She shakes her head. “I’m not leaving another obligation.” Her voice is muffled against my chest.
“You didn’t leave. You protected yourself.”
She pulls away and I just want to tug her back into me. How many times has she absorbed blame she didn’t deserve? I’m guilty of believing the spoiled girl only cared about herself.
“No one will see it that way, and Daddy would start trouble that I just want to forget.”
“They deserve to get taken down.”
“I emailed all my coworkers about what happened and left a bad review. He threatened me with a lawsuit and I told him to go ahead. I’m telling the truth, and he should’ve targeted someone whose family isn’t wealthy.”
Good for her. I start to smile, but something in her gaze stops me.
She bats away another tear. “Didn’t stop him from using his connections. I applied everywhere in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Even Northern California. Never heard back. It’s why I’ve gotta make it work here. It’s why I can’t let more bad word of mouth spread about me. I have nowhere else to go.”
This is so fucking unfair. Her old boss should lose her business and get a goddamn divorce. The asshole’s behavior should be made public and he should be the one struggling to find work. But that’s not Campbell’s way. She seems flighty and out of touch, but she’s actually alarmingly realistic.
She looks over her shoulder at the office. “I can’t go back in there. How embarrassing.”
“I can go with you.”
Her shoulders hang like she’s defeated. “I shouldn’t need anyone, and Bryce is going to spread rumors about us as it is.”
“Work Foster House in there. It’ll explain why we’re together.”
“Don’t you have to get approval?”
“I trust you can figure out a reason that’s so good the guys can’t refuse.”
Her smile is like the sun coming out. “Alcohol and white-water rafting? What could pair better?”
I jut my chin toward the entrance. “Lead the way. I’m not going anywhere.”
CHAPTER TEN
Campbell
A day later, I’m back at the distillery for my meeting with all the heads who can make it. They’ve agreed to meet before the Baldwin tasting. Little embarrassment from my breakdown yesterday lingers, and it’s because Durban treated me so kindly. He understood and he didn’t argue. Thanks to him, I didn’t drag my feet to this meeting today. I didn’t even dread facing Durban. He’s the support, the reassurance, I didn’t get that day I quit and went home to my life falling apart.
Lane’s leaning on a railing that circles a mash tank. Durban’s standing behind me like he’s my bodyguard. Iverson’s already done for the day and has given his opinion to Durban, but Haven and Cruz are on either side of me.
“We do a monthly rafting and tasting weekend with Sy’s?” Lane asks. Durban doesn’t have to tell me that Lane’s the unofficial leader. His is the final say. My yearsin the event world have taught me how to tell who really runs the show. Haven and Durban defer to Iverson, and along with Cruz, they all turn to Lane.
“Yes, that’s correct. Rafting first, of course. No alcohol until the outdoor events are done. Rafting and Tasting is the working title.” I saved face yesterday with both Durban and Bryce. All it took was having a breakdown in front of a man who seems to keep witnessing me at my worst. Crying with the peaceful sound of a flowing river as a backdrop, about things I’ve gotten drunk over, made me think of how to combine the two, but in a safe way.
To Bryce’s credit, he pretended my fleeing from his office never happened, and with Durban there, he was on his best behavior. He was also interested in hosting a company team-building event that included the hot new distillery in the area.
“You’ve done recruiting events before?” Lane asks.
I nod. “A lot of businesses are willing to host events, but they don’t always have the bandwidth for planning and recruitment. That’s where I come in. Everything will be done through Foster House and Sy’s Water Adventures though, so whoever is your designated contact, they’ll sign off on everything for me.” I try not to twist my fingers. Durban knows why I don’t want my name attached to anything. I need more of a base so my old boss and her husband can’t undermine me.
Lane glances at the others but settles his gaze on Durban. “You okay to be that guy?”
I’m afraid to look.
“No problem,” Durban says without hesitation.
I twist enough to face him. “I don’t want to take you away from your duties.”
