“What the hell are you talking about?”
I grind my molars. Surely he knows what I mean. He can’t bethatwillfully ignorant, can he?
“Iris,” he says at last, his voice low and dangerous. “That’s who you’re referring to? You’ve been on at me for weeks about that girl.”
I fold my arms, forcing myself to bite my tongue. Anything I say now I won’t be able to take back. It will only make it worse.
“She’s distracted you since the moment she got here,” John mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose in that way he does to demonstrate his exasperation. “I knew it was a mistake to let her work for me.”
“Lether?” I spit, before I can stop myself.
John stills. A muscle flickers in his jaw as he asks, far too calmly, “What are you implying?”
I shake my head, ignoring his comment. I should walk away, shouldn’t say anything else, but I can’t stop myself. I’ve listened to him attack Iris for weeks—criticizing her work ethic, dismissing her contributions, ignoring her talent—and I can’t fucking take it anymore.
“You’reluckyto have her,” I growl. “She works harder than anyone else at this firm.”
John gives a derisive snort. “You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s a liability. She can’t even manage the simplest tasks, can’t stick to deadlines. She’s always getting distracted by things that don’t concern her. Honestly, that girl wouldn’t know hard work if it smacked her between the eyes—”
Oh, fuck no. No way does he get to talk about her like this. Not anymore.
“For fuck’s sake!” I bellow, finally losing control. “She’s not failing, she’sstruggling. She has ADHD.”
Silence falls over the room. My hands shake from the adrenaline coursing through me, as I realize what I’ve said out loud, toJohn, of all people.
Fuck.
Just when I think it can’t get any worse, a sound at the door makes me turn.
And there in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee, stands Iris.
35
IRIS
At first, I think he’s talking about someone else.ADHD? What the hell?
But when Aidan turns to find me standing there, and the color drains from his face, I know.
He’s talking about me.
I stumble backward, his words ringing through my head.
She has ADHD.
What is he talking about?
A cold sheen of sweat washes over me, my ears buzzing as I try to make sense of what he means. He lurches toward me, face crumpling in despair, and I crash into the back of Tash’s chair, spilling the coffee.
Why did he say that? Whywouldhe say that?
Tash turns in her chair, brow dipping in concern as she steadies me. “You okay?” she asks, her voice sounding as though it’s coming from underwater.
I glance at her, pulse hammering in my temple, coffee trembling in my hands, and she quickly takes the cups from me.
Did she hear Aidan too?
In my periphery, I catch Dani watching me with pity. “Oof, how embarrassing,” she mutters, and my gut turns over.
