I Stopped Waiting and Started Loving novel Chapter 46

Bonnie sat at the reception desk, idly scrolling through her social media feed.

Curtis's post was the first thing that popped up.

In the attached photo, he was wearing a York Group uniform, his employee badge proudly displayed on his chest as he stood outside their corporate headquarters, grinning from ear to ear.

"Boys, I finally made it! Head of Logistics at York Group! A massive six-figure salary with full benefits! All thanks to my buddy Parrish York. The guy is an absolute legend—I'm following him for life!"

Bonnie scrolled past with a calm expression, feeling no real emotional ripples.

It was just a bitter irony.

A guy who merely said a few good words for Parrish walked away with a lucrative executive salary.

Meanwhile, she had spent five years sacrificing everything for him, only to be humiliated, reported, and dismissed as an amateur who shouldn't practice without a license.

She had originally wanted to ask Jasmine how she was doing. Her fingers hovered over the chat box for a long moment before she finally backed out.

Forget it. Everyone had the right to choose their own path in life.

To her surprise, Jasmine messaged her first.

"Bonnie, I'm so sorry. I still ended up going to the York Group."

"I joined The Obsidian Bistro under their corporate umbrella. I'm the head of culinary development, making a six-figure salary—literally three times what I was making at my last job."

Reading her best friend's cautious, guilt-ridden words, Bonnie felt a tight lump in her throat, but it was quickly replaced by a wave of relief.

Her fingers flew across the screen as she quickly replied: "Congratulations, Jas! That's amazing news. Why wouldn't you take a high-paying job?"

"Even though Parrish and I broke up, you still need to build a nest egg. Don't worry about me; securing your bag is what matters most right now."

Jasmine replied instantly: "Ugh, Bonnie, thank you! You're the absolute best for understanding!"

A few minutes later, another message popped up, carrying a hint of hesitation.

"But Bonnie... are you sure you don't want to try and salvage things with him?"

"Curtis was drinking with Parrish last night. He said Parrish got drunk and kept mumbling your name, complaining about how cold you've been to him lately."

"He actually cares about you a lot. If you just softened up a little, you guys could totally go back to the way things were."

Staring at the screen, a cynical smile tugged at the corner of Bonnie's lips. Her eyes went completely cold.

"Curtis might not know me, but don't you?"

"We're done, and there is no going back. That's all there is to it. I have to get back to work."

After sending the text, she tucked her phone away and dove back into her shift.

Below that was a flawless, deeply cut eight-pack that shifted slightly with his heavy, post-workout breaths.

The sharp, seductive dip of his V-line disappeared beneath the low waistband of his sweatpants, radiating an explosive, coiled strength.

A sudden flush of heat crept up Bonnie's neck, her cheeks burning furiously.

She hastily averted her gaze, staring intensely at the tips of her shoes as her palms began to sweat.

Quentin paused in the doorway, clearly not expecting her to be standing guard outside.

Taking in her flushed ears and flustered demeanor, a strange flicker of emotion crossed his eyes, but he kept quiet.

With a long stride, he walked past her, carrying the heat of his workout and an intoxicating wave of raw masculine energy as he headed straight for the master suite.

The bedroom door clicked shut behind him.

Bonnie patted her burning cheeks, taking several deep breaths in a desperate attempt to scrub the image of his striking physique from her mind.

About fifteen minutes later, the door opened again.

Quentin had showered and changed into a pair of loose gray loungewear. His damp hair fell softly across his forehead, softening his usually sharp edges.

He stepped into the living room, looking down at her with a heavy, hooded gaze. His voice was a low rasp: "You need something?"