Page 132 of Everything She Wanted

“Oh, don’t you worry, I’ll tell you every last detail, but first, how does it feel to be an engaged woman?”

His eyes flick to my bare ring finger.

I look down at my hand before hiding it under my desk. “It didn’t work out.”

“Nisha. I’m sorry.” He looks sad for me, and I realize I’m still sad too, about it, and about everything.

“It’s okay. It’s for the best.” I know it is. Even though everything still hurts.

“I haven’t told anyone else yet, so.”

He straightens up and looks at me with softness in his eyes. “I’ll keep it on the down-low.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, there’s plenty more fish in the sea, as they say.” He tries to make me smile, and I love him for it.

But I only want one.

I look into his deep brown eyes and manage to give him a little smile.

Matt fills me in on everything I missed, including the marketing team not liking any of his memes—a tragedy, according to him—and then that Nick has already started a new contract and Matt will officially take over starting today.

He’s gone.

I have no more reasons to see him, and my heart sinks as I realize I’ll never see his gorgeous face in the halls again or see him sitting across from me in meetings, or at the coffee shop down the street, or anywhere else, really.

It’s fine, even though it isn’t, because I have to move on.

I’m not sure what Nick wants. I’m not sure what I want either, and for the first time, I’m going to take some time to figure it out instead of jumping in, even though I’d leap off a cliff for him, even now.

“Thanks for the update.”

“Anytime.”

He heads out, and I look at my calendar. My next meeting is with my team. The team that I’m leading and I’m so damn excited about it even with the crushing heartbreak that lingers in my chest. Everyone will be divided into two teams eventually, but we’re starting as one for now so I can learn more about their skills and then help place them where they’ll shine most.

I head to the boardroom early and see my A-players file in. They are all women, but there’s one woman at the back who I want to see the most.

Jess comes in looking timid and uncertain, but I’m glad she’s here. I spoke with management to see if I could have her come on board, and they were happy to give it a shot on a trial basis to see if it is a good fit for her and the company. I know it will be. She isn’t confident, and I know that feeling because that was me, but I know it’s only a matter of time until she finds her groove. It’s so wonderful to create this opportunity for her.

“Welcome, everyone! I can’t tell you how excited I am to have you on board.”

Expectant faces look up at me, and it finally starts to sink in. It’s me leading the charge.

“Let’s dive in, shall we?”

I’m making a difference, and this time, I believe it.

“Jess, do you have a moment?” I ask as most of the other women are already out the door after the meeting.

“Of course.”

I close the meeting room door to give us some privacy as she walks over to me.

“I’m so sorry about everything with Eshaan.” She gives me a sad smile and squeezes my upper arm.

“Me too.” I filled her in on the weekend with what happened between us, and now it’s time to fill her in on everything else too.