“No, Fenella.”He sets his cup down with a clink, raises a finger in the air, and waves it, clicking his tongue.“You screwed up your own life and career.I’m the one trying to keep you from going under.”
“Oh right, thanks for cornering me into a dirty project I can’t get out of.Real thoughtful of you.”I lean across the desk, hands pressing into the wood.
“Hey,yousigned the contract, not me.Nobody forced you.Did I tie you up and threaten to chop off your pinkie if you didn’t sign?What about Jessy?Did you force her?”He cuts his eyes toward Jessy.
“No, of course not, I—” Jessy squeaks, practically folding in on himself.
“See?Nobody trapped you into anything shady.And let’s be real—Mallory’s campaign isn’t dirty.It’s a global health campaign.It’s for the greater good.”
Hearing Alan talk like that, my mouth falls open and I almost gag in pure frustration.For the greater good?Maybe I’m losing my mind, but his logic never matches his actions.
“I wouldn’t have signed if I knew.”
“You didn’t read?Not even one contract?”He raises his brows.
“How could I when you dumped a pile of papers in front of me?”My voice shoots up.
“That was Jessy, not me.”Alan raises his hands like he’s innocent.
“Don’t you dare blame Jessy!”I point straight at him, teeth clenched.
“Ask him.Did Jessy even read them?Or was he too distracted?”Alan points right back at Jessy, who flinches like a kid caught stealing.
God.He knows he’s got the upper hand, because Jessy already admitted he didn’t really check the contracts.And Alan keeps putting the blame back on me.
“You slipped that contract on me.”I force the words out, still accusing him, though my strength is slipping and my courage is draining away.Alan’s lips twitch as he rises slowly from his chair.
“I told you.Finish the contracts, and I won’t press penalties.Work with Gene, and I’ll make you the world’s biggest supermodel.”
“If it means crawling to you, then I don’t want it.”My jaw locks, but I hold his stare.
There’s still some fire left in me, but Alan bites down on his lip, irritation sharpening his face, his eyes narrowing.
“Listen, Fenella.We gave you everything.Projects, connections, acting classes.All because you asked.And now?You bail on Gene early, you refuse what you signed.Pathetic.”
He circles the desk with long strides until he’s right in front of me, towering, leaning in so close I can see the dark edge in his eyes.He lets out a low snort, his mouth twisting into a smirk.
“Grow up, Fenella.Start acting like a grown-ass woman.”
He whispers it right in my face, his breath warm with the sharp scent of mint tea, but his voice cold enough to cut.I tremble because I know I’ve lost this round.Alan straightens with a smile like he’s already won.
“Now get your shit together and finish what you started.I have a meeting.”
He slides his hands into his pockets, slipping back into that easy, relaxed posture like nothing happened.I bite the inside of my cheek, refusing to humiliate myself any further.
My eyes burn, but I force myself not to cry in front of everyone.The office is buzzing today, and I’m not about to give them a bigger scene.I bolt down the stairs and into the quieter ground-floor restroom.
“Fenella, wait!”Jessy calls after me, but I slam the door shut.
My body gives out.I lean against the door, slide to the floor, press my hands over my mouth, and sob until my chest feels crushed.
Minutes later, I drag myself up, wipe my tears, reapply my makeup.I hate looking miserable in front of people.At least this way, if Alan sees me again, he won’t see me with streaked cheeks.With that resolve, I push myself out of the bathroom.
“Fenella, I’m so sorry,” Jessy says the second he spots me, rushing toward me.
“Let’s go,” I say.“We’re finding Mallory.”
“What?Mallory West?”
