And deserved.
Chapter 66
‘So, Hannah, this whole mess … thanks for bearing with us while we figured things out,’ Wes, her Lotus NY boss, grimaced at her from the other side of his desk a few days later. ‘I know you have probably felt a bit … in limbo. I’m sorry about that, but I’m sure you can understand the firm’s position, considering.’
She nodded, determined to keep her chin up. ‘Considering …’ she repeated.
‘So, here’s the thing. It’s taken some back and forth and whatnot – lots of mixed opinions but we’ve decided we want you back on the job. What with this whole Kendrick thing, the agency has decided to part ways – we understand you are no longer involved with him, and count yourself in the ranks of what those other women have been saying. If you know what I mean,’ he stuttered, much to Hannah’s amusement. ‘Plus you were doing so great with McKenzie so we appreciate that maybe we were too … hasty in severing things. People are just loving him right now and with him getting back on the ice too, well, we want to harness all of that star power. And that’s where you shine.’
Hannah sat up a bit straighter in her seat. She had figured as much once Wes called her into the office. If they wanted to fire her, they would have done it over the phone and washed their hands of the matter.
‘I see …’
He smiled at her. ‘So, we’re good? All water under the bridge? Look forward and not backward? I really mean that, Hannah, you’re great with McKenzie, and if anyone can encourage him back with us, it’s going to be you. Yougethim. Youunderstandwhat makes him tick. And honestly, he’s the type of guy Lotus wants to represent. He’s agoodguy.’
That he was, and yes, Ward deserved all the good things that were coming to him now. But she knew that she couldn’t do what Wes was asking of her. She could win him back as a client, sure; all she would have to do was return one of his many calls. It would be as simple as that in theory at least.
But like she’d informed Bernie the day before, she truly couldn’t work with him anymore.
Professional conflict of interest aside, there would now certainly be an emotional one. Shackling herself to Ward as a client would be like putting her heart in its own self-made prison. Though she didn’t tell his agentthat.
Now as she walked through the front doors of the building, she knew exactly what the next item on her to-do list would be – move out of Courtney’s apartment, figure out what her next step was … and determine where exactly she would land after.
Thankfully, she had a little money saved to last her a bit before she thought about what to do career-wise, but really what she craved the most right now was peace and solitude. She wasn’t sure where she was going to go, but she knew that wherever it was, it needed to be away from New York and from Ward McKenzie.
Maybe she could head home for a bit and see her parents – it had been ages since she’d crossed the Atlantic for a long overdue visit. No place like home, after all?
Or Vegas, like Zoe had suggested. ‘We’ll go to Caesars, blow itall on black seventeen, lay by the pool for a day and then go see Mindfreak. Ask Criss Angel if he could maybe shove a razor blade down Rob Kendrick’s throat.’
Hannah was tempted, mostly because she’d love the opportunity to reunite with her friend, but also knew Zoe was busy with her own life and work commitments, and in truth had already spent more than enough time holding Hannah’s hand in the aftermath of her last crisis.
Before she could think any more about any definite course of action, she spied Julie behind the reception desk, sorting through some papers. Hannah approached the building supervisor and delicately cleared her throat, making her presence known.
The other woman looked up and gave her a kind smile, her eyes softening in sympathy and Hannah winced inwardly. Clearly, she too had seen the news coverage and put two and two together.
‘Hannah, how are you doing? Honestly, Bruno’s still completely inconsolable that he let that … well you know, upstairs unannounced. More so now. Never meet your heroes, I guess. You doing OK?’
Unable to pretend, she grimaced. ‘To be honest, things could be better. I’ve … been laying low. And I’ve already told Bruno that I don’t blame him. At all. Completely honest mistake. He wasn’t to know.’
‘Pretty wild though, huh? Anything I can do to help?’ Julie asked genuinely, her concern evident.
‘Well, now that you mention it … ’ She took a deep breath and exhaled. ‘I’m going to be leaving soon … ’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.’ Julie reached forward to pat Hannah’s hand where it rested on the counter. ‘We all loved having you here. But I guess I understand too, considering.’ She shook herhead. ‘Honestly, who’d have guessed that you guys even knew each other, let alone worked together. What are the chances?’
Hannah bit her lip, keen to move off the topic of Rob. ‘Everything has been … a lot.’ She shook her head to stay on track. She didn’t need to lay her entire sob story on the super. ‘Obviously I’ll alert Courtney’s people, but I suppose if you and Bruno could maybe keep an eye on her mail and deliveries and whatnot? You know she gets a lot of stuff. No furniture or build-related deliveries scheduled as far as I know.’ She went through the mental checklist she had been compiling in her head since she’d made the decision to vacate. ‘It’s just I don’t want any mail or packages to disturb Ed again. Since things are on such an even keel now.’
Julie nodded her head in understanding. ‘Of course. Though I’m guessing he’s all sunshine and rainbows at the moment too. It would take a lot to bring him down. Though of course,youknow that better than me.’ She laughed, which Hannah thought was a curious response, considering. ‘You know, you really did work wonders with him,’ she added, with a twinkle in her eye. ‘He’s a whole different guy these days.’
Hannah grimaced. ‘So maybe my time here wasn’t a complete disaster.’
‘Not in the least,’ Julie agreed. ‘And of course you have my word that Bruno and I’ll keep an eye on P-2-related activity until Courtney returns.’
Thanking her once more, Hannah promised to say goodbye before she left for good and then headed back up to the penthouse floor. The elevator opened and she headed down the hallway, casting a glance at P-1 as she passed.
Inside, she was immediately greeted by the cat. Placing her bag on the kitchen counter, she started scratching the faithful feline’shead before heading to the cupboard and grabbing another tin of Fancy Feast, opening it up and placing it on the floor.
Resting her head in her hand, Hannah watched it eat, now wondering what to do with it when she left. She obviously couldn’t lock it in the apartment to fend for itself, nor could she leave the window open for it to pop in and out as it pleased.
