It was all I could do to get out of there. I switched my ticket, paid through the nose just to get out of town as fast as I could. Fights I could have handled. Screaming matches to the stars would have been right up my alley, but instead I was gutted. I’d never felt so betrayed. I threw myself into work, because if I couldn’t have that happily ever after with that garden and picket fence, then I would be the best damn lawyer this side of the Mason Dixon Line.
Desperate to clear the memory, I brace myself on the sink and take a deep breath. Months of throwing myself into my job has left me defenseless in my personal life. It’s going to be okay, I tell myself. But one look in the mirror and I know it’s not. I look like I’ve been run over by a truck that backed up and ran me over again for good measure. Fumbling inside my clutch, I fish out my phone. I dial the only number I trust to get me out of situations like this.
You’ve reached Cassie—
Damn. Shit. Fuck. I hit end. Do not panic. Cassie’s probably at the bar like she is most nights. Probably can’t even hear her cell phone ringing in her bag. I dial the bar and hope someone picks up. Cassie’s back on this side of the Atlantic, it means I don’t have to face this alone.
“Altitude, Cash speaking—”
“Is Cassie there?” I ask quietly. I take a deep breath. Don’t cry — do not cry. The tears don’t fall, but they aren’t far away.
“Savy? What’s wrong?”
Do I sound that bad?
I clear my throat and try to modulate my voice. “Can you just find Cassie and tell her I’m at the Intercontinental and I need an exit plan? Can you just tell her that?”
“Talk to me, Savy, are you okay? Do I need to bring my first aid kit?”
I let out a short, forced laugh. “No, but some brass knuckles wouldn’t hurt. Just please tell Cassie it’s an emergency, all right? I owe you.”
“I tend to collect on these things. You sure you want to owe me something?”
“Cash,” I hiss. His playful comments are not what I need right now.
“Right. Collect later, move now.”
That’s when the tears pile up and the first one slips down my face. Then comes another. How can I go back out there and face a room full of people supporting Tanner Jakes? He’s got the world eating out of the palm of his hand because he wrote a song about us. Too bad only one of us ended up with a broken heart.
“It’s gonna be all right, Savy. Sit tight.”
I hang up. That’s right, I tell myself. It didn’t kill me when I found out about his wife, and it’s not going to kill me now. All right, Savannah, get yourself together. You’ve had your moment. Time to put your big girl panties on and go back out there and show them just what sort of lawyer you are. I do not run from fights. Tanner Jakes can write a million songs about our romance if he wants, but I don’t have to let it affect me.
A few quick dabs with a tissue, and my eyeliner is back to rights and no longer threatening to run down my face. Thank God for waterproof mascara. Another coat of lipstick, and I am ready to face the world. All I have to do is survive for the next ten minutes, and if I can pass the bar and grab a cocktail, even better. Then I’ll go home and crawl into a hot bath with a large glass of wine and try to forget this night ever happened.
Calm, cool, and professional, I enter the ballroom again. Briggs looks over me and his glance asks one question: am I okay?
Of course I am, because I want to keep my job and take over my department. I return his glance with a small wave and grab a drink from the nearest waiter. A little liquid courage never hurt anyone.
I skim through the small groups in the room, making small talk, dropping business cards. Networking at its finest. I can’t help but check my phone every chance I get, trying to gauge how much longer it’s going to be until my best friend arrives.
Eight minutes down and I am almost home free, but there’s no stopping Mathias and his fellow Triton execs from heading my way. Curses. There is going to be no escaping this. I’ve put too much into this relationship to just blow it off at the last second.
“Savannah,” Mathias says, “there you are. I was afraid you’d run out on us. What do you think of our latest investment? Fantastic, right?”
There are so many words I would use to describe Tanner Jakes right now, and fantastic is not even at the very bottom of that list.
“He’s something, all right. I’m sure all the ladies really love him,” I say, fixing a smile on my face. Make the deal and get out. Two minutes until rescue. Breathe.
“They should be careful. He’s married,” Mathias chuckles.
I can feel the blood drain from my face for an instant. Just a joke I remind myself. Laugh. I barely manage to get the laugh out in time and when I do, it rings false in my ears.
“Thank you for the warning, I’ll be sure to pass it along to my colleagues. Mathias, you’re a delight, but if you’ll excuse me I have to go.”
“Now give us just one second of your time—Tanner wants to meet you. He’s heard so much about Briggs, Meyers, and Associates that he practically forced us to arrange a face-to-face meeting. We’re ready to sign.”
This is it. He took your heart; do not let him take your future too.