A tall redhead walked in with Clarissa. “Hello, Jay.” She gave him a self-conscious smile and glanced back at Clarissa, as if for support.
Jay jumped from his chair. “Clarissa, we’re late for our meeting with Marlise. Rebecca, would you show Felicity our …” He waved his hand around, looking flustered. “…bathrooms.” He gestured for Clarissa to walk out ahead of him, and it looked like she was going to resist, but finally, she stalked out with Jay on her heels.
Felicity stared after Jay, looking disappointed. “I told Clarissa this was a bad idea.”
“What was a bad idea?”
“Hiring me. Jay and I dated. Clarissa said it wouldn’t matter, that it was old news, but I didn’t think he’d react like this.”
Yeah, his reaction was … intense. And Rebecca could say that because they’d already run into someone he’d dated today. What were the odds?
“How long did you and Jay date?” Rebecca asked.
“A little over a year.” Felicity sighed and twisted her hands together.
The gesture made Rebecca wonder if it was a sign of regret, or longing, or just an acknowledgement of the awkwardness of the situation. She could only imagine what Jay was feeling right now.
***
“Sit down. Both of you.” Marlise pointed at the two chairs in her office. “Clarissa, you aren’t allowed to talk again until I say so.”
Clarissa’s mouth dropped open, but she only huffed and flopped into a leather chair.
Jay was feeling particularly murderous. Seeing Elena today was a weird coincidence. Having Felicity here was planned. What could Clarissa have possibly wanted to accomplish with this?
“Go ahead, James,” Marlise said as soon as he sat down.
“Clarissa hired my ex-girlfriend on purpose.”
“On purpose?” Clarissa huffed in outrage. But one look from Marlise and Clarissa shut up again.
“Clarissa, Felicity’s resume was not in the stack I gave you. Did you go out and find her just to give James a hard time? Do you know what you’ve done? If we turn around and dismiss her right now, she could try to sue us for sexual harassment or cause us bad press.”
Jay rubbed his eyes. “She’s not vindictive like that.” She wasn’t Clarissa. If she’d been anywhere near as calculating, she would’ve seen the trap and never agreed to the job.
Marlise shuffled around the papers on her desk. “She is qualified. I liked her interview.” Jay knew what was coming. “Could you deal with her working here, James?”
“I want to know why, first.” He stared down Clarissa. “Why did you actively seek out an ex-girlfriend to hire?”
Clarissa rolled her eyes. “I’m not admitting to doing anything wrong. Just because Jay’s dated half of Los Angeles is not my fault.”
“Why, Clarissa? You tell me why, or I walk out of here and go explain to her that she was hired as a prank. I’ll come up with my own conclusions.”
“Fine. I was actually concerned about what would happen when the flirting between you and Rebecca ended. You want to talk about sexual harassment claims? What happens when you two cross the line and she can’t be your assistant anymore? I tried to tell her to come work for me, but she’s already too wrapped up in you. I figured if Felicity was around, you’d remember what happens when a relationship ends.”
Jay stood up. “More lies. Nothing is going on between me and Rebecca.”
Marlise looked concerned. “Do you have anything to back up your claims, Clarissa? Why do you think something is going on between Jay and Rebecca?”
Clarissa stared at her nails, back to calm now that she’d caused the chaos she’d hoped for. “They were here together alone after hours. I came back to get my tablet, and it looked like I was interrupting something.”
“You were interrupting decorating and inventory.” Jay stared at Marlise. If she let Clarissa off the hook for this, there was no telling what havoc she’d wreak next.
Marlise crossed her arms. “Clarissa, this is the last time I’ll assume your heart was in the right place. Next time, you’re fired.”
