“Henley, it’s Juliet. Come home, babe. I’m worried about you.” I hang up and close my eyes as I imagine the nightmare this could turn into.

If he goes with her, if he turns away from me in a time of crisis . . . we can never recover from that.

I drop to the couch and put my head in my hands, tears welling in my eyes. “We worked too damn hard to be together. Don’t ruin it now.”

I’m panicked for what’s about to come. I’m scared for Henley.

He’s grieving and alone, and I want to go to him at work, but then if he is on his way home . . .

What do I do?

“Blake.” I dial Blake’s number.

Ring, ring . . . ring, ring . . . ring, ring . . .

“You’ve reached Dr. Grayson. I’m unable to come to the phone right now. If this is an emergency, dial 911. Alternatively, you may call my office at (650) 944-9494.”

“Fuck.” I dial the number of his office.

“Hello, Dr. Grayson’s rooms.”

“Hello, this is Juliet Drinkwater. I’m a friend of Blake’s, and I’m unable to reach him. Is he there in the office today?”

“Dr. Grayson is in an appointment today. He won’t be out until later tonight. Can I take a message for him for tomorrow?”

I close my eyes. Fuck.

“No, that’s okay. Thanks very much.” I hang up and scroll through my phone until I get to Antony’s number. I quickly dial it.

Ring, ring . . . ring, ring . . . ring, ring . . .

“This is Antony Deluca. I’m in court today. Leave a message.”

“For fuck’s sake, why do his friends have to be off ruling the world?”

I begin to pace back and forth. My heart is in my throat, and I feel sick to my stomach. “Come home, baby. Please come home.”

Henley

The buzzer sounds on my desk. “Your four o’clock appointment is here, Henley.”

I buzz back. “Thanks, Jenny. I’ll be out in a minute.”

With a deep sigh, I stand and walk to the window. I put my hands in my suit pockets and stare out over the high-rise skyline.

There is no brain activity.

I clench my jaw as I stare out over the skyline. My beloved father is gone.

Nobody to visit, nobody to care for.

There’s an emptiness that I can’t explain. A void that nothing else can fill.

I go to my desk and look around for my phone. Not on my desk, not in my drawers. I rustle through my laptop bag. I haven’t been able to find it all day. Have I left it somewhere?

“Where the fuck is it?”

I buzz Jenny. “Jen, have you seen my phone?”

“No, sir. Do you want me to come and help you look for it?”

I scratch my head as I look around. “No, it’s okay. What time is my next appointment?”

“She’s here now.”

“Okay, send her in.”

“Thanks for coming. It was great to finally put a face to the name.” I shake Erica’s hand on our way out of my office. It’s the end of a day that has been booked with back-to-back appointments. Exhausting doesn’t come close.

“You too. Have a nice night.” She smiles. I watch her walk through the reception area and get into the elevator. Jenny is sitting at her desk, working away.

“Go home, Jen.” I sigh. “Thanks for today.” I walk back into my office and begin to pack up my computer.

A soft knock sounds at the door. I glance up to see Jenny coming in.

“Come in,” I reply. “What’s up?”

She walks in and closes the door behind her. “I just wanted to check in on you.”

“I’m okay.”

“You work too hard.”

“Someone’s got to pay the bills around here.” I smile as I begin closing down my emails.

She walks closer and leans on my desk. “I’m here for you, Henley. You know that, don’t you.”

Something about her tone makes me look up at her. She undoes the top button on her blouse. “Anything that you need . . . I’m here for you.”

What?

I lean back in my chair as I stare at her. “And what is it that you think that I need?”

“To relax.” She undoes another button on her blouse; a hint of a white lace bra comes into view.

“And how will you help me do that?”

“You know you can trust me . . .” Her voice trails off as she undoes another button. “I know how hard your heart is breaking right now.”

Huh?

“Remember that time in Germany at the conference where we spent the night together?”

“That was eleven years ago, Jen, and a one-off.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” She undoes another button. “I can satisfy you, Henley. You need to just forget the world, lose yourself physically. I can be your safe place to fall.”

She opens her shirt to reveal a perfect set of perky breasts. Her stomach is toned, and her body is perfect.

She walks around to my side of the desk and sits on my lap; she cups my face in her hand. “I can make you forget everything. We can leave for Dubai tonight and get away from everything.”

“Jen, what the fuck are you doing?”

“You need this.” She looks down at my lips. “You need me.”

And in this moment, I see it. Clarity.

Crystal clear clarity.

Who I belong with . . . belong to. I’ve known it all along, but still, the realization comes through again.

“I’m in love with Juliet.”

Her eyes search mine.

“I’m sad, Jen. My heart is broken, and I appreciate all that you do for me. But it is not like that between us.”

“We have something, Henley.”

“We do. I know we do. It’s called friendship. A very special friendship.”

“I’ve booked us on the red-eye to Dubai. The flight is at ten.”

“What?” I screw up my face. “What on earth would make you think we’re going to Dubai tonight?”

“You said you wanted to go to Dubai as soon as possible.”

“Not fucking tonight,” I gasp as I throw my laptop into my bag. “I’ve got to get home.”

“To her?” Jenny folds her arms angrily.

“Yes, to her. I told you a million times, Jenny. I’m in love with Juliet. We are getting married.”

“Then what the hell am I doing here?” she cries.

“Right now . . . you’re being the most selfish person I’ve ever met.” I throw my hands up in the air in surrender. “My father fucking died yesterday, Jenny, and here I am dealing with you carrying on and trying to kiss me and get me to fly to the other side of the world away from my family.”

“You don’t have a family,” she spits.

The venom.

“Yes.” My anger rises. “I do. I have my family, the one I chose: Juliet and Blake and Antony.” My eyes hold hers. “And I used to have the best PA in the business.”

Her eyes well with tears. “Used to?”