Chapter 64

CHAPTER 64

MARLOW

K yla and I stepped out of my car and looked at the building. "This is nice," she commented.

"Let's see what the inside looks like," I said, not wanting to get my hopes up just yet. Looks could be deceiving. I kept learning that lesson over and over.

We were looking for a new office space to resume my solo marketing career. I was kicking myself for letting the last place go. I should have held on to it a little longer, but I really thought we had found a home at Spencer's firm. I had jumped into business with him the way I had jumped into bed with him—with my whole heart, believing everything would work out.

I was wrong.

"It's close to your building," Kyla said as we stepped inside the busy lobby that smelled like coffee.

"True." I nodded. "It would be nice to walk to work. I can work off some of that pizza."

"And it's very hip," she said. "It's clean and busy. Busy is good."

We meandered around the lobby, taking in the vibe. The building housed small startups, law offices, and an assortment of other businesses. It wasn't right on Fifth Avenue and didn't have that stuffy feeling that a lot of corporate buildings did, which was a plus for me.

The people milling about and taking advantage of the eclectic furnishings arranged around the lobby were in business suits and others were in more casual attire. Colorful posters and artwork adorned the walls, giving the space a vibrant, exciting atmosphere. Glass walls and polished floors reflected the light from above. Through the glass, you could see different offices and conference rooms, all filled with busy workers. It was clear that this was a place for young and innovative companies. I wasn't sure I liked the glass. With any luck, the space we were looking at would have actual walls.

"This feels very California," Kyla said. "Don't you think?"

I nodded. "It's not a bad thing. A sunny west coast vibe."

"No, definitely not. Don't you feel like you just stepped into the cool kids' hangout?" She laughed.

"Yes, it's definitely a change from the stale corporate environment we're used to," I admitted. As we ventured deeper into the building, we caught fragments of conversations about project deadlines, brainstorming sessions, and up-and-coming IPOs.

An agent from the leasing office soon met us. Her name was Grace, and she had an easygoing smile and the polished look of a saleswoman. "Hello, ladies. What do you think of our lobby?"

"Busy," I said, glancing around.

"We rent out those conference rooms," she explained. "Some of our tenants have smaller offices and need the space. We like to accommodate any of our tenants' needs."

"That's good," I said.

Grace nodded, her wide smile never fading. "Yes, it's one of the many perks we provide for our people. Now, shall we take the tour?"

Kyla and I followed Grace as she led us through a series of high-ceilinged corridors and open spaces with well-dressed people huddling in groups or sitting behind sleek desks. Every now and then, we'd pass a private office with glass walls—apparently a theme here—where people were either deep in conversation or busy scrolling through their computers. The glass thing was just not for me. I didn't think I could get on board with that. Call me old-fashioned but sometimes a girl liked to kick her heels off and loosen her belt. I didn't need an audience for that.

Together, we rode the elevator up to the thirtieth floor and stepped out into a corridor filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows. The view of the city skyline was breathtaking. Now this was what I had been envisioning.

"This is your potential space," she said, leading us to a corner suite. "The building manager is onsite and would love to meet you as well. He'll be around."

"Sounds good." I smiled.

Finding an open space in this building should have felt like a dream come true. The space was glamorous, not far from my apartment, and had a stunning view of Central Park. The large windows flooded the room with natural light, and the modern design of the interior made it feel fresh and sophisticated. It even had walls that weren't see-through.

Yet, I couldn't shake a feeling of indecision that nagged at me.

The agent highlighted all the features of the space before casually stepping away and giving Kyla and me some privacy to explore the area and talk. It was beautiful. I could see my furnishings in here.

Kyla playfully sat behind what would be my desk, situated under a glistening crystal chandelier. "Can you believe this? Look at this chandelier! You'd be the queen of marketing in here," she said, grinning. "And have you seen all the businesses on the ground floor? A spa, hot yoga studio, smoothie bar, and nail salon. What more could a girl ask for? You could be in the best shape of your life with a fresh manicure while working in a place as gorgeous as this. Say yes, Marlow. This is perfect! I want to work here. And it's so close to your place you could walk when the weather is nice and avoid all that awful traffic."

I looked around the space, trying to muster the excitement that I knew I should feel. A couple of months ago, this would have been a no-brainer choice. I'd have signed the lease on the spot.

"Hello?" a man's voice echoed through the room.

I turned to see a charming man in his early thirties with thick sandy hair that reminded me of Bradley Cooper. He had magnetic blue eyes, and if my heart wasn't currently in half a million pieces, I might have been attracted to him.

"I'm the building manager. I just popped in to see if you had any questions?"

"Uh, I don't think so." I smiled and shrugged. "It's all very nice."

He shook my hand, holding on for just a little longer than necessary. He looked directly into my eyes. "Take your time," he said. "I have to drop off some keys to one of the other tenants. I'll come back to check on you."

"Thank you so much," I said.

After he left, Kyla frowned, hands on her hips. "What's up with you? Why are you hesitating? This is everything you've ever wanted."

I sighed and looked around the dream space. "I don't know, Kyla. Something is holding me back."

"Marlow, do you remember when we tried to get an appointment to view an office here a couple of years ago?" she reminded me. "We couldn't even get a foot in the door. You were so disappointed. You kept saying this was your dream location."

"I know," I groaned. "It's as amazing as I knew it would be. It's perfect. I like the view and the vibe, and everything is exactly what I hoped it would be."

"But?" she prodded.

"I don't know. I just can't see myself here."

"I can," she said. "But I know why you can't. If you want to work there, go back. Talk to the guys. It doesn't have to be about Spencer. No one fired you or asked you to leave. You quit. You walked out without thinking twice. Your office is still there."

"I think this is the right move," I said. "I tried and it didn't work. I know this is where I should want to be. Like you said, it's been my dream to be based here."

Before Kyla could respond, the office door opened. "That was fast," I said, thinking the manager was coming back, but when I turned, it wasn't the friendly building manager.

It was Spencer.

My mind went blank and I wondered if he owned this building or something.

He was wearing a white button-up with the sleeves rolled up, and his dark hair was slightly disheveled. He was panting, struggling to catch his breath like he'd just been running for his life. "Hey," he said before bending forward, hands on his knees.

"What are you doing here?" I asked with confusion.

"Did you run up all thirty flights?" Kyla asked incredulously.

He nodded, wiping his brow that was glistening with sweat. "Some prick pressed every button on the elevator," he said, still catching his breath. "I think it was some TikTok bullshit. But I didn't want to wait and miss you."

I looked at Kyla and she tried her best to look innocent. She was complicit in this "chance" encounter. She grinned before letting out a gleeful little giggle. "I think I left the stove on," she said and rushed out of the office, still laughing.

"Traitor," I muttered under my breath, watching the door close behind her.

It was just me and Spencer in the office. The silence was deafening. Well, it was almost silent. Him sucking in loud gasps of breath was just a little loud. At one point, I was actually concerned. But he recovered more quickly than I would have.

"Did Kyla tell you where I was?" I asked.

He nodded. "It took some convincing, but she finally cracked."

I made a mental note to get Kyla back one of these days. She had arranged all of this. I should have known she was up to something when she insisted I dress to impress. She said it was to impress the leasing people. Now, I understood she wanted me to feel confident when I saw him.

Spencer looked around the office and then back at me. "It's a nice place. It suits you."

"What do you want, Spencer?" I asked irritably.

"You, Marlow." He looked me in the eyes.

That look always got me. I could feel the walls around my heart collapsing. I still loved him. It didn't just shut off because he was a moody jerk. I inwardly cursed myself for still wanting him.

"You were singing a different tune recently," she said. "You couldn't get away from me fast enough."

"I know and I came to apologize for that. For everything. For how I've treated you. For ending things the way I did. It's no excuse, but it wasn't about you. It was about me feeling small and inadequate and scared. I punished you because I thought you were going to leave me."

"Do you hear how crazy that sounds?" I asked.

"I do and I've realized how wrong I was. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but I'm begging for it anyway, Marlow. I'm here to ask for a second chance."

Anger bubbled to the surface. "You hurt me, Spencer. You made me feel like I wasn't enough, like I was just using you. Like I had to not be who I was to make sure your ego wasn't bruised."

"I know," he said, his voice filled with regret. "And I'm so sorry for that. I let my insecurities get the best of me. It was a huge mistake. I realize how much I love you. This whole thing has forced me to hold a mirror up to myself, and I didn't like what I saw. But for you, I'm willing to do the work and be the man you deserve. The man who loves you and deserves your love right back."

I stared at him, the resolve I'd built up starting to melt away. He looked so sincere, so desperate to make things right. "Spencer, I don't know if I can just forget everything that happened. It hurt. A lot."

"I don't expect you to forget," he said, stepping closer. "I just hope you can forgive me. Even if it's not right away. Let me prove to you that I can change. That I can be the partner you need."

His words tugged at my heart, and tears welled in my eyes. I wanted to believe him, to give us another chance. But the pain was still fresh. How could I just believe everything after the way things had been going between us?

He was worse than a roller coaster. His mood swings made me dizzy. He might declare his love for me right now, but what happened tomorrow when he got mad at me again?