I huff out a breath. “Well thanks, Court. I can always count on you to be honest.”
“Always.” She tilts her head. “Did you find a job?”
I groan, sinking down beside her. “I didn’t even look.”
Her mouth twists. “At this rate, you’ll be moving back in with your mum.”
“No.” The word comes out sharp, like saying it might somehow stop the inevitable.
She turns fully toward me. “Then why don’t you just go back there?”
I frown. “Back where?”
“The Baxter’s.” She shrugs. “He can’t stop you. And technically, he’s broken about twelve employment laws in this mess. That’s on him.”
“I can’t go back there,” I say quickly. “Firstly, who does that? And secondly—” My throat tightens. “I can’t face him.”
Courtney’s expression softens, but her voice stays practical. “You need money, Lee. Rent doesn’t care about heartbreak.” She pauses. “You’re out of time.”
I wake the next morning with a strange sense of clarity.
Courtney is right. I look like shit. I need a job, and I’m out of time. And getting answers from Warren won’t bring Isaac back.
So I shower properly, the kind where you scrub until your skin tingles and your thoughts get clearer. I take my time with my makeup, curl my hair, choose a skirt and blouse that make me feel put together rather than hidden. Then opt for low heels.
By the time I reach Baxter Corporation, my nerves are twisting up my insides, but my spine is straight, and my head held high.
I clutch my bag and step inside, relaxing slightly when Talia looks up and breaks into a wide smile.
“Oh my God,” she says, standing immediately and pulling me into a hug. “What’s going on? No one’s said if you’ve left. I tried asking Mr Baxter, but he’s been a right moody arse this last week.”
I smile faintly. “His dad has just died.”
She winces, sliding back behind the desk. “Right. Yeah. Point taken.”
“And I have left,” I add. “That’s why I’m here.”
“Oh.” She tilts her head. “He’s not in, if you’re looking for him.”
Relief rushes through me so hard I have to exhale slowly. “Perfect. I just need to drop my things off.”
I pull my laptop from my bag and set it on the desk, then fish out the car keys and place them neatly on top. It feels final.
Then I distract myself by taking out my CV.
“And can I ask a huge favour?” I add, smiling sweetly. “I need fifty copies. I’m job hunting.”
She laughs, already reaching for it. “Yeah, of course. Give me a minute.”
As she disappears into the back office, I tap my fingers against the marble desk. It feels like a weight lifting already, and I’ve only handed in my things.
The door behind me opens.
I glance over my shoulder and see Warren stepping inside, his jacket perfect, his expression unreadable. I whip my head back around, willing him to pass through reception like he always does.
“Mr Baxter,” Talia calls, poking her head out, and I shake my head frantically at her, eyes wide. My stomach drops when I feelhis presence behind me. I smell him before he speaks. Woody. Bergamot. Familiar enough to hurt.
“Morning, Tracey,” he says easily. “Any calls?”
