Page 73 of Ruthless Touch
“For us,” I correct her. “Now we can do all of those things we’ve talked about for the past few years.”
She steps back away from me and slowly shakes her head. “Not us. You. I’m officially giving my notice. It’s time for me to go, Gideon.”
Her words hit me like a freight train. Sasha leave? To go where? I’ve been so used to having her as my right hand that I can’t imagine running this place without her.
“No. I won’t accept your resignation, so forget it.”
Taking my hand in hers, she holds it tightly as she explains, “You don’t need me around ruining your life, and that’s what will happen if I stay. You and Aria have a real chance at happiness, the kind I’ve always wished for you. That won’t happen if I’m always around.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Why does she think she’d ruin my life? She’s my closest friend in the world.
“Aria and I will be fine if you’re around. She likes you. She told me that last night,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief.
“And I like her, but it will never work with me here. I know that. So I’m going to work for Alex.”
I step back in utter shock. “Work for Alex? My brother? No. You don’t deserve that after how wonderful you’ve been here.”
Sasha smiles and shakes her head. “I adore you, Gideon Rule. I have from the moment I met you. But it’s time to say goodbye now. The least you can do is wish me luck in my new job. I hear my new boss is a real pain in the ass.”
The thought of her being around my brother having to do as he orders her to makes my chest hurt. “No. You can’t do this. I won’t let you.”
She opens her arms and pulls me in for another hug. “This is the part where you say you know I can do this and you’ll always be here for me to talk to after a long day working at my new job.”
I hear the tears in her voice as I hold her tightly to me. “You don’t have to do this, Sasha.”
In my ear, she answers, “Yes, I do.”
When she steps back, she dries under her eyes and forces a smile. “Now tell me you believe I can handle this because if you don’t, I’m going to think you really believe I can’t rein in Alex, and I don’t need that kind of confidence crusher.”
“Of course you can. He’s an asshole, but you’re tough. You’ll be fine.”
“And you’ll be fine too. You have Aria and this hotel that’s finally all yours, as it should be.”
I sit down, my mind spinning at what’s happened in the past few minutes. “How am I going to run this place without you, Sasha?”
It’s not an empty question. She’s been with me for so long that I can’t imagine not having her to rely on when things go to hell.
“I’ve trained Tamsin well. She’ll be as good as I was, Gideon.”
“No, she won’t. She’s cold and she hates me. Remember?”
With a smile, she says, “No, she isn’t, and I think she might actually like you if you act like you did with me. Promise me you’ll at least give her a chance. She’s very efficient and cares about this place more than you realize.”
“I’ll give her a chance, but it won’t be the same,” I say quietly, still trying to wrap my head around the idea of my life here at the hotel without Sasha.
Crouching in front of me, she looks up at me and in a serious voice, she says, “Be good to that beautiful creature or I’ll come back and steal her away from you.”
In return, I say, “Don’t take any of my brother’s shit.”
She pats my knee before standing to kiss me on the cheek. “You know I won’t.”
“So how long do I have before you leave?” I ask as she steps back away from me.
Tears fill her eyes even as she tries to smile. “I’m leaving with him this morning. We talked it all out last night, so when he flies out, I’ll be going with him, your father, and Alaric.”
“Jesus. Are you in that much of a hurry to get away from me?”
Sasha leans forward and kisses me again. “I need to go. You know that. It’s not anything about you. It’s just time. I love you, Gideon. That’s why I’m doing this. Now be happy so I don’t feel like I’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life.”