“Am I missing something?” I asked, tilting my head to one side.
“No. I think that about wraps our interview up, Ms. Lane.”
“But…”
He waved his hand at the door and the same receptionist who brought me in was there to bring me out. I stood from my seat and turned to go, not bothering to say goodbye to the asshole behind the desk. That was my worst interview yet, and the morning had been full of doozies. I walked past the receptionist impatiently, knowing my way out, and stepped out onto the sidewalk gasping for much needed air.
What thehelljust happened in there?
I had to find that article. Now. Maybe it had something to do with how my interviews had gone this morning, which was from bad to worse.
I looked up and down the block and spotted a newsstand on the corner. I walked toward it quickly, my stomach doing a flip when I saw Jeremiah’s face staring back at me from the front cover of the paper. He hadn’t told me it was front-page news. Not that I had given him much of a chance to say anything at all. I quickly grabbed the paper and placed a few dollar bills on the counter.
I found a nearby bench and plopped down, holding the paper face-up on my lap. My eyes scanned over his face, almost taking up the whole page, if it weren’t for the headline above it screaming at me. I thought I was going to be sick. I ripped open the paper and began reading the article. The one Jeremiah had been desperately trying to avoid from coming out. I didn’t understand him until now. This was invasive and splashed on the front of New Yorks’s most popular newspapers for the world to read.
The article claimed he was in a street gang and was an ex-con. It was a bold-faced lie, and one that only Anderson would tell. The lying creep. Of course, he would never own up to the fact he hadframedhis best friend, letting him take the fall. Jeremiah had never even gone to prison, so the ex-con claim was bullshit.
Whoever wrote this had their facts wrong, but it wasn’t surprising if their source was Anderson. Though his name was left out of the article, the “anonymous source” reeked of him. According to the source,Jeremiah was violent, merciless, and cruel—and that’s why he’s been such a success in the businessworld. He doesn’t care about people. He will walk across anyone’s back he needs to get where he’s going. His own family disowned him for it.
My heart broke for Jeremiah. His past had come back to haunt him in the worst way. A tangled web of lies printed in black and white ink for everyone’s eyes to read. Anderson was getting desperate if he went to the press. I wondered how a man could be so hellbent on getting revenge, even after so many years. I thought their fight in the park would have been enough for him to walk away. But now I realized he wouldn’t stop.
I read on to the part about Jeremiah’s secret office affair with his “young assistant,” aka me. Though my name was left out, I knew enough people could easily figure out who I was. I hated how the story made our relationship something dirty. I never saw it that way. Ever. I didn’t think Jeremiah did either, but now I see how people could twist it into whatever sold on the newsstands. His fears made sense now.
I had to find him.
I folded the paper and shoved it in my purse. I dialed Jeremiah’s number, but it went to voicemail. I stood from the bench to hail a cab. Thankfully, one pulled up to the curb quickly. The driver probably felt bad for me, given my rounded belly. I gave him the address to the accounting firm, hoping to find Jeremiah there.
When I arrived, I stared up at the glass building, wondering how it had only been a few weeks since I quit, yet it felt like years. Inside the downstairs lobby, no one questioned me as Istrode toward the elevators. I garnered a few curious looks in my direction, but I had worked there for so many years and was on good terms with everyone, from security to the main front desk.
I waited with bated breath as the elevator ascended, bracing myself to see Jeremiah. My nerves started to kick in, making my heart start to pound. The doors soon opened and I stepped out. I gave the new front desk clerk a confident nod, walking past before she could stop me. I noticed most everyone’s eyes on me as I walked down the hallway to Jeremiah’s office. I spotted his new assistant, Luke, at my old desk.
“Sadie,” he said in surprise.
“Is he here?” I asked, looking toward Jeremiah’s closed door.
“No. Afraid not.” He shook his head regretfully.
“Do you know when he’ll be back? I asked disappointedly.
“He said he was taking a family day.” Luke shrugged.
Afamilyday? I wasn’t sure if my ears heard him correctly.
“Sadie!” someone squealed, making me look up as one of the junior associates rushed toward me. She pulled me in for a hug.
“Simone. Hi,” I said, but more as a question.
“We heard the news!” she said excitedly.
“What? What are you talking about?” I asked confused.
“You guys are having a baby!” She clapped her hands excitedly.
“We are so excited for you both!” said Luke with a warm smile, as more of the office gathered around.
“I knew something was up with you two,” said Simone with a sly smile. “And when Jeremiah proudly told us all this morning, I could hardly hold it together.”
“H-he told you?” I said, my voice cracking.
