13. Vivienne #3
He studies me for a moment. "And you?"
"What about me?"
"Do you want to be co-chair of their gala committee?"
The question catches me off guard. In all the family power plays and relationship complications, I hadn't considered what I actually wanted professionally from this situation.
"I don't know," I admit. "It's good exposure, certainly. But..."
"But it comes with strings attached to your parents," he finishes, understanding in his eyes.
I nod, surprised and touched by his insight.
The car pulls into traffic, Manhattan's gleaming towers sliding past the tinted windows. I turn to face him, not sure this is the time but...
"Gerald Lumina offered me the London office today," I say abruptly. "Director position, full relocation. Starting next month."
Jaxon goes very still, only the tightening of his fingers on his knee betraying his reaction. "London."
"It's a major promotion. Everything I've worked for professionally." I watch his face carefully. "But it would mean leaving New York. Leaving..." You. Us. Whatever we've become.
"You should take it," he says after a long moment, voice carefully neutral. "It's an incredible opportunity. Perfect timing, really."
His response feels like a slap. "Perfect timing?"
"New city, new position, clean slate." He won't quite meet my eyes. "The custody hearing is coming soon. After that, our arrangement has served its purpose."
"Our arrangement." I repeat the words, ice forming in my chest. "Is that still what this is to you? After last night? After everything?"
"What else would it be?" His tone is suddenly distant, defensive. "We agreed to help each other achieve specific goals. Once those are accomplished—"
"We walk away," I finish for him, anger rising to mask the hurt. "Return to our separate lives as if nothing happened. As if that kiss meant nothing."
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to." I stare out the window, blinking back unexpected tears. "You know, for a moment there, I actually believed there was something real developing between us. That's what I get for confusing performance with reality."
"Vivienne—"
"Take me back to the mansion," I cut him off. "I’d like to get my car to be alone."
"You're leaving?" Alarm breaks through his careful facade.
"I need some time, but what's there to hang around for?" I challenge, finally meeting his gaze. "Clearly, our 'arrangement' is reaching its natural conclusion. You get custody of Lily, I get career advancement, we all move on. Isn't that the deal?"
"That's not fair," he says quietly, something like pain flickering in his eyes. "You know it's more complicated than that."
"Then explain it to me!" My voice rises with frustration. "Because from where I'm sitting, it seems pretty simple. Either what's happening between us is real, or it's not. Either you have feelings for me, or you don't."
"Of course I have feelings for you!" The words burst from him, raw and unplanned.
"But feelings don't change the reality. You have a career opportunity across the ocean.
I have Lily and responsibilities here. What are we supposed to do?
Throw away everything we've worked for because we kissed on stage? "
"It wasn't just a kiss," I say, voice dropping. "And you know it."
The car pulls through the gates of the mansion, coming to a stop in the circular driveway. Neither of us moves to exit.
"I can't ask you to give up London," Jaxon says finally. "That wouldn't be fair."
"You haven't asked me anything," I point out. "You just assumed I'd go."
"Wouldn't you? If our arrangement wasn't complicating things?"
The question hits a nerve. Would I take the London position without hesitation if not for Jaxon and Lily? Before I can answer, he continues.
"This was always temporary, Vivienne. We both knew that going in."
The finality in his tone ignites something fierce in me. "So that's it? Decision made? You don't even want to discuss alternatives?"
"What alternatives?" Frustration edges his voice. "Long distance between New York and London. Asking you to give up a career-defining opportunity? Those aren't real options."
"You didn't even try to find a solution," I say, hurt hardening into anger. "You just decided it's easier to revert to our original plan than figure out what's actually happening between us."
"That's not—"
"It is," I interrupt, opening the car door. "And you know what? Maybe you're right. Maybe London is perfect timing. A clean break before either of us gets even more confused about what's real and what's performance."
I step out of the car, dignity barely intact.
"Vivienne—"
"Jaxon," I cut him off, turning away before he can see the tears threatening. "It was a convincing performance while it lasted."
As I walk toward the mansion, each step feels heavier than the last. Behind me, I hear the car door slam, but I don't look back. Can't look back.
Because if I do, I might admit the terrifying truth: that somewhere between fake engagement and real feelings, I've fallen in love with Jaxon Hart. And now I have to walk away.