Page 49 of Fool Me Twice

I listened, making sure to keep a smile on, but inside I felt disturbed. Something was definitely bothering Sebastián, but he wouldn’t talk about the matter.

And not because he didn’t want help, I was sure. If anything, his poor grades were a cry for someone to pay attention to him. Most likely, he was afraid to bring up whatever was on his mind.

A soft rap on the door eventually quieted him down.

“I need to steal Georgia for the afternoon,” Rodrigo said, “and show her the office.”

“Sure.” Sebastián sighed.

“I’ll be back later,” I promised him. “I’m staying here for a while, remember?”

“Uh-huh.” He gave me a hug before plopping down on his bed with a book.

Twenty minutes later, thanks to Rodrigo’s luxury sports car, we were walking into the gleaming glass building Sebastián had pointed out on that day that now seemed so long ago. Every person we passed stopped what they were doing to nod and say hello to Rodrigo, who shook more hands than I could count.

“Where is your office?” I asked as we emerged onto the tenth floor.

“Right down the aisle from yours.” He waved at a receptionist. “So I will be close by for whatever you might need.”

For whatever I might need?

My fears that Rodrigo had only hired me because he wanted to get back together resurfaced, but I tamped them down. Rodrigo was clearly an astute businessman; he wouldn’t have gotten so far in life if he weren’t. It seemed unlikely that he would risk hiring an incapable employee merely because he had a crush on them.

And maybe I was full of myself, come to think of it. Just because Rodrigo sent me roses didn’t mean he liked me in that way!

I followed him down a long hallway lined with doors, a tall window at the very end. Halfway down the hall, he stopped at an open door.

“Your office.” He gestured grandly.

I stared past him. “Are you sure?”

He blinked. “Yes. Is there something wrong with it?”

I laughed. “No. It’s… so nice.”

Finally, I allowed myself to step into the spacious room, where a full wall of windows let in bright afternoon light. Taking a seat behind the desk, I tested out the rolling chair.

“My office in Baltimore is nothing compared to this,” I said.

“That’s a shame.” Folding his arms, he leaned against the wall. “You deserve the best.”

His words pulled at something deep and confusing in me. For a brief moment, I saw what our lives might have been had we not broken up that fateful night.

I would have moved to Rio. I knew that for sure. Both living and working with Rodrigo would have been a no-brainer. Would we have started his company together?

What else might we have done? Started a home? A family?

My throat clogged with emotion, and I tore my gaze away from him. My thoughts didn’t run away with themselves often, but when they did it was bad.

“Georgia?” Rodrigo’s voice dropped. “Are you all right?”

“I’m great.” I smiled at the window.

He left his post on the wall and took a seat on the desk, right next to me. “Did I do something to upset you?”

Forcing myself to be a big girl, I tore my gaze from the window to look at him. “It’s a lot at once, that’s all.”

His lips turned down. “Have I done too much? I promise you I am not treating you any differently than I would any other employee.”