up and tell me exactly what he was thinking. Christ, I wanted him to show me the true grief I’d glimpsed at the funeral. Instead he’d run. Again.

I should be glad of that too. I should be glad that he left before I could feel any more than I already do. Because seeing Cain in pain—it breaks me. It breaks my resolve...it breaks everything I’ve fought so hard to keep in place for the last seven years. Even now my hand goes to my stomach, to soothe, to take away the chilling ache.

‘I’m impressed, Alexa. I can’t deny it.’

I look to Ethan Tennant, our most influential board member, and smile my most dazzling smile—the one that masks it all. Because he’s the biggest reason I have worries at all; he’s the one whose negativity has spread through the ranks and brought Cain back to my door.

‘I’m pleased to hear it.’

I’ve only told the room the exact same things I’ve been saying for months—but in a presentation with Cain by my side. And it’s not the presentation that’s made the difference.

We’re now in wrap mode...sipping the finest champagne before going our separate ways for the evening...and I’m ready to do just that. I’m tired. I’m sick of delivering platitudes when really I want to rant and rave at what they’ve put me through these last few months.

‘Excuse me a moment while I pop to the restroom, Ethan.’

While I pop to the rest room and scream blue murder, releasing the words I so desperately want to lay at your feet, Ethan.

‘Am I intruding?’

I feel a heated palm through the fabric of my dress, hear his voice trickle like honey down my spine, and just like that I am no longer chilled.

‘Not at all.’ I look up at Cain with a smile, and it’s genuine. I don’t need to force anything. And it’s strange, the warning siren—the one that says there’s no future here, the past will always stand between us—is quiet.

‘I was just telling Alexa how impressed I am with the roadmap.’ Ethan gestures to the presentation slides cycling through on the big screen—a mini-promo video of what we’re proposing.

‘It is. You seem surprised, though, Ethan?’

I send Cain a warning glare. I can’t believe he’d say such a thing—especially in front of me.

‘What can I say?’ Ethan clears his throat, his awkwardness clear and making my skin flush. ‘It’s all down to the exceptional delivery.’

Exceptional delivery. I can’t stand here for this. ‘Excuse me gentlemen.

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