The sound of the door slamming behind me reverberates in my ears.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Kaylee
I can’t believe how much the events of this morning sting as I get on the elevator. After a few deep breaths, I realize that I have two options. One, I can run off into a corner somewhere and cry. Or two, I can go to work early and get a head start on the day. I choose option two.
When I finally get downstairs, I go straight to the kitchen. I have to admit it feels strange after all that’s happened to throw on my pastry chef coat. I know I have a half hour or so until Ralph’s morning meeting, so I throw myself into my work.
The comforting familiarity of falling into my work routine helps. A croissant and a cup of coffee also help, and before I know it, I’m feeling a little bit better.
After all, I knew this was coming. Well, not Chase turning into an asshole at the last minute, but the end of our arrangement.
In a cruel twist of irony, the arrangement leaves just as bad a taste in my mouth as it did in the beginning. A pity, because somewhere in the middle of all of this I started to enjoy myself. I started to enjoy him. What a fool I was.
The time passes quickly, too quickly. Before I know it, my work alarm beeps, and I make my way into the kitchen to face Ralph and my coworkers.
The crowd gathers around, and there are a couple of noticeable absences. One is Ralph. Rude. It’s his meeting, after all. The other is Vivian. And that’s the exact moment I get worried.
Considering the morning I have had already, it’s hard to not feel impending doom. I glance around, hoping that another shoe doesn’t drop. Or that if it does, it’s not on me. I should know better.
Ralph and Vivian enter the room together, Vivian a step behind. The look on both of their faces is all business. Ralph carries a rolled-up newspaper in his hand.
He stops in front of me and unrolls the paper. It’s a tabloid. And I’m on the cover. The date is yesterday. Oh no. My worst fears are doing a victory dance. I can hardly believe it’s possible, but I do, in fact, feel even worse. “I can explain,” I begin.
Ralph shakes his head. “I don’t think you can, Kaylee. You lied to all of us. To run around on the beach with some guy. Right here?”
“Right under our noses,” Vivian chimes in. “I’ll bet you don’t even need an operation, do you?”
I sigh. “I told you I don’t need an operation, Vivian. The other night, remember?”
“Well, I raised almost twenty-seven dollars for you,” she chirps. “That’s fraud.”
“It’s not fraud because I don’t need it and you never gave it to me,” I snap. And just like that, I’m tired of it. All of it. All of the sneaking around for Chase and what did it get me?
“Don’t bother firing me,” I say, feeling the eyes of all my co-workers on me, “I’m firing myself.” I take off my coat and toss it in the used linen bag. “For the record, I didn’t mean to lie or to hurt any of you. He asked me to help him with a work thing. I helped him. And trust me, I regret it.”
I turn and walk away from them all. Away from the one job I really needed to dig myself out of the financial hole I’m in. Then I remember the money Chase gave me and instead of feeling better, I feel worse.
And I know for a fact that I have to get out of here now. As soon as possible. Away from all the eyes and the judging and the losing my job feeling in the pit of my stomach. Because there will be no holding the tears back now.
As soon as I turn the corner toward the lobby of the resort, I break into a run. I barely make it outside before I burst into tears.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chase
As soon as I hear the door slam, I feel bad. Why should I feel bad? She’s the two-faced woman who almost had me fooled. And yet, I’m filled with conflicting emotions. Mostly, it’s that the suite just feels empty when she’s gone.
When my phone rings, my eyes snap down to the caller id, hoping it’s Kaylee. Then I get mad at myself for hoping. Then I’m disappointed. It’s Liam.
I answer.
“Hey, the meeting’s set for three-thirty. A little birdie told me Mark’s throwing in the towel.”
“What did you hear?” I ask.
“You sound like hell, brother,” Liam sounds surprised. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lie. What else am I supposed to say? The irony of it all hits me. This is the victory I’ve been waiting for all weekend. Game over, I win. What the hell is wrong with me?
“Seriously, dude. Did you go on a bender or something after I left last night?”
I ignore him. “What was that bit about Mark throwing in the towel?” I ask.
“Oh yeah, he’s going to withdraw from the board. Just ahead of the vote. If my sources are correct, you’re in the clear. Last night was very convincing. You and Kaylee have something special. Everybody can see it, even the board.”
My throat goes dry. I don’t even know how to respond to that. There’s a knot in my stomach that won’t go away. And it surprises me because this news should make everything better. Victory usually does.
“You okay, Chase?” Liam asks.
“Yeah,” I answer. “Hey, thanks for the heads up.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know when the official vote comes in. Later.”
He hangs up and then I’m left with my thoughts. I realize that’s a bad thing. In fact, it’s the last thing I need. I decide to go down and get a massage while I wait for the board’s
