Page 51 of Discretion at Its Finest

Genevieve

Ismoothed the cream fabric down my front for the third time, fingers trembling slightly as I forced myself to sit straighter in the conference chair. The turtleneck I decided to wear this morning was too tight.Or maybe it was just the memory of Reid’s hands around my throat.

My reflection in the dark glass across the room stared back at me like a stranger. High ponytail updo, curled just enough to seem effortless. Pencil skirt, cinched too perfectly at the waist.

My look was put-together, polished and unbothered.

But it was all a lie.Despite my attempts to seem composed, to go about the day normally… I could still feel his hands on me.

The weight of them on my hips. The rasp of his voice at my throat. The way his mouth had mapped every inch of me like I still belonged to him—

God.

I blinked hard and swallowed, pressing my knees together beneath the table.

My brain tried to shift focus to my son. His little league tournament was in just a few hours. I should’ve been thinking about that.

I had packed his bag earlier. Made sure he had his little cleats, his knee pads, an extra snack and his juice box for their frequent snack breaks, and his water bottle.

I double, triple checked just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. But in reality, it was to occupy my racing mind. Because all I could think was how much I’d betrayed the only person who had ever looked at me and seen everything he needed to love… All I could think about was the sudden urge to fix things between him and me. To earn his forgiveness.

But I forced the thoughts down. Earning his forgiveness would force me to face the mistakes I’d made and come to terms with the feelings I’d never lost, exposing the lies I kept hidden.

You have to hold it together.

I repeated the mantra in my head, the only thing that could keep me from breaking apart entirely.

Last night on that balcony, I’d felt more alive than I had in years. More broken too. Because Reid hadn’t punished me… he’d just shown me exactly what I’d lost when I didn’t choose him.

You have to hold it together.

For Eugene. Your family. What little remains of the life I tried to choose.

…But at what cost?

“Morning.” The voice abruptly cut through my thoughts.

I looked up quickly to see Gregory in the door frame. I cleared my throat. “Good morning,” I said gently. “How were your meetings this morning?”

He entered the office fully, running a stressed hand through his hair. “Got my ass handed to me again, but what else is new?” he grumbled, and I gave a sad smile as he shook his head. “Anyway, I should be finishing up my day soon enough,” he said,smoothing down his tie even though it wasn’t crooked. “Thought we could go to dinner after the tournament.”

I almost furrowed my brows. Tournament? Dinner? Now?

He hadn’t gone to a game in what seemed like months. Barely knew Eugene’s coach’s name. And now he was planning reservations? He… he remembered it was tonight?

I tried to wrap my head around it. Gregory wanted to have dinner. With me. With Eugene. Like we were a family that still worked while he paraded Cheryl on his arm as if his actual family was just a second thought?

“I figured we could grab something simple,” he added. “Nothing too formal. Just you, me… Eugene.”

My stomach flipped, but I didn’t let it show as I gave another forced smile.

Did I want Gregory to suddenly show up for our son? Of course I did. Eugene would be so excited to have both of us there cheering him on.

“Sure,” I said, voice tight. “That sounds nice.” The words came out perfectly as I held my grin, letting him kiss me on the cheek before he stepped back out of the door. And when I was out of his sight, my shoulders dropped, the smile on my face along with it.

I should be happy. Eugene would be thrilled to have his father cheering on the sidelines tonight.

I just couldn’t stop thinking about someone else I wanted there.