It wasn‘t long after that they said their goodbye‘s and the helicopter took them straight to the airport.Once aboard the plane Lily removed the ring and handed it back to Max. ―I guess I don‘t need this anymore.‖ Finally he centered his gaze on her with a flicker of emotion while he took it from her.
―It was fun Lily.‖ He said searching her expression.
―I guess.‖ She murmured.
He took a deep breath knowing he was hurting her with his cool restraint, ―Look, what happened—―
―I—don‘t want to discuss this.‖ She said waving a hand, ―I can‘t.‖ her eyes guided to his, ―Just please don‘t tell Luke.‖
―Lily—―
―Can you at least promise me that? I just want to get on with my life. I‘m sorry I disappointed you.‖
―Disappointed! Lily, what the hell are you talking about?‖
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L. R. Wards
he said incredulously.
―Just forget it.‖ She said feeling herself blush.
―No, I won‘t. Do you think that‘s what‘s going on? That you disappointed me? Good lord button, that‘s the furthest thing from the truth.‖He never even considered that his aloofness toward her would be interpreted in such a way. Now he felt like a complete bastard. In truth he should have known better, she was inexperienced and naïve, and despite what they shared, she still was.
―Max please just stop!‖ She pleaded.
―You should let me explain.‖ He said wincing inwardly seeing her pain.
―I don‘t want to talk about it.When we get back to Chicago, we‘ll get on with our lives as if nothing has happened.
It‘s what I want. I‘m going back to College in a few weeks.‖ She continued not looking him in the eyes for fear that he‘d see how hurt she was.
But he already knew the damage he caused and her statement, though he agreed, cut him to the core. He‘d promised Luke that he‘d leave her be, and he didn‘t. He got involved too early and he had to correct it. ―All right, if that‘s what you wish.‖
Although he said the words they were the hardest thing he ever had to say.
―It is.‖
The days at work seemed to drift by in a fog.Lily tried her best to be professional, but when Brittney cornered her again and mocked her for a broken engagement saying that she couldn‘t hold on to a man like Max, she near burst into tears.
The engagement was a ruse but no one knew that and although she knew what it would be like when she returned, she didn‘t expect to have it hurt so much. She didn‘t blame Max as much as she blamed herself for what had happened between them.
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The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire It probably wouldn‘t have if she didn‘t know what it was like to hold him, or touch him the way she did. Now, she was hopelessly in love with him and he easily treated her as one of his employees as if nothing had happened.
Lily used to pride herself on her self-esteem, but only Max could make it crumble down around her.If this were any other man, she would have no problem walking away and continuing on with her life. But this wasn‘t any other man, this was Max, and her world always revolved around him. How was she supposed to get on with her life when it felt so empty?
He wasn‘t intentionally being mean, he was just being himself, but Lily had no experience with men, and Max could easily go through life because he‘d been with so many women and didn‘t take their weekend in Athens as personally as she did.
Just then he strode into the office with a gaggle of men in tow hanging on his every word.He had such a presence about him that commanded respect and she couldn‘t help but let it affect her too.He was so handsome and tall enough to tower over everyone else there.It was no wonder she felt so insignificant and small around him. Well, she did now. Before Greece she always thought he favoured her somehow, but now it seemed as if she was less important to him than the rest of the women in the office. She had only just realized that. At the time it didn‘t seem as if he paid any special attention to her, but the