❝ꋬⲧℓᥲ𝖘❞

It had been two days since Erin had slammed the door and left me reeling. And in that time, I’d been informed that I’d won the Myers account.

I should be ecstatic. I’d taken my father’s jet back to LA last night, but being home felt wrong. It felt empty.

My apartment was too quiet, and I’d yet to feel like I wanted to pull my hair out. Even my eye had stopped twitching. I should be rejoicing in the lack of frustration, and yet a dark cloud hung over me.

I pushed through the revolving door into the main office of the Moreno Group.

The meeting with my dad was scheduled to start in fifteen minutes. A week ago, walking into my father’s office with the Myers account in my hand had been my life’s goal. Now, although it was good news, I felt nothing but hollow.

Plus there was our stipulation that required the head of marketing to work on site. I hadn’t been privy to that information until he was offered the contract. But had my dad known the whole time? Because my father had always expected ne to take over the Moreno Group, and I couldn’t exactly do that from the mountains of Montana.

But Devin and Wilson were adamant that I was the only account manager they wanted. I shook my head at the craziness of it all. I wanted to impress them so badly, and though I’d gone about it in the wrong way, they still wanted me.

“Dad,” I said as I walked into my father’s office.

My father stood at the windows that overlooked downtown. He turned at my voice. The tall blond man looked at least ten years younger than his sixty-six years.

“Seth” my father stepped around his desk, extending his hand. “Congratulations, my boy. I knew you could do it. The Myers are so thrilled to bring you on.”

“Thanks, dad. But I thought you wanted me to learn how to run the company so I could take over when you retire.”

“Of course I do. But that starts by giving you accounts like this so you can get the hands-on experience” my dad smirked. “Besides, I have no plans to retire for at least another fifteen years. Who knows, maybe we can add another satellite location in that time.”

“Satellite location?” I parroted.

“Yes,” my father said, putting his hands in his pockets and smiling. “Take over your first big account and work at the Myers’ corporate office like they want. They need someone focused and dedicated to get their marketing campaign for this vitamin water going. And they made it clear they want it to be you. After a year, we can get an office up in Helena if you like.”

Wait, what?

My dad raised a brow. “You get them up and running, then step back. It’s how you grow the business. And this is the perfect way for you to learn.”

Well, shit! How could I possibly say no to that?

My father was trusting me to run an account like this and oversee my own location. The gesture spoke volumes.
But when Devin had come to me with the marketing contract, he’d told me that Belinda was hell bent on bringing Erin on staff too. And I wasn’t sure I could see her every day and not want more.

The time apart hadn’t done anything for my feelings. In fact, it almost made them stronger. I missed her. Far more than I should. After all, we’d only known each other for a few days. Last night, I spent an hour watching her TikToks just to see her smile.

God, I am fucking pathetic.

I should probably find out whether she’d taken the job Belinda offered.

“Is there some other reason you’re reluctant to accept this account?” My father’s forehead was creased with worry.

The CEO of the Moreno group was gone, and in his place was my dad.

“If there’s a problem, you can talk to me, so. You know that.”

I sighed.

“Things didn’t work out with Erin…”

My father leaned forward.

“I thought you said she might come out for a weekend. Did the fake fiancée thing blow up badly?”

The feeling of disappointment I’d grown accustomed to over the last several months hit me like a tidal wave.

“Yeah” I bowed my head, steeling himself for the lecture I was sure to get.

But instead, my dad chuckled.

“God, Seth. I have no idea what possessed you to pretend you were engaged. Mick and I had a good laugh at your expense about the entire thing. I don’t know the full story, so why don’t you fill me in?”

I shook my head but dove into the details of the whole crazy week, starting from the moment I climbed into the back seat of Erin’s car.

My father shook his head with a deep sigh.

“I’ve told your mom for years that you’d settle down once you met a woman who would keep you on your toes.”

“But she makes me insane, Dad. Like makes my eye twitch and my head hurt insane. Yet I can’t stay away from her” I rubbed my hand over my face and slumped into the chair.

“So she’s like your mother, then?” Again, my father laughed. “I’ve always said that running this company is ten times easier than figuring out your mom. But love is like that. Half the time I feel like I’m guessing, the other half, I’m just giving her what she wants.”

I swallowed and looked into my dad’s green eyes.

“You two have always made it look easy.”

“It’s definitely not easy, but it’s worth it, and we’re not quitters. Have you tried talking to Erin since you left Billings?” He leaned back, his leather chair creaking as he got comfortable.

I shook my head.

What would I say?

I wasn’t even sure what happened. But I’d had a few days to stew on the events of the week, and I was sure that what I and Erin had was real.

“You’re heading back there, right?” my dad asked. “Go talk to her, tell her what you want.”

But how could I chase someone who didn’t want to be caught?