“I have to go,” she chokes out, and I can tell her throat is closing. Eliza’s eyes shine, holding back tears.
Near the front door, she stops and squares her shoulders.
“I’m not a charity case,” she says with a sharpness that stings like a paper cut.
Fuck.The video call on Sunday. I don’t even know why I said it.
Now that I know she was in the system it’s even worse. How many times did she hear it growing up? My stomach clenches. I rush out the back door, grateful for the biting morning air, and swipe a hand through my hair in frustration.
Maybe I inherited more from my father than I’m willing to admit.
The sting of the slap still burned my cheek, my report card shredded on the carpet.
“If you’re not above them, you’re nothing.”
My phone rings and I leap at the chance to do anything else than be consumed by guilt.
“Miss getting your ass handed to you already?” I rib Adam.
“Just because you and Logan shared a diaper and sparred before walking, doesn’t mean you’re better,” Adam huffs.
“The board in the gym says I am.” I chuckle.
“Pierre from R&D is the only one making noise in-house.” Adam gets to the point since there’s nothing he can say to contradict me. “She’s telling the poor souls who use the fourth-floor employee lounge that you two had a monthly date and you have been avoiding her since January.”
“We did not go on dates,” I snap at him. Employees are off-limits. Company and personal policy. “They were meetings.”
“Don’t have to explain it to me, I’m not HR,” he says suggestively.
“You don’t work there at all, yet you know more about what’s going on than anybody else.”
“My charm is a master’s key.” He’s grinning through the phone, annoying me with his good mood.
“Or it’s your ability to blackmail people. Luckily, you’re on my payroll and there’s a signed NDA with your name on it.”
“I’d feel offended you didn’t mention I’m your best friend and I’d rather gouge my eyes out than sell your secrets, but you’re in distress, so I’ll overlook it.”
“How generous of you,” I deadpan.
“On the other hand…” Adam jumps back into business mode. “UniCore is acting pretty confident about the next Pentagon bid since it’s a month away and you’re nowhere in sight.”
I start pacing again, my steps taking me to Eliza’s off-limits shed.
That bid is worth billions and I’m sidelined, even though physically, I’m perfectly capable of resuming my responsibilities. I don’t know how Joseph expects me to relax.
“I wouldn’t worry. Your sis—” He catches himself. “Your team has the pitch covered.”
As always, I pretend not to notice how he trips on any mention of Jackie. Nothing good would come of it.
“UniCore has Senator Jackson in their pocket. He has a lot of sway in the commission.”
Adam chuckles and I bet the smug bastard couldn’t wait to serve me this tidbit. “Let’s just say it wouldn’t matter. Their satellite tracking system has missed the mark during the latest tests. Substantially.”
I don’t even want to know how he found out. It’s a fine line between gossip and corporate espionage.
“They’re confident you guys won’t have anything to show because you’re the one running the show and you’re MIA.”
I sigh, and the grip on my lungs loosens slightly. “I appreciate you not freezing me out.”
