The Summer Heat Passes and I Hold You CloseChapter 3

After I left the Pruitt company, I went to work for Caspar Delgado's biggest competitor.

"Uncle Duncan Lawrence, thank you for taking me in."

"Don't say that. If it weren't for you back then, this company wouldn't be standing today. And your father..."

My hands trembled slightly, out of my control. Whatever I felt about Caspar was one thing, but I didn't want my family to know we'd fallen apart.

I'd rather everyone believe I'd been thrown out on the street.

Duncan sighed and shook his head. "You're as stubborn as your father. But whatever you decide to do, Uncle Duncan will always have your back."

"Thank you, Uncle Duncan."

Three months into working for him, I ran into Caspar again after all.

Both our companies were bidding for the same contract.

"Sheila Winfield. I never imagined you'd go this far for Caspar."

Alma Pruitt's stare burned into me.

I felt like I'd been dropped into a block of ice.

I wanted to tell everyone in that room, wanted to say one word in my own defense — that Caspar and I were legally married, even if the divorce was almost done.

But I glanced at Caspar, sitting by the window, and his expression was as calm and unbothered as ever.

I laughed at myself. I was still praying he would step up and explain, just one sentence for me.

What on earth was I expecting.

Two years of marriage, and he'd never once been willing to make our relationship public. At work he kept his distance from me on purpose.

If he wanted to, if he said a single word, all of it — the misunderstandings, the whispers — would vanish.

But he didn't want to.

Seeing that I stayed silent, Alma spoke up again, smiling, playing the gracious one.

"Forget it, Sheila, I don't blame you! I know Caspar's type, and it is definitely not someone like you. If you really can't help it, if it hurts you that much, we can always compete fair and square."

The crowd laughed again. Caspar stood up, frowning at the cluster of people, his voice cold and clear.

"Why are you all crowding the doorway?"

Then his eyes settled on my face.

Frowning, Caspar walked over.

The murmuring filled my ears.

"I'll bet the whole company's afternoon coffee run — old grudges, new ones, who's actually going to land today's bid?"

"A hundred bucks says Mr. Delgado's company wins."

Alma's face went dark. She knew Caspar's rule — he didn't allow his people to make a scene or cause trouble in public — so she could only soften her tone, coaxing.

"Caspar, breaking up back then was me being childish. I told you that you could only find someone who couldn't measure up to me. That was just something I said in anger, don't hold a grudge over it on purpose. I'm back in the country now. Let's get back together, all right?"

I froze where I stood, holding my breath, waiting for Caspar's answer.