“Are you staying in Paris after work?” I asked.
Her shoulders slumped. “Not anymore. No reason to.”
I frowned. “Did something happen?”
“Not exactly,” she replied. “Enzo asked me to stay with him.”
My eyes widened. “Really?”
“He thought that was the only way I’d agree to have sex,” she said. “I turned him down, and he ghosted.”
“His mistake,” I said and hugged her tightly. Destiny deserved the very best.
When we went outside, we were surprised to find Gunnar there. He had an envelope for me.
“This is from Faith, and it’s the only time I’ll do this for her,” he said. “She must learn to get over herself.”
I grinned. I enjoyed being on Team Gunnar. Faith had agreed to work for him at his law office and take the assisted-living apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey, I’d found for our mother, where we both could visit her. I needed time with her too, and she had finally accepted that. Though we weren’t friends, Faith and I were working together for Mom’s sake. Whatever she did with her life was up to her. She, like me, had a chance at a new beginning.
“I agree. Faith needs to let go of the past,” Destiny said.
Things were about to change soon for the two of us too. Destiny was ready to move abroad, and I had Paul’s offer to move in with him. A big step, but we had the time and we had love.
“This the roommate that’s trying to run away to Paris?” Gunnar started. “Wherever you go, there you are. Living abroad isn’t going to make your life magical. If you’re boring here, you’ll be boring there.”
Destiny’s eyes narrowed at him. “That was random. Think before you say something you know nothing about.”
Of course, that didn’t bother Gunnar. His expression changed to genuine interest. Time for an exit.
“Thanks, Gunnar. I’ve got to go,” I said and hugged Destiny.
“Me too,” she said. “I’m running late. I need to flag a cab.”
“No need to do that. My car is right here,” Gunnar told her. “I’ll give you a ride, and you can tell me more about how, ‘random’ my opinion is, but I bet you can’t come up with one relevant reason to leave NYC.”
Was this his idea of foreplay? Destiny scoffed at him, but I gave her a slight push.
“Please let him take you. The only thing you’re disrupting is his playtime. He’s harmless.”
Gunnar gave her a devilish grin and held the car door open for her.
My friend shook her head at me but climbed inside. I wasn’t sure the two of them was a good idea, but Paul was waiting for me.
I increased my pace and joined the morning travelers as we all piled into the train. It was hot and stuffy, but I didn’t mind. New York City was my home.
When I reached the PATH train, I waited at the place Paul and I had agreed to meet. He held up his copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and I laughed.
“You ready, beautiful?” he asked, holding on when we boarded.
“You bet, sweet cheeks,” I replied.
We kissed each other all the way to Jersey City. Neither one of us cared about the scorn from the people crowded around us. We were in love and happy.
I left him down by Quinn’s potted plant and headed inside the office when we arrived at Emono Games. I didn’t bother going to my floor, going straight to Human Resources instead. I didn’t have an appointment with HR, but I had the contract. Her assistant told me she was busy, but I said. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”
After a few hard glances between me and the phone, she talked into it and then motioned for me to go inside Yasmine’s office.
“Hello,” I said in greeting.
Yasmine didn’t look up from her computer, not even when she took out her phone to charge. “You can leave the signed contract with my assistant. I’m booked with appointments today—or was there something else?” Her voice was strained.
“No. I thought it better to inform you in person I’m not signing the new contract. I’m leaving Emono today,” I replied.
Her eyes finally rose and widened. “You’re leaving today?”
“I am,” I said, and placed the unsigned contract on her desk. “I’m here to collect any required exit paperwork and for you to inform security I’m leaving, so that I may pick up whatever belongings I have before I leave the office.”
She glared at me. “You can’t leave today. You haven’t provided notice.”
“There’s no notice to give,” I replied. “As we discussed on Friday, my contracting job agreement ended. I’d need to sign a new contract to work here, and since I’ve turned down your job offer, I’m free to leave now.”
She scoffed. “That still means you’re quitting without notice. You will not receive a reference, and no one will hire you in this industry as a contractor again,” she said in a harsh tone.
I smiled. “That’s fine. I’m not doing contract work again. I’m comfortable with my decision.”
She crossed her arms. “Oh, so you already have a new job?”
“Yes, I do,” I said coolly.
I did, but I also had the possibility of returning to finish my degree at Julliard. Paul had spoken with the dean and the board. They agreed to remove the expulsion and reinstate me, though on their conditions, should I wish to return.
“Where?” she asked.
“Does it matter? It will change nothing,” I replied. “I’ve done what you required of me. I’ll wait for you to inform your assistant to give me the paperwork.”
I rose and walked to the door.
“Aubrey.” Her tone started to sound almost desperate. “If I find out that your new job is at Crane Productions, I’ll have no choice but to file legal actions against you and their company,” she replied.
“You fired me when you ended my current contract,” I said. “I can work wherever I like. I’ve checked with my lawyer and he’s expecting your call. Here’s his card.”
I pulled the card Gunnar had given me and left it on her desk. Then I went to sit in reception.
Twenty minutes later, I still hadn’t received the paperwork.
I stood. “I need to leave now.”
The receptionist called Yasmine, and Logan appeared and walked over to the desk to stand next to me.
“We understand you’re leaving?” he asked, frowning.
“Yes. Now, actually,” I held out my hand to Logan. He hesitated but shook it firmly. “Thank you for the opportunity. Absolution will be a success.”
“We can offer you more money to stay,” Logan said. “Yasmine was on the phone negotiating an increase in salary for you.”
“No, thank you,” I said. “I feel it’s time for a change.”
Logan ran his hand through his hair. “You’re leaving us in quite a bind.”
“You have Daniel,” I replied. “He was your choice for the specialist position. I’m sure it’ll all work out fine.”
Logan went inside Yasmine’s office, and a few minutes later they walked out together.
“If you can leave your identification pass now, I’ll mail the exit papers for you to send back,” she said in an icy tone. “Security will meet you at your office to escort you out of the building.”
“Cubicle,” I corrected, taking the pass off from the elastic string around my neck. “Ryan asked me to move out of my office on Friday. I’m on my way.”
I left them there with their mouths hanging open and took the elevator down to my floor. The security guy was already standing by my cubicle. I knew from Friday that I didn’t have much. However, I wanted to see Quinn and Kyle before I left.
Quinn was by his office, waiting for me with Kyle when I arrived. They both walked over and hugged me.
“That’s the way to do it. They mistreated you and never deserved you,” Quinn said.
“You coming to the party?” Kyle asked, though he already knew the answer.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I said grinning.
He handed me a double fudge cookie and the three of us laughed. I had a pang of sadness over not seeing them at work. I wish I’d taken the time to enjoy hanging out with them more. However, I was happy to be leaving Emono Games.
Ryan and Daniel came out of my old office with Logan. The Three Musketeers. I considered taking the high road, but I didn’t.
“Looks like those assignments will be all yours,” I said to Daniel as I passed.
“Screw you—or is that how you’re able to quit? Fucking Paul Crane?” Daniel said heatedly.
“You must report to Human Resources, Daniel, and hope you have a job afterward,” Logan said to him. “What you just did falls under harassment.”
Daniel glared at him. “She doesn’t work here anymore.”
“Aubrey hasn’t finished her exit paperwork, so she does,” Logan pointed out and crossed his arms. “We have a zero-tolerance policy still in place. I’ll be writing a report against you as a witness to what you did.”
“I’m sorry,” Daniel said to Logan, hitting Ryan’s shoulder.
“Come on, Logan,” Ryan said. “He was only joking.”
“You defend him, and you’ll be joining him in my report,” Logan said. He had never flexed his authority over Ryan before.
Ryan paled and walked to his office.
Daniel fidgeted, waiting to talk to Logan as he instead addressed me, “I wish you’d change your mind and stay, but I know you won’t. So, I wish you much success. You can call me anytime for a reference.”
I smiled at him. “I appreciate that very much. I need to go, or I’ll be late.”
Free, I walked downstairs to find Paul. He beamed when he saw me, holding up the Testore violin. “My keyboard is in the trunk. Regan will drop us off for our first session at Grand Central.”
“I’ll need the tips,” I said. “I’m now unemployed.”
“For the week,” he said. “You’re my new soundtrack coordinator and session violinist until you find what you want to do.”
“I’m thrilled at having the chance,” I said, and I was more than grateful for the opportunity to start again. I believed in myself and my violin.
Paul phone chimed and he took the call. His expression turned serious, and I clasped my hands together. He was waiting to hear about our Absolution song.
“What did they decide?” I asked when he hung up, my hands taking his.
“I have Absolution,” he said. “I can’t call it Absolution, so I will call it Forgiveness. Recon has some hot lyrics to add to the beginning. Cara is on board, but only if I have a violinist.”
“You have me,” I said. He did, heart and soul.
He grabbed me around the waist and kissed me.
What’s coming next in 2020? I’m currently writing on Ian and Mary’s Erotic Romance, more from the Absolution series and possibly a sports spin-off.
What would you like to read?
Let me know. Drop me a message on social media, join the steamy sexy romance newsletter if you want to more on the writing and some fun. Every link is available on my Amélie S. Duncan website. You can also start another story today!
The “steamy, sexy, and thrilling” duet The Agency Dark Affairs Duet is also available by Amélie S. Duncan. An innocent mistake plunges Gia right into the middle of secrets she was never meant to discover. Can Gia recover in time, or lose everything?
Other books by Amélie S. Duncan are available on all retailers for you to read right now. Start the Tiger Lily Trilogy and find out what happens when Lily takes on an impossible assignment that leads to sexy business mogul Jonas Crane that has an intriguing proposal of his own. Tiger Lily: The Companion is available free on all retailers.
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A world of passion burns inside me, hidden from view by my delicate ballet movements. I will break free of my ballerina box, and I will have him—no matter what the cost.
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Thank you to my awesome husband and best friend Alan. You and Rosco are the light of my life. I love you both so much.
Thank you to a wonderful group of people that helped me with Unfinished Sympathy. I greatly appreciate all your hard work.
Thank you to Silvia, Cynthia, Sarah, Roxy, Stephanie B, Amanda, Bianca, Tanya, Barbara, Lisa, Maddy for their beta critiques. Can you believe the amount of drafts? I bet you can lol Thank you all for your kindness, support, and patience.
Thank you to Keena and Marnie for line editing.
Thank you to CB Moore, Lisa Maree Birch, and Jackie for copy editing.
Thank you to Maddy for final proofreading.
Thank you to Sommer Stein of Perfect Pear Creative for cover design.
Thank you to Andrey Bahia of Wander Aguiar Photography.
Thank you to Stacey Blake of Champagne Formats for the interior format design.
Thank you to Michelle New for the teasers
Thank you to Dawn and Vera for all the extra awesome
Thank you to my friends, bloggers, and readers for all your kindness and support over the years.
Thank you for reading this story. I most sincerely hope you enjoyed it.
Amélie S. Duncan writes contemporary, erotic romances with a dark edge. Her inspiration comes from many sources including her life experiences and travels. She lives on the West Coast of the United States with her awesome husband and sweet golden retriever Rosco.
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