Chapter 22
The bell above the café door jingled softly in the breeze.
Nina turned, startled to find Julian standing just a few feet away. Her throat tightened.
“Do you always make a habit of eavesdropping on your employees, Mr. Ford?” she asked coolly.
Julian’s gaze didn’t flinch. “And do you always talk about your clients behind their backs, Ms. Monroe? What did I do to make you so eager to avoid me?”
Nina paused for a beat, then replied evenly, “Sexual harassment–does that count?”
Julian let out a dry laugh, knuckles brushing against his lips as he coughed–hard.
Startled, Nina blinked. His complexion seemed even paler than yesterday. She almost asked if he was okay–but she held herself back. She had already decided to let go. No point in caring now.
“You don’t look well,” she said flatly. “Maybe head back. You should rest.”
Julian wiped his lips and straightened. “It’s work hours. I came to collect an employee who decided to leave her post.”
“I work for Mr. Clark,” Nina said, frowning. “Not your company.”
Julian nodded mildly. “Which puts you at risk of leaking confidential information. Until the exhibit is over, stay away from him.”
Now that was rich. “So the blue diamond talk yesterday wasn’t confidential?” she muttered under her breath.
She almost snapped back–but caught the look in his eyes and fell silent. What was the point? She was heading back anyway.
Nina rose to leave.
But Lysander suddenly reached out and caught her wrist.
She glanced at him, confused, just as he gave a lazy smile. “She’s reporting to her direct superior. After all, she still works for my
company.”
Julian’s jaw tightened. “She works for mine now.”
“Oh?” Lysander raised a brow. “And how well do you actually know her? How can you be sure she’s even coming back with you?”
Julian’s eyes flicked to Nina’s face.
Lysander added, “You said you didn’t want to see him again, right? Fine. I’ll assign someone else to handle the project.”
Nina froze.
She turned to meet Lysander’s amused expression. Her voice dropped. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer–just kept watching her like he was waiting.
Nina inhaled sharply.
She understood. This was a test. He was betting she’d choose to stay. That her wish–the one she had forgotten–still tied her to Julian.
She didn’t want to let Lysander win. She didn’t want to give in,
But then she looked at Julian.
That look in his eyes–quiet, aching, clinging–was the same one she’d seen when she was just a soul hovering beside him. When he begged her not to leave.
Her chest caved in.
Fine. If she was a placeholder, so be it. If she was just an assistant, so be it.
She pulled her wrist free from Lysander and took a breath. “I’ll do my job.”
Until the day she remembered everything–and could say goodbye for good.
Chapter 22
28.95%
Back at the office, Nina expected Julian to say more. But to her surprise, he walked straight into his office and didn’t come out again.
Just before the end of the day, Samantha found her.
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be Mr. Ford’s personal assistant. That includes travel, meals, and scheduling.”
Nina frowned. “That’s not part of my job description. And considering he’s engaged–to you–I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
Samantha didn’t even flinch. “That was my call.”
Nina blinked, confused.
Samantha placed a folder on her desk. “Open it.”
Nina flipped it open–and froze.
It wasn’t project paperwork. It was a medical file.
Julian’s hospital records.
Multiple admissions.
Each one tied to a suicide attempt.
Her breath caught. “What is this supposed to mean?”
Samantha’s voice was quiet but heavy. “I won’t lie–I hate that it’s you. But after she died… he completely fell apart. You’re the first person who’s been able to get through to him.”
Nina’s fingertips trembled.
Samantha looked at her, gaze steady, voice low.
“Every time we rushed him to the ER, he’d say the same thing–‘She only comes when I’m dying
