Valentine Fantasy. Jamie Denton

the partnership was handed over to the nephew of one of the senior partners.”

      “Gee, where would we be without a little nepotism to ruin our plans?” she complained, and shook her head in disgust. “What’d you do?”

      “I quit.”

      “Quit? After everything you’d accomplished, you just walked away?” No way could she walk away. Ever since she was a kid, she’d wanted to be a reporter. She couldn’t imagine giving up something she’d worked so hard to achieve.

      “I don’t like being used.”

      Unexpected guilt swamped her. Was she really no better than the partners who’d lied to him? She was using him too for her own ends.

      She felt like a slug.

      A very low, slimy slug.

      “I’m sorry,” she said, not sure if she was apologizing for what had happened to him, or because of what she was doing to him herself. But what if he was using her? What if this was merely a fabrication to gain her sympathy so she’d hand money over by the fistful?

      He let out a long breath. “No. I apologize. It’s still an open wound.”

      Was it really? She had no way of knowing what was truth and what was part of the game he was playing with her. The lines were definitely becoming blurred and she needed time to sort out everything she’d learned so far. Discovering if he was truly an architect would be relatively simple, provided she asked the right questions. “So what are you doing now?”