“Is that so?” She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
“It is. You may not like it, but I know you. Probably well enough that I should have seen you giving up the only thing that made you happy for the sake of a job that doesn’t mean anything to you.”
“For a job that means everything to me!” she shouted, she couldn’t help herself. Maybe he’d pushed a button somewhere along the line, but all she knew was that she had to get the hell out of there before he said another word. Before she allowed him to convince her to stay. “I’ve been working for years for this job. I’m not giving it up now. Not when it’s my only chance.”
“Fine, go then. And I hope you’re truly happy with your decision.” He followed her as she marched toward the door, and she turned around to slam it, she found that he’d already closed it behind her.
Eight
“So did you get an invite to the leadership conference?” Barbara plopped down next to her at the breakfast table the next morning and Felicia had to stifle a groan.
She’d barely slept the night before and Barbara’s chirping was the last thing she needed this morning.
With her forehead on her palm, she turned to face the other woman and shook her head. “No word yet.”
“Shame. There’s bets going around.”
“Is that so?” Felicia tried to summon the energy to care, but when nothing came she chomped on a piece of bacon instead.
“Yep. Cooper and Lawrence have been invited. Everyone knew they would. You know how they do. Staying late, coming in early.”
“Right.” Felicia nodded.
“You know, I heard—and you didn’t hear this from me—“ Barbara snagged the second piece of bacon from Felicia’s plate, then continued, “Cooper’s wife is leaving him. Says he never spends time with his family and only cares about making money.”
“That’s terrible.” Felicia frowned.
“Meh,” Barbara shrugged before taking a bite herself. “Happens all the time in this business. That or they get wandering eyes and start sniffing around my desk.”
“No.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Bunch of vultures. Their wives get sick of them being so money-hungry and then they think they can find some sympathy in the office.”
“That’s terrible. Don’t they appreciate their husbands and wives working hard to earn a good, stable income?”
Barbara guffawed. “A good, stable income is one thing. This job—“
The door opened behind them and Barbara made a motion like she was zipping her mouth closed before skirting from the table and making for her assigned seat. Still, as she went, Felicia’s gaze followed her and then dragged toward the place where Cooper and Lawrence sat together. In front of their plates were files, stacked and ready to go. Lines darkened their eyes and foreheads from years of late nights and stress-filled days.
Those, she thought. Are not what happy people look like.
She turned to Frank and found his gaze trained on her, but instead of focusing on the light behind his eyes she took a moment to notice the rounded curve of his stomach. The way his shoulders hunched. The lines etched deeply into even his own constantly serene face.
Then, like a bolt, it hit her.
She knew what she had to do.
Without a word to anyone, she pushed herself out of her seat and fled the conference room as quickly as her feet would carry her.
When Trey’s sister’s face blinked onto the screen, before she had the chance to say anything at all, he blurted out, “There’s a girl.”
“I knew it.” She clapped her hands together, grinning like she’d just won the lottery. “Who’s the lucky lady? A vacationer? Oh! Oh! A co-worker?”
Trey closed his eyes, trying to remember why he’d thought this was a good idea. “Let me clarify. There was a girl—er, a woman, really.”
“Ah, a woman, I see.” Candace nodded. “So what’s going on?”
“I made a stupid mistake.”
“Like hide-a-body level mistake? A buying-a-crib level mistake?” Candice asked and Trey rolled his eyes.
“No. I just…there was something about her when I first met her. Something that drew me to her, you know?”
“Mmmmm,” she hummed.
“But now I know what it was. I’m a sucker for these ambitious types and I should have known how it would turn out. These types of women are always going to choose their careers over love.”
“Right.” Candice frowned. “And that’s what she did? She said she couldn’t be with you because of her job?”
“Not entirely. She was here on business.”
“So she was going be leaving anyway?” Candice’s frown deepened.
“Well, yes, but she broke it off early for work.”
“I’m sorry…didn’t you say she was there on business?” Candice scratched her head.
“Yeah—“ The pager beside him started buzzing and he glanced down at it quickly before sighing. “Jesus, I’ve got to go.”
“All right, well, I’m sorry about your troubles, man. Maybe find a nice Hawaiian girl and—“
“Candace.”