Managing Mischief : (Shattered Embrace Book 2) (Shattered Embrace Series) by Alyndra Quinn

Author:Alyndra Quinn [Quinn, Alyndra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elusive Escapes Press
Published: 2023-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

~~~ ASHTON ~~~

Once again, I’m torn between the life I want and the man who’s captured my heart. My chest aches at the parallels to choosing between my marriage and exploring my submissive nature.

They say you can’t have it all, and I’m an idiot for thinking maybe I’d be the exception.

Images of the past and present flash through my mind. Mark smiling at me on our wedding day turns to the look of horror and outrage when I told him I wanted to explore submission with him. I recall in vivid detail the moment he told me I had to choose—him or being a submissive.

The day twenty years of my life disappeared in a blink, when the police knocked on my door and told me about the accident. I think of how hard I’ve worked to build my career, and the impact the discoveries have had in the world.

Zachary’s face flashes through my mind, his gentle smile when I ask him silly questions, the fiery possession in his gaze when he claims my body, the accusation and anger just before he walked out.

I want to curl into a ball and block everything out, and then another face flashes through my mind. A reminder of a promise I made years ago—that if I ever felt like just disappearing—I’d call. This is different, I’m not depressed now like I was then. But it’s a call I need to make. My fingers tremble as they clutch my cell phone. Derek’s name flashes across the screen, and I dial his number before I can second guess myself.

“Hey, Ashton,” Derek answers, his voice steady and comforting.

“Hi, Derek… I need to talk to you.” The words flow out of me like a dam breaking, spilling over the edges with urgency.

“Of course, what’s going on?” He’s instantly concerned. As I’m trying to find the words, I hear a door on his end click shut. “Ash? Are you okay?”

I take a deep breath, trying to control the tremor in my voice. “Meyer Medical offered me a new position—a director of a new division, and a seat on the board—but it’s in Atlanta.”

“Atlanta?” he asks, “You’d move to Atlanta…” His shock is clear as he trails off.

“I’d have to. And I don’t know what to do. It’s a dream job, Derek. The kind of progress that could be made with the scientists they’ve already brought in… the backing the company is willing to give…. is on a scale I can’t even describe.” I take a deep breath as hot tears slide down my cheeks, “But I’m finally happy outside of work.” I gulp air. “I might be starting to see a future with Zachary…”

My voice trails off due to the fear of losing myself or losing Zachary choking the words in my throat.

“Wow, that’s a lot to process,” Derek replies, the empathy in his tone reminds me how he’s always had my back, making it easier for me to continue.

“Yeah. I never thought I’d be faced with such a difficult decision.

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