She sank into the chair, holding her purse on her lap like it was some kind of shield. “I’m sorry to barge in on you like this,” she said, her voice surprisingly quiet, “but I had to talk to you.”
“About what? Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” Rome sat forward in his chair and rested his folded arms on his desk as he glared at the woman sitting across from him. “In fact, the last time you agreed to talk you did a damn good job of sabotaging my future with the woman I love.”
She had the grace to look ashamed. “I know,” she said and dropped her gaze to her hands clutching her purse. “I’m so sorry.” There was a pause and then she looked up at him and the tears he saw glistening in her eyes made him frown in surprise. “I know I did a terrible thing,” she said, her voice trembling. “I know you’ll never be able to forgive me but I had to see you to explain why I did it.” She drew in a shaky breath then continued. “You didn’t know it but I was in love with you. I’ve felt that way for a long time.” She shook her head. “When you hit me with the news that you were engaged I was devastated. I knew all along that my love for you was an impossible dream, but still…” her voice trailed off and she dropped her gaze again, “you can’t stop a girl from dreaming, can you?”
He didn’t answer. What the hell could he say? According to what Iyana was saying she’d been in love with him all this time and he’d been too daft to realize it. And the irony of it all was that her feelings for him, now coming to the surface, was what had sunk him like a stone.
“I was jealous,” Iyana was saying. “So jealous I couldn’t see straight. That’s why I quit and that’s why I did what I did.”
Iyana shook her head again, as if trying to free her mind of the memory. “There’s absolutely no excuse for my behavior. All I can say is, I’m sorry.” She gave him an earnest look. “I hope you don’t think I came in here to ask for my job back. I think we agree that would be impossible. I loved you from a distance but as an employee I should never have overstepped my bounds, not even emotionally. The problem was all on my end.” She sighed. "And now it’s time for me to accept reality and move on.”
When Rome still said nothing she tilted her head to one side and on her face was a look of regret. “Is there anything I can do to make things right?”
Rome didn’t have to think twice before he gave her his answer. After the stunt she’d pulled when he’d invited her to speak with Arie he would never trust her again. Maybe he could forgive but he would never forget.
If there was any hope of salvaging his relationship with Arie he would have to do it himself.
“No,” he said, his voice firm. “There’s nothing you can do. Absolutely nothing.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Five days and counting. Arie knew she was probably being an idiot, refusing to see Rome, but she couldn’t help herself. The truth was, she was scared.
She loved him so much that it was easy for him to hurt her and with Iyana that was exactly what he’d done. How could she trust him to get close again? But despite her fear she was suffering terribly. She was dying to see him.
She'd come into office early that morning, intent on losing herself in her work. That plan ended up being a joke. Instead of working, she’d stared at the computer screen then at the papers on her desk then at the telephone then at the closed office door. She’d got up and paced the floor. She’d gone to stand by the window where she’d stared out at the parking lot for several minutes at a time. After that she’d gone and flopped back down in her chair. She’d gotten up and then she'd done everything all over again, and it was all in an attempt to keep her itching fingers from grabbing the phone and dialing Rome’s number.
Thank God she’d planned to swing by a banquet hall where she would be catering a wedding in the next two weeks. At least that would take her out of the office and provide her with some distraction that would hopefully take her mind off the man she loved…the same man who made her clench her fists every time she thought about his betrayal.
She hopped up from her chair for the third time but this time it was to grab her purse. She would not linger a moment longer. Time to get some air.
She was halfway to the door when the phone on her desk began to ring. She hesitated, feeling like she should ignore it, but then the dutiful side of her won out and she dashed back to her desk and picked up the receiver. It was Marilyn, the receptionist.
“Miss Jackson is here to see you, Arie.”
Arie frowned. “Miss…Jackson?” She couldn’t recall an appointment scheduled for this time. She didn’t even know who this ‘Miss Jackson’ was. “From?” she asked, hoping the company name would jog her memory.
“She didn’t say. All she said was, she needs to see you urgently.”
That made Arie raise her eyebrows. Weird. “Well…okay,” she said, her voice hesitant, but she hung up the phone and went to hook the strap of her handbag on the back of her chair then sat, making ready to greet her visitor.
But when the door opened it wasn’t a potential client who walked through the door but the woman who had turned her life upside down. Miss Jackson was none other than Iyana.
Arie stood and as soon as Marilyn had closed the door the words flew out of her mouth. “Why did you come here? What’s this about? Have you come to finish the job?”
Iyana looked startled by her vehemence. She stayed right where she was by the door and put up her hands, palms facing forward. “Please, I’m not here to cause any trouble. If you’ll just hear me out, just for a minute, I’ll be out of here and out of your life for good.”
Arie stared at her, the suspicion rising within. She didn’t trust this woman as far as she could throw her. “Go ahead,” she said, folding her arms in front of her. “Say your piece and then go.”
Iyana looked uncomfortable. She probably took note that Arie hadn’t even bothered to offer her a seat but remained standing herself, watching and waiting. When she spoke her voice was hesitant. “I know you probably hate me and you have every reason to. I came here to tell you how sorry I am for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
Arie’s eyes narrowed. “Did Rome put you up to this?”