I swallow hard as the guilt settles like a rock in my stomach. “I’m aware. I’ve got it handled.”
His eyes narrow. “Wyatt, I hope you’re not getting distracted again. Blair’s a pleasant woman, but this is business. We can’t afford any complications.”
There it was, the lecture I’d been dreading. My jaw tics as frustration bubbles up.
“I understand the stakes,” I say, forcing the words out, careful not to make any promises I won’t be able to keep.
He gives me a curt nod, and his expression remains hard. “Just remember, you’re part of this team. We have responsibilities to our clients and the firm. Don’t let personal feelings overrule logic again.”
I nod as the weight of his words press down on me. “Understood.”
I leave his office and head to my own, feeling trapped between duty and desire. Blair’s impending layoff is burning a hole in my conscience, and it’s inevitable that I will disappoint someone.
A knock startles me, and I’m surprised to see Jake in my doorway. I thought he was supposed to be on his honeymoon for a few more days. He and Lauren were supposed to spend a month in Italy.
“Why are you here?”
“Can’t a guy just come visit his friend?”
“Sure, but that friend is supposed to be on his honeymoon.”
Jake slides his hand down his face, and I see the exhaustion peek through. “Lauren wanted to come back for someHousewivescasting call.”
“What?”
“Don’t.”
I raise my hands in surrender and do what I can to be supportive. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I just stepped into the biggest conflict of interest shitshow.”
“Looks like I got here just in time.”
Normally I would push Jake more, but I can see that he’s trying to work out how he feels right now, and I could use his advice. “It’s the TWA work.”
“I thought you were excited about that? I mean, you won’t come work with me, so I thought taking on this account was the next best thing?”
“It is, but it’s kind of interfering with my personal life.”
“Hmm,” Jake raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to say more before he decides how to respond to that.
“I’m kind of seeing Blair, but nobody knows it. Well, Sophia does. And maybe Blair’s friend Jess. And now you. But it’s new, and we haven’t even labeled it or anything.”
“Well, don’t fuck it up, then,” Jake says with a hearty laugh.
“I’m trying not to.” I let a small laugh escape, too.
I explain how Blair was initially part of the meetings and involved in everything that was happening at TWA but then Lance cut her out. I didn’t really think anything of it, and it actually made it easier for us to entertain the possibility of rekindling our feelings for one another. But then a few suggestions I made to help cut costs inadvertently put Blair at the top of a layoff list.
“And she has no idea?”
“No. In fact, I think she thinks if she signs Sophia, she’s protected and safe.”
“You can’t let Sophia sign with her, then.”
“I know. I’m trying to figure that out, too. Fuck. How did I go from finally getting everything I want to fucking it all up at the same time?”
“Sorry, man. Can you tell her?”
“Not right now. I’d feel better about telling her if we were close to the notification date and her name on the list was for sure final. But until then, I can’t say anything.”
