Too late.
Her stomach lurched at the unwelcome thought in her head, so she quickly pushed it away. “How are you doing with your parents here?”
He stiffened almost imperceptibly, and she had to clasp her hands around her own arms to avoid squeezing his. “It’s gotten easier over the last year since I actually got the Hawks, but it’s still not easy. I actually felt like I’d taken a step forward, then again…”
As if he had conjured them up with his words alone, Mr. and Mrs. Clark approached.
“Hmm,” Mr. Clark said, “Ford’s performance is surprising. Maybe you should think about keeping him after all.”
Gareth didn’t sigh loudly, but his shoulders rose and fell dramatically. “Penny and I have already talked about it.”
“Ah, yes.” Mr. Clark didn’t look satisfied with the answer and frowned at his daughter, who was answering a phone call as she left the room.
“Where is Lacey, honey?” his mother asked, nodding politely at Hazel.
She was too distracted to return the friendly gesture. Hadn’t Gareth told his parents they had split up? And that was weeks ago! Why would he keep it to himself? Did he believe they might get back together? That maybe he’d go back to her when they were both…done?
A lump fought its way up her esophagus, but she swallowed it quickly. It was silly. Of course he wasn’t…he wouldn’t…right?
“Lacey isn’t here,” Gareth replied calmly. “We’re not together anymore.”
Relief flooded Hazel’s heart and disappointment flooded Mrs. Clark’s face. “What? But she was perfect for you! You said she might bethe one.”
Perfect. No one was perfect! And Gareth didn’t need perfect. The sudden bitter taste in Hazel’s mouth trickled down her throat and formed a nasty little yellow ball in her stomach. Oh no. She knew jealousy when she felt it. She didn’t want another woman to be calledperfectfor Gareth. Well, not that she wanted to be called perfect for him, because she wasn’t, but…well, it would be nice if the wordperfectcould simply be removed from the vocabulary of every person present here.
“Gareth, honey, I was so happy that you had finally found a woman who lived up to your impossible standards! What happened?” his mother asked worriedly.
Hazel lowered her gaze. What standards was she talking about? Did he have a list? Gareth liked lists; in his opinion, they brought structure to chaos, so probably yes.
“It didn’t work out, Mom,” he replied lightly, and Hazel felt him give her a hasty sideways glance. “Have you met Ms. Barrow?”
“No, I don’t think so. Nice to meet you,” she said, smiling curtly at her and then glaring at her son. “You want too much, Gareth. You’re not perfect either; you should allow the women you date a few flaws.”
Gareth opened his mouth, perplexed. “I never said I was perfect. And I didn’t break up with Lacey because she was flawed, Mom. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Darling, I don’t think it’s worth arguing with Gareth about this,” Mr. Clark chimed in. “Our precious son does what he wants anyway. And if he doesn’t like what we do, he’ll turn his sister against us!”
Hazel gritted her teeth. Why didn’t his mother ask how her son was coping with the breakup or if he was okay? Why was she instead worried about Lacey, whom she probably didn’t even know? And she didn’t like Mr. Clark adding fuel to the fire, nor did she like seeing that exhausted expression on Gareth’s face, which she hadn’t seen all day. She wished it had stayed that way.
“I didn’t turn Penny against you, Dad.”
“Yes, you did! She washappyto forward me your updated figures. Now, she wants to stop because you don’t agree?”
“Well, I don’t agree,” Gareth replied drily. “It’s hard for me to do my job when you’re constantly breathing down my neck with your objections and opposing opinions.”
“I just want to help.”
“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it, but I don’t need your help. I know what I’m doing.”
“Gareth, I realize you’ve been blessed with a great deal of intelligence,” his father stated, “but that doesn’t mean you always know what you’re doing. Or even know better.”
“No, not always,” Gareth replied quietly. “But in this case, I do. And when it comes to Devreaux, I definitely know better.”
Hazel glanced between the two and rubbed her twitching thumb. What point was Mr. Clark trying to make with this argument? Was he afraid he’d have to put Gareth in his place?
Didn’t he understand that Gareth was only arrogant in those areas of life where a lack of self-confidence could have dire consequences? If you didn’t exude authority in negotiations, others would take advantage. If, as a manager, he didn’t always give the impression that he was competent in every area and confident in every decision, it worried his employees.
That was exactly why she was so much tougher in the workplace than in her personal life! Because it wasnecessary,and Gareth felt the same way.
