27

I sigh and force a half-smile. “I’ve had more reasons to be in New York recently. So, yes, my time is divided between here and Vegas.”
Wherever you are, that’s where I need to be. Even if it’s Antarctica.
Her gaze meets mine, a whisper of curiosity showing through. But it vanishes as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a polite nod. Like she’s talking about the weather. She doesn’t care. She doesn’t remember.
Whatever I thought I saw before is gone.
A frustrated growl slips past my lips before I can cage it, and she visibly flinches.
I quickly regain my composure and take a deep breath, not wanting to scare her any further.
“JP, sir,” she says in an unnaturally formal tone. “Thank you for this meeting. Umm… is there anything else you need from me?”
Looking at her face, devoid of any trace of recognition or warmth, hits me like a sledgehammer. I never imagined a world where Lucy and I would be… what are we now? Superior and subordinate? It’s a bitter pill to swallow.
“How are you working on getting your damn memories back?” The words burst out, a cocktail of pent-up frustration and desperation making my voice harsher than I intended. I regret the words the moment they leave my lips.
She startles, blinking before gathering herself and squaring her shoulders. “With all due respect, sir, I’m getting really tired of being asked about that. I’m doing everything the doctors and therapists tell me. Counseling, coaching… I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do.”
“You’re right, I apologize,” I say, attempting to take the edge off my gruff tone. I’m acting like a class-A jerk. “That was out of line.”
Now I need her to leave before I completely lose my shit. “We’re done here. You can leave.” If she stays, I might say or do something even more regrettable.
She nods, then rises and walks out.
Watching her leave feels like my heart is being put through a shredder.
I handled that like a jackass. A certified, bona fide jackass. Maggie would’ve torn me a new one.
I let my eyes drift to the liquor cabinet, its polished surface reflecting back my drained eyes. Is it too early for a stiff one? Or maybe something a little stronger. I’m sure there’s a bit of powder stashed somewhere in this office.
It’s tempting. I can almost taste it, the familiar burn in my nostrils.
But I’m a changed man, I kicked that habit, swore off that life. No, what I need isn’t in a bottle or a powdery line.
What I need is a plan. A damn good one, and fast.

A quarter-hour later, I stride out of my office onto the open floor plan.
“Taylor,” I say, my voice cutting through the office chatter. “Round everyone up and meet me in boardroom five.”
Startled, Taylor quickly recovers and gets the team moving.
One by one, they shuffle in, casting curious glances my way. As they settle into their seats, I position myself at the head of the table. Their low chatter dies down instantly, replaced by an anxious silence.
“I gave you all an extension,” I begin, my gaze surveying the room, “but time isn’t something we should waste.” My voice hardens, the tension in the room ratcheting up a notch. “You’ve gotten complacent since knocking Phase One out of the park. The ideas I’m seeing now are weak. They lack vision. Guts. We need to step it up.”
I pause, letting the weight of my words hang in the air before adding the kicker. “So, we’re going all in. No exceptions. We’re holding a one-week hackathon starting in two weeks. I know we usually hold these events in Vegas, but this time we’re switching it up.”
A sense of unrest ripples through the room. I ignore it, continuing, “We’ll be meeting at my vacation home near Bear Mountain State Park.”
The room falls deadly silent, some clearly disappointed we’re not heading to Sin City, others wishing they weren’t heading anywhere at all.
My eyes lock with Lucy’s, the one person whose reaction I’m truly interested in.
I soften my tone. “Lucy, if you’d rather not come, I understand. Say the word. But I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”
The multitude of emotions playing across her face twists my gut, but she gives a resolute nod.
It’s a strange disconnect considering the countless hours we spent at that place, the cabin she once called her “sanctuary.” Maybe I’m arrogant, but I know she loves it there. Nestled in the Hudson Highlands, surrounded by rolling hills, it’s breathtakingly beautiful.
Taking her back there might kickstart some memories for her. Ideally, reignite her feelings for me.
Plus, I know her therapy schedule for next week; I’ve been keeping tabs on her progress.
If she’d just let me buy that damn apartment of hers, she’d have her own sanctuary every night. She would be free.
Instead, her pride won’t let her accept my help, so she continues to reside above some grimy sex shop with a clown who goes by the name Spider. His security check revealed his real name is William.
A few of the team shift uncomfortably in their seats. One guy clears his throat so violently he might be choking. Am I being an asshole, demanding they drop everything for work? Probably. But the pay is generous enough for them to endure the occasional inconvenience.
No one dares to object. No one says they can’t attend.
Hackathons are tough. The name is misleading to people outside the business-it started with hackers and grew to be a wider practice for IT departments. The basic principle is to lock talented techies and creatives in a room until they generate the needed solutions.
It sounds cruel but they thrive on the challenge. This is their playground. This is where they shine.
“No problem, JP,” Taylor shrills. Annoying as hell, but the woman gets shit done. “This sounds like an excellent plan. Could you share the objectives so we can ensure we meet them for you?”
My gaze stays locked on Lucy as I answer their questions.
The urge to have her in my place again, to imprint myself on her memory in every way possible, overwhelms me. I have to force myself to look away before I embarrass her.
Is it worse to be forgotten or to be hated?
That’s the million-dollar question. If Lucy doesn’t remember me, there’s the possibility of a fresh start. Erase the past, start from scratch. I don’t want Lucy to remember how much I hurt her.
The catch? That’s like living with a ticking time bomb, knowing she’ll find out eventually. An invisible noose around my neck. But maybe, just maybe, I can make her fall in love with me again before she discovers the truth.
A fresh start. A do-over. Not many people get one of those.