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Maybe Evan is right, and the reason Sloan lefth our hands?”

He shrugs “I don’t know But we’ll recover, and we’ll figure that out We’re already strategizing alternate ways to grow, so I’d love your input And I get to keep my hundred million dollars, so that’s a bonus You can tell ht as well put theht?”

That’s the perfect opening to say what I came to

My gut tightens as I withdraw the typed note from my suit pocket, then put it in nation, effective immediately”

“What?” Evan rips the note open and scans it before tossing it onto the table and gaping at me “Why?”

How do I explain this in a way my best friend and former boss will understand? “I need to do this for Sloan”

“I don’t understand”

After everything Evan and I have been through together, I owe him an explanation “She thinks I only married her to seal Stratus’s position with Reservoir But I’m in love with her”

“I suspected asday So did Nia That’s why she tried to talk to Sloan e stopped on the way to the airport, to gauge her feelings—”

Sighing, I hold up a hand “I’ because I’ because I fucked everything up…though I did”

“Bas, you gave this assignment your all—and then some”

Since Evan knows that, avecause”

Evan frowns “Meaning?”

“Sloan has one dream: to be the heart of Reservoir I tried to take that from her All her life, she’s been someone’s plan B Their second choice A pawn Her father used her brilliance, a her anything in return but a paycheck Even her first boyfriend used her for a good ti Over and over, she’s given herself to people who haven’t given a shit about her feelings I have to put her first, and I need to respect her dream I can’t do that if I’m her competitor”

“Okay, but…you’re putting ht? Your shoes are impossible to fill”