How do I get her to see that she doesn’t need to protect herself from me?
That night, she avoids me completely and goes out for dinner with Izabel. I can’t stop thinking that maybe I was too harsh. But she needs to hear and see the truth.
My animosity towards Izabel has faded since I stopped blaming her for things that I need to take control of myself. For the moment, I am grateful that Kayla has someone to talk to. Because clearly, she can’t talk to me even though I desperately want her to feel she can.
Chapter 14 - Kayla
Bianca sets the Carter file on my desk. “Here you go, was there anything else I might get for you?” she asks politely.
Last night’s conversation with Josiah is still looping in my head. It’s a nightmare playing on repeat. He planted that seed, the idea that someone would hurt my twins… every time I think about it again, which is almost non-stop since he said it, my entire body goes into a dark sense of panic and fear. I would never survive something like that happening to them. It would break me.
That’s why I have to bury myself in work—to stop thinking about it. It’s a desperately needed distraction that I am incredibly grateful for. And thank goodness there is a massive meeting today.
“No, this is perfect, thank you, Bianca.”
I push my laptop to the side and pull the file closer, opening it to double-check my calculations. Everything is in order. It’s all perfect.
Standing, I clutch the file against my side and hurry into Josiah’s office.
“Are you ready? They’ll be here in a few minutes,” I say.
He looks up at me, concern touches his eyes. “Are you ok?” he asks causioulsy.
“Fine,” I snap. Come on, we have work to do,” I add quickly.
“It’s just that… we haven’t spoken since last night and…”
“Now really isn’t the time.” I hold up the folder and try to push a missile onto my face. The muscles around my eyes twitch.
“Ok, yes. I’m ready,” he stands, understanding not to pushthatconversation now. “Why do you look so nervous?” he asks, smirking playfully, trying to ease the tension.
“Just the possibility that they might increase their budget again after only doing it as recently as a month ago is really exciting. I want this to go well,” I say.
“From what I heard from Mr. Carter, the deal is already done. He’s only coming here to sign papers.”
“It’s never done until it’s done, Josiah. You of all people should know that,” I scoff.
I hurry ahead, annoyed at his calm confidence. He should fight for the deals right up until they are finalized. Clients can flip and change their minds in a matter of seconds.
I guess he isn’t the one who spent every day obsessing over every detail of this account for the past few weeks.
Josiah gently wraps his hand around my arm and pulls me to a stop just inside the boardroom.
“Kayla, I’ve been watching you closely with this file. You’ve almost tripled his revenue since he last increased his budget, and you have to know what I wouldn’t have put you fully in charge of his account if I wasn’t confident in you,” he whispers.
I smile tightly.
It’s nice to hear his feedback like that, but it doesn’t take away my nerves about doing a perfect job right now in this meeting.
“Kayla! Josiah! It’s good to see you two again,” Mr. Carter’s voice booms into the boardroom.
Josiah steps away from me with a cheeky wink.
“Welcome! Come in, sit down. Can Bianca get you a coffee?”
“Sparkling water for me,” he says as he takes a seat.
Bianca, appearing out of nowhere, confirms his request and asks anyone else if they would also like something.
