Chapter 22 - ELIAS OFFERED KAYLA A NEW LIFE THREE THOUSAND MILES FROM GUNTHER
The offer was real.
Director of Patient Advocacy.
National rehabilitation network.
Three times Kayla’s salary.
Forty employees.
Policy influence across seven states.
Seattle headquarters.
Elias would become chief clinical officer.
Kayla stared at the paperwork.
“You recommended me.”
“Yes.”
“Because we’re friends?”
“Because you’re the best person I know for it.”
“Those things can overlap.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“Does your attraction to me affect this?”
Elias did not flinch.
“I asked the board to evaluate you independently.”
He handed her the scoring packet.
Four candidates.
Kayla ranked first.
Good.
Evidence.
She breathed out.
“When do they need answer?”
“Two weeks.”
“And you?”
“I accepted yesterday.”
Kayla looked toward the window.
Seattle.
A life completely outside Gunther’s shadow.
No Woods history.
No tabloids calling her maid.
No center funded indirectly by money tied to his family.
Her own salary.
Her own authority.
Her own city.
Elias said quietly, “You should at least consider it.”
“I will.”
That evening, she told Gunther.
He became very still.
“Seattle.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Permanent.”
“I see.”
She waited.
He did not offer money.
Did not say he could build a national center locally.
Did not dismiss opportunity.
Good.
“Do you want it?”
Kayla looked at him.
“I think I might.”
His chest tightened.
“Then you should take it.”
She stared.
“Do you mean that?”
“No.”
The answer came so quickly she laughed.
Gunther almost smiled.
“I mean I won’t ask you to reject it for me.”
“That’s different.”
“Yes.”
“Would you come?”
Gunther stopped.
“To Seattle?”
“Not move tomorrow.”
“But visit.”
“Try long distance.”
“Something.”
He looked at her.
“If you want me to.”
Kayla became quiet.
“Why does everything sound like you’re waiting for permission to exist now?”
That hurt.
Gunther frowned.
“I’m trying not to control you.”
“I know.”
“But sometimes you overcorrect so hard you disappear.”
There.
He understood.
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth.”
Gunther stood.
Walked to the window.
Then turned.
“I hate the idea.”
Kayla listened.
“I hate that Elias will be there.”
“I hate that I won’t know what you ate for dinner.”
“You don’t know now.”
“I can ask.”
She almost smiled.
“I hate six-hour flights.”
“You have a jet.”
“Principle.”
She laughed.
Gunther continued.
“I want you here.”
“With me.”
“In the same city.”
“In my life every day.”
Kayla’s eyes filled.
“But I will not ask you to become smaller so I can feel safer.”
Silence.
“That’s the truth.”
She walked to him.
“Thank you.”
He held her.
After a moment:
“Do you love him?”
Kayla pulled back.
“Elias?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Could you?”
She thought.
Gunther hated that she thought.
“I don’t know.”
His face changed.
Kayla touched his chest.
“That doesn’t mean I want to.”
“Human beings are capable of loving more than one possible person in a lifetime.”
“I know.”
Gunther looked away.
Kayla continued.
“I am choosing you.”
“Today.”
He looked back.
She understood why he used the word.
Prison letters.
Today is enough.
“Yes.”
“Today.”
Two weeks later, Kayla accepted Seattle.
Gunther congratulated her.
Then went home and sat alone in the dark for an hour.
No whiskey.
No orders.
No calls.
Just grief for a distance that had not happened yet.
Three days later, Kayla received an email confirmation.
Attached was a housing packet.
One property had already been marked:
Reserved pending applicant approval.
Luxury townhouse.
Six bedrooms.
Water view.
Far beyond Kayla’s budget.
She called the Seattle office.
“Who reserved this?”
The coordinator checked.
“A private holding company.”
Kayla’s stomach dropped.
“Name?”
A pause.
“Woods Residential.”
Kayla closed her eyes.
May you like
Gunther had done it again.
Or so she thought.
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