Scott shook his head, brow furrowed. “Just a sec,” he whispered to her. In a normal volume he said, “I just got it. Who would I show?” He stood and paced while he talked, socks shuffling against plush carpet.
“I don’t know. Anyone else who might have a personal stock in that list. Or someone who knows the people on it.”
The sick feeling grew in Rae’s stomach. Part of it was attached to Zach’s response; he was talking about her. But the rest of it hadn’t found a reason yet.
“I don’t have to show you,” Scott said to the phone. “You already know.” He gave Rae a weak smile and a wink.
“Clever. Just, maybe this once, keep it between us?” There was a surrender in the plea that surprised Rae.
“I’m not stupid.” Scott wouldn’t look at her.
And her ill feeling grew. A layoff list they wouldn’t tell her about. Chloe.
“We need a plan,” Scott said.
Zach made a noise that landed somewhere between a growl and a hiss. “We have a plan. Cash out, walk away. There’s a decent severance offer for them, and they’re all talented people.”
“That’s not a plan; it’s retreat.” Scott’s hands clenched into fists.
“Semantics.” Zach spat the word. “Call it cut-and-run, if you want. It’s our only option.”
Rae’s thoughts tilted and dipped, weighted with concern for her sister. She was only half registered the volatile conversation. At least Rae could be here in person for Chloe.
“We can’t fix it.” Zach sounded exhausted. “What are the you missing about the term hostile takeover? It’s not our company anymore.”
Scott flopped back against the couch cushions. There was a resignation in his voice that had never been there before. “Yeah, same old shit. We’ll do what we have to Monday.”
“You’re sure?” Zach asked.
Rae frowned, hating the surrender. She should stop by the grocery store on the way back to Chloe’s. Stock up on ice cream. Plan on her sister crashing hard when she heard the news. When would she find out? Not before Monday, so at least she could enjoy her weekend.
“Later.” Scott leaned forward and disconnected the phone. He dropped his head into his hands. “This sucks.”
Rae didn’t know what to do besides agree.
****
Rae had no idea where she was going. Not home. Her afternoon with Scott had tanked hardcore after he read the letter. She wasn’t in the mood to sit in Chloe’s apartment and stare blankly at the TV. Besides, she needed to collect herself before she saw her sister again. This wasn’t her news to deliver, and Rae wasn’t sure she could keep it to herself in her current frame of mind.
She navigated her car mindlessly through the streets. Her already scattered thoughts fragmented further when she realized she’d landed less than a block from Zach’s house. She wouldn’t know where he lived, but Chloe had pointed it out once as they drove through the affluent neighborhood on the side of the mountain.
What was she doing here? It’s not as though a face-to-face conversation will change things. So why wasn’t she turning around and heading in the opposite direction?
There had to be something they’d missed. Scott wasn’t any help on that front. He wanted to fix things but had no ideas. Maybe it was time to approach it from a different angle. She had no idea what she was going to say to Zach, but she knocked anyway.
The door swung open, and he stood on the other side. His body was rigid, and his words clipped. “I’m just going to assume, given the convenient timing, that you know about the layoffs. Did he call you the minute he hung up with me?”
“I was already at his place.”
He rolled his eyes and stepped aside. “So much for keeping things quiet. Fair warning. I love Scott dearly, but I can’t deal with the denial anymore. Cord is over. And if you’re here to reinforce his delusions, so is this conversation.”
She stepped into the foyer, hands jammed into her shorts pockets. She felt the conflict of smugness and regret at turning his question from the other night back on him. “Why do you do that?”
“Do…?” He looked her over, gaze lingering on its way to her face.
A thrilled chill ran through her at the scrutiny. “You always have to dominate the conversation. The moment you saw me, the first thing you did was make sure you were on top.” She grimaced as the unfortunate choice of words sank in.
The corner of his mouth twitched. “I remember you don’t mind taking that position.”
She sighed and shook her head. This wasn’t the worst time to be assaulted by memories of riding him, feeling him plunge deep inside her, hearing his grunts… “That’s not why I’m here.”
“Right. The why. I’m still not clear on that.”
“If this is going to devastate Chloe, how is it not devouring you?”
He turned away, and strode into the living room. “Do you really believe that?”