Page 145 of Sin

“No, you don’t. You can’t know, because if you knew, you wouldn’t have let it get here.”

That hits because it’s true.

“I love her,” I say.

The words are calmer this time. Clearer. Not thrown in Jenna’s pain. Not trapped in my chest. Said in front of the people who know every ugly part of me and still have to decide what to do with this one.

“I love Laurel.”

Tate exhales like the words hurt him personally. Owen closes his eyes for one second. Dante says something under his breath that sounds like a prayer and a curse. Blaze turns away toward the window. Wilder just looks devastated.

Richard clears his throat. “That may be emotionally relevant, but legally⁠—”

Owen points at him. “Do not say legally like I am not about to age ten years before lunch.”

Richard wisely stops talking.

Owen turns back to me. “Here is what is going to happen. Effective immediately, you are removed from any supervisory capacity involving Laurel Cross. Tate will handle product launch decisions with oversight from me and independent HR counsel.”

“Fine.”

“Laurel will be offered independent counsel at company expense. And you will not be alone with her in this building.”

My jaw tightens.

Owen’s eyes flash. “Don’t test me.”

I say nothing.

“You will make no employment decisions involving her. None. If she wants to pursue Sex Activity Pro, no one interferes. If she wants to stay, we build a reporting structure that keeps you out of her career path completely.”

“Fine.”

“And you will prepare a disclosure for shareholders.”

Richard nods. “We’ll draft it.”

“No.” Owen looks at me. “He will draft it. Counsel can make it pretty after.”

I meet his stare. He’s not just angry. He’s hurt. That is harder.

“All right,” I say.

Blaze turns from the window. “And Jenna?”

I glance down at my bare hand.

“We’re getting a divorce.”

No one looks surprised. Somehow, that makes it worse.

“She left last night,” I say. “I spoke to Richard this morning. We’re moving forward.”

Tate leans back in his chair. “Does Laurel know?”

“About the post, yes. About the attorney, no.”

“About you loving her?”