Feeling better about myself and my good deed for the day, I walk through to my office with a smile playing on my lips. It doesn’t go unnoticed by my colleagues as I pass them.
After dropping my purse at my desk, I head for a coffee.
“Good morning,” Rylee sings from where she’s waiting for the machine.
“Morning.”
She narrows her eyes at me suspiciously. “There’s something different about you.”
I’m not naive enough to think that Bailey hasn’t already filled her in with all my Corey gossip.
“Oh yeah? How so?”
“There’s a twinkle in your eye. He’s doing good things for you.”
I bark a laugh. “It could certainly be described that way.”
“From what I’ve heard, that would be putting it lightly.”
“Fucking Bailey,” I mutter, much to her amusement. “Is there anything she’s not told you?”
“Only the things you haven’t told her.” She winks at me as she takes her now full mug from the machine.
“She’s in so much trouble when she finds a serious guy. I’m going to shout all the details from the rooftops.”
“Aw, she’s just happy for you. And maybe just a tad jealous.”
“Just a tad. She’d had Corey locked and loaded as far as she was concerned.”
“It’s going to take someone very special to put up with her brand of crazy.”
I snort. “You said it.”
We switch places so I can make my morning coffee.
“So, is it serious enough for him to attend your charity auction?”
“I’ve no idea. I haven’t invited him yet, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“You should. Colton and Austin will be there, so he’ll have people to talk to.”
“I’ll see. I’m not sure getting dressed up in a tux and making small talk is really his thing.”
“You think it’s Colton’s?” I shrug, because I know from first-hand experience just how easy he makes all the schmoozing look.
“He’s a natural.”
“Years of practice. Invite him,” she says before moving toward the door when Teddy, our boss, pokes his head in.
“You ready, Ry?”
“On my way. Give us an hour and then come join us to go through the final details, yeah?”
“Sure thing.”
I make my coffee and head for my desk to get all of those details together.
I’ve been working on this almost since my first day. It’s like my baby, and I’m terrified that I’ve missed something or that something is going to go horribly wrong at the last minute.
I’ve got a couple of incredible celebrity guest speakers—Colton Donavan included. I’ve managed to sell tables to some insanely wealthy and influential people, all of whom I hope will be more than generous on the night as they bid on the vast range of donated items. They range from a case of champagne to a two-night stay in a private château in the Loire Valley in France.
I shake my hands out as nerves hit me. I’ve never organized something so big before and although I’m confident that I’ve covered all angles and thought of all the potential downfalls, my fear is still there, niggling that it’s not going to be successful.
By the time my hour comes to an end, I’ve got everything ready to go. I’m over-prepared, I know I am, but my need to prove myself and this event gets the better of me.
With my clipboard with all my handouts under my arm, I make myself a fresh coffee and head for the conference room.
I knock before Teddy calls for me to join them.
Pushing the door open, I’m relieved to find it’s just him and Rylee waiting for me. It’s what I was expecting, but there was a part of me that was worried I’d have more eyes on me.
“Come and grab a seat, Harlow,” Teddy says softly as Rylee smiles at me.
This kind of thing used to fall on her shoulders. I’m certainly feeling the pressure of stepping into her shoes and raising the funds we need to help support our boys.
“Right, hit us with the details.”
I talk through my schedule for the night, how I’ve arranged the rooms we’ve hired, and the costs versus my projected profit based on the rough figures each auction lot should bring in.
“Harlow, this is incredible,” Teddy says, pride oozing from his kind face.
“T-Thank you.”
“It looks like you’ve got it all covered. But if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me,” Rylee says encouragingly.
“I will, thank you so much. I think—” My words are cut off as the conference room door behind me flies open.
The tension in the room changes instantly, and a shiver of fear runs down my spine, but I have no idea why.
Rylee’s eyes widen in shock for a beat before her chin drops.
Poor Teddy just looks confused.
“I’m so sorry, he just stormed past me,” Sandy, our receptionist rushes out as I shift in my chair.
I have no idea who I’m expecting to find behind me, although that shiver of awareness should give me a clue.
Spinning on my seat, I turn to look.
My eyes lock on to a very familiar face, but I’ve never seen this expression before. The anger laced through every inch of him has dread sitting in the pit of my stomach. His brows are pulled tight, his lips are pressed into a thin line, and his shoulders are bunched with tension.
“Corey, what’s—” I jump from my seat, desperate to know what’s going on.
Rylee and Teddy are already both on their feet, waiting to discover what’s about to happen and if they need to get security up here, I’m sure.
“Please,” his voice is hard and cold. “Please tell me you didn’t. Tell me it wasn’t you.”
“What… I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My mind spins for what could have made him so angry.
Then it hits me.
His rent.
He knows.
I swallow nervously, and it’s enough for him to know that I’m guilty.
“I’m
