Chapter 40
Ice looked at Dean, hoping for some kind of explanation. However, Dawson didn’t even spare him a glance, and that was enough of a sign. Rico took the hint—whatever spark people thought existed between Dawson and Autumn, it was clearly dead on arrival, or had been.
He suddenly leaned back, made a decision, and said, “Alright then. Since you’re out, I’m going for it. I really like that mysterious vibe Autumn gives off. None of my exes ever…”
It wasn’t love at first sight—he wasn’t that cliché—he figured, why not give it a shot? Maybe there was some romantic chemistry waiting to be discovered. Besides, feelings took time to grow, and it just so happened that he was quite interested in Autumn.
However, the moment he said it, Dawson lifted his eyes and said, “Go ahead.”
Rico raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t asking your permission. I’m talking about a woman you’re not interested in.”
Dawson replied, “I’m not stopping you from putting a cold sign on Damien’s head.”
There was a prise stared at him, caught off guard. His tone was harsh as he asked, “Wait—Autumn’s with Damien?”
Even Robin looked up, visibly surprised. “You mean your half-brother? I thought Damien was married, and if Autumn’s his wife, how come no one’s ever heard about it? I’ve only seen him out with that other woman at events lately.”
Tamia, quiet until now, finally chimed in. “They’ve been married for three years.”
He said it casually, but as soon as the words left his mouth, Jamie realized why he’d always felt it was such a waste when he learned Autumn had married young. Like Robin said, Autumn and Dawson were the ones who felt like they belonged in the same world.
Ros processed Robin’s earlier comment, snapped his fingers, and smirked. “So, they’re probably heading for a divorce, then. That being the case, what happens after the divorce?” Dawson had zero interest in Autumn, and whatever ideas his friends had were utterly irrelevant to him, if not outright ridiculous. He said, “I will never be with her.”
His voice was low, steady, and final. However, he wasn’t done, warning them, “And whatever you just said—I’ll chalk it up to boredom and nonsense. But don’t ever bring that up in front of Autumn.”
He thought it was just unfair to her, and above all, it was disrespectful.
The next morning, Autumn got out of bed and went through her usual routine. She changed the bandage on her scraped hand—it was healing, though the deeper cuts would take a few more days. The night reminded her of Christine’s indifference, but she told herself it was no use thinking about people who didn’t care.
With that in mind, Autumn clenched her fist and got dressed. She pulled on one of her new tailored suits, threw a trench coat over her shoulders, and grabbed her bag.
She stopped for coffee at a café near the office, clipped her employee badge to her blazer, and walked through security into Westgate Group’s headquarters.
Rachel was the first to notice the change. Like always, she had come to the office early just to catch a glimpse of Damon. “Autumn, you looked so drained last week, but you look way better today!”
Autumn had gone through a miscarriage and divorce last week, and hadn’t even given herself time to recover. So yes, she definitely hadn’t been at her best.
Rachel gently touched her hair. “Your hairstyle! You used to wear a simple ponytail every day—practical, sure, but honestly, a little dull. Now, that little bun at the back? So clean and sharp. And overall, you just look more polished.”
Autumn had spent years putting Dustin first, with no time for herself. So, just changing her clothes and tying her hair differently made a world of difference. “Thanks,” she said softly.
“What are you thanking me for? You’re stunning. Any man who ends up with you is the luckiest guy on the planet.”
Rachel had worked with Autumn for years, knowing exactly how capable she was—and how kind. Seeing Autumn would try to say thank you again, Rachel quickly covered her mouth. Just then, the elevator dinged. The CEO’s private elevator had arrived—Dunsin was inside.