I start to chase her down the alley, and she turns, one palm flat out toward me. “Stop. Truly. Just… give me space right now. I mean it.”
“I—”
“This is not a joke. I for real need a minute.”
“I can wait here if you want me to—”
“Ugh. More than a literal minute, Rae. For god’s sake. I need space. To figure things out.”
“Figure what out?” A buzzing starts up in my head, and I feel suddenly sick. “What’s going on? Seriously. Are you serious?” She’s stomping off, and I might throw up. “Please, Sam. Let me—”
“No. No, whatever you’re about to offer, it’s no.” She throws up a hand. “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me. Please.” I stand there, blinking in shock. Just before she disappears around the corner, Sam turns back and yells, “You know what you can do? Tell that dickhead to go and screw himself!”
The second she’s out of sight, I grip my bag and go. Up the steps, through the door, and into my office. It’s empty, but Grant’s jacket’s here. I race down the hall. No sign of him in the conference room or the kitchen. Dorothy’s door’s closed. I’m so mad that I knock just once and then barge inside before coming to a stop.
There’s Grant, sitting across from Dorothy. He’s holding her hand, and that really pisses me off. Like how can he find room in his tiny heart to be nice to Dorothy after destroying Sammy’s life?
I stomp up to him, my chest heaving. “What did you do?”
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Grant
“ASK YOUR FRIEND,” I say.
“I did.” Rae deflates. “She won’t tell me.” Immediately, she reinflates, staring daggers at me. “I get it, you know? Sam’s been distracted lately, but is there no grace? She’s good at her job.” She appeals to Dorothy. “Come on. Tell him! Remember the slow dating campaign? And the whole silent dating thing? The Bring Your Mom to Date Night meme? That was legendary, Dorothy. Why’d you let this guy fire her? We got industry recognition for those campaigns. They put Sugar on the map.”
“Yes, dear, but…” Dorothy throws a pleading look my way. “It’s complicated.”
“Obviously. Since I am head of human resources for this company, and someone was let go behind my back.”
Rae turns to glare at me, and gone is the woman I drove home on Friday. This one is on fire.
“You did this. I know it. You know how I know? Because Dorothy cares about people.”
No shit. And look where it’s gotten her.
“Did you know, Grant, that Sam is a morale booster? She’s funny and kind and would never—ever—do anything to hurtthis company.” Rae’s stare is as close to X-ray vision as I’ve felt. “Who else, Grant? Huh? Who else are you planning to get rid of?”
I get up to close the door and offer Rae my seat with a sweep of my hand.
She rolls her eyes at me. “I’ll stand, thanks.” Her cheeks blazing bright red, she swings back to look at Dorothy. “Just how many heads are going to roll? At least tell me that. Is my job on the line here too?” She points at me, without looking. “Because of him?”
Dorothy’s shoulders sag. “There was a leak, Rae.”
“What?”
“A breach. And Grant’s here to fix it.”
Rae shakes her head like she’s looking for clarity. “Are you even an executive consultant?”
“No. It’s a cover,” I say, guilt swamping me like it’s never once done before. And I’ve been doing this job for over a decade. “I use it to—”
“Sam accessed data from her computer,” Dorothy says.
“What?”
“She’s been taking the computer home, Rae.” Dorothy’s face shows nothing but regret.
