Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“It wasn’t a date. Something recently happened, and he took me to dinner as an apology.”
“What happened?”
I chew my bottom lip, looking down at my lap. “I told him about the Diosa account and how we were bringing Summer on board.”
His back straightens, and his eyes harden into slits. I rush on with my explanation.
“We’ve always talked about everything. I didn’t think about the ramifications.”
“He works for Bauer,” he practically growls, and I slink backward in response to his anger.
He has every right to be mad. This is enough to get me fired, and I wouldn’t blame him if he did. I signed confidentiality paperwork, and I broke it.
“He told his upper management.” It’s not a question. Charles is speaking out loud, putting all the pieces together.
“Yes.”
His eyes close, and his jaw ticks.
“I don’t think I need to tell you how bad this is, Raven.”
I nod, gulping.
“I take full responsibility for losing Summer.”
“Why didn’t you tell me immediately? Were you trying to lose the account for us?”
My head jerks back, his tone and words together catching me so off guard. I expected him to be angry, but this is something much worse. He actually thinks I’d purposely sabotage Cavendish?
“You can’t be serious, Charles. I’d never.”
He jumps up from the couch, pacing the room.
“I don’t know what to think. Here I am, opening up to you, going off to Italy for the project, getting closer, and you’ve been having clandestine meetings with the competition. Giving confidential information away to your arsehole of a mate.”
“Clandestine meetings?” I say, standing up and crossing my arms over my chest. “Are you serious? He’s my best friend. Someone I’ve met up with regularly for far longer than I’ve worked for you.” I spit the words, growing more angry by the second.
How dare he accuse me of such a thing? I’ve worked my ass off for this account, and he actually thinks I would do that to hand it over to the competition? Fuck that.
Charles’s hand sweeps back through his hair, pulling at the roots. He looks more frustrated than angry at the moment.
“Charles,” I say, taking a step toward him, and he takes a step away from me.
That hurts.
I slump back down onto the couch, curling my legs underneath me. “If you think that lowly of me, just leave.”
Charles stops his pacing, turning to look at me. “What do you expect from me? I’ve told you that this company is my life, and what you did could’ve directly impacted us. If we lost Diosa, it would set us back years. Do you understand that?”
“Of course, I do,” I snap. “Why do you think I worked so damn hard to find a replacement? I take ownership of my part in losing Summer, but if you haven’t noticed, we’re better for it.”
He scoffs. “You don’t know that. Summer could’ve made the whole campaign take off.”
“And Holly won’t? She’s just as big as Summer and without the damn diva status.”
Some of the fight appears to bleed out of Charles.
“We shouldn’t have had to scramble to get talent. We had Summer, and now Bauer does.”
“You’re right, and that’s on me, but don’t stand here accusing me of trying to sink Cavendish. I’ve worked too damn hard on this account for you to spew that bullshit.”
His hands run down his face. “You’re right. You have.”
I let out the breath I was holding, not saying a word and allowing him to work out his thoughts.
“I believe that you didn’t intend to tell Asher, but you do see how your relationship with him poses a real concern for me?”
I nod. “It won’t happen again. Ever,” I promise.
He grunts, and my desire to argue with him rises again. I understand his anger, but the way he reacted was more than I would’ve expected after what we’ve shared so far.
He takes a seat next to me on a harrumph, and I turn toward him.
“You hurt me, Charles. The fact you truly believed I was capable of sabotaging this account cuts deep.”
His eyes bore into mine for several tense seconds as he sucks on his teeth, seeming to think on my words.
“I have trust issues,” he finally offers, turning his head from me.
My eyes narrow in on the side of his head as I wait for him to elaborate.
“People I cared for hurt me deeply. They trampled over my trust and threw our relationship to the wolves without a second thought during one of the most difficult times of my life.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?” I ask hesitantly.
“Not tonight, if that’s all right with you.”
I purse my lips but nod.
“I’m sorry, Raven. The man showing up caught me off guard, and then your admission to the Summer fiasco brought back hurt that I’ve worked years to stuff down.”
“I’m sorry, too,” I offer, placing my hand on his leg. “For all of it.”