Page 30 of It's About Time
Tori Michaels, my ex-fiancée and the only woman I ever pictured a future with, strides into the room wearing a black dress, silver heels, and her signature smile.
But she looks different too—more on edge, more timid than I’ve ever seen her, and her eyes—they look haunted.
Why do you fucking care, Elliot? You should be much more concerned with why the hell your father hired her and didn’t bother to tell you.
“Thank you, everyone. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to start fresh here,” she says, her eyes meeting mine instantly. The last thing I want to do is make eye contact with this woman right now, but the physical control I have over my body is momentarily incapacitated. “I promise to do the best I can to keep everyone organized. Just give me a few days to settle in, okay?”
A few small chuckles are all she gets in response before my father clears his throat. “I expect everyone to make Tori feel welcome here, and I do mean…everyone.” His eyes lock on mine for a beat before he directs his gaze elsewhere. “Now, let’s get back to work. Quarter two is closing in a few weeks, and I want to see the numbers we projected earlier this year.”
Almost everyone casts a glance in my direction as they exit, leaving me, my father, and the Wicked Witch of the West alone.
Fuck. Why on earth does Dilynne’s nickname for her have to be so fucking perfect?
“Elliot,” my father starts, but the sound of his voice finally snaps me back to the present.
“I can’t believe you—”
“Elliot,” Tori interjects, but I hold up a hand to stop her.
“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“That’s enough.” My father’s voice booms through the room before he regains his composure. “Now, I know this probably blindsided you—”
“You think?” I cut in.
“But I didn’t make this decision rashly. In fact, I think the two of you should talk before you leave this room.” He moves for the door, but casts us both a backward glance before he leaves. “Just remember, Elliot… Everyone makes mistakes. It’s what we learn from them that matters.”
The door shuts behind him with a quiet click, and I can feel Tori’s eyes on me. But I refuse to look in her direction.
“Elliot…”
There are so many thoughts racing through my mind right now. I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t envisioned what a reunion with the woman that broke my heart might look like, but nowhere in thosefantasies did I imagine this. Showing up unannounced and as the newest employee at my family’s law firm. And what’s even more surprising is the lack of any lingering feelings of love I thought might still be there.
When I look at her, I just feel regret. And now, worry too—because it’s taken me so long to get back on stable ground. The last thing I want is for her to shake the foundation I’ve been fighting tirelessly to rebuild.
“What the hell are you doing here, Tori?” They’re the only words I seem to be able to form past the storm inside my head.
Her eyes find the floor as she clears her throat. “Well, like I said to everyone, I was looking for a fresh start.”
“And you thought here…” I wave my hand toward the window. “You thought Blossom Peak would be the best place for that?”
“It was my home once before, Elliot.”
“Oh, I’m aware. We were supposed to build a life here together, but I guess your boss had a better fucking offer.” Irritation presses at my temples as my jaw tightens.
Tori’s eyes fill with tears. “You have no idea how much I regret what I did to you.”
“Wow. That’s big of you to say.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Are we done here?”
Her eyes widen. “Your father said we should talk…”
“I don’t give a shit what my father said, Tori.” I head for the door and whip it open, sending the heavy wood smashing into the wall behind it. Heads turn to find the source of the noise, but I keep my line of sight on my father’s office, prepared to give him a piece of my mind.
Thebastard doesn’t even look up from his desk when I barrel through his door and slam it shut behind me. “You’d better watch it, Elliot…”
“Or what? You’re going to fire me? At this point, I think I’d take the unemployment so I don’t have to step foot in this office again.”
He slams his hand down on his desk. “That’s enough!”
