“You aredone,” Sheila hissed, seeming to want to step out of her body. Her steps squelched as she strode out of the office and turned left, toward the elevator. Probably heading to Montgomery’s office.
“Come on,” Cari said, gently guiding Marina out of the office to the bathroom. She placed wet paper towels on Marina’s neck as Marina continued to empty the contents of her lunch, and her ambitions, into the toilet.
Eventually, exhausted, she slumped against the stall wall. “What have I done?” she whispered, but she refused to cry. Not here. Not now. Later, though, for sure.
Cari giggled and handed Marina a wet paper towel to wipe her face with. “You barfed on a billionaire. I think it’s amazing.”
Marina wished she could find the humor in it. “I’ve just thrown away my whole career, Cari. I bet my walking papers are on my desk when we get back. I thought this was my ticket to thetop, but I’ve fucking blown it to pieces. And all for a woman I’m not even with.”
Cari frowned. “Tell me what happened.”
Marina struggled to her feet with Cari’s help, then swished water to rinse out her mouth. “Let’s do it in my office?—”
“Nooo.” Cari shook her head vehemently. “Your office is a masticated crime scene. I need to call maintenance to come clean it before you go in there again. I’ll go get your coat and bag, and we’ll head back to your place. I’ll let the other PA know we’ll be out of the office for the rest of the day. Wait here.”
Marina accepted the plan without argument. She leaned against the wall, and her eyes filled. She might have been able to get away with the thing about keeping an eye on the opposition with Montgomery. But vomiting on their most important client, and his friend, wouldn’t be acceptable. And the photos… She groaned and dropped her face into her hands. How had she not considered the possibility that Sheila would have someone watching her? Especially given her romantic interest.Because I’m not a psycho who would do that kind of thing.
Cari came in loaded down with their coats and bags. “Hurry. Sheila is shouting the place down, and Monty is hiding behind his desk. We don’t want to get stuck in the elevator with her.”
Marina’s phone buzzed in her coat pocket, and she pulled it out. “Montgomery.”
Cari winced. “You could say you didn’t have reception?”
Marina tucked the phone back in her pocket. “Sounds good to me. Maybe he’ll cool down enough to fire me without yelling.”
Cari opened the door, looked both ways, then motioned Marina out. They headed down a flight of stairs before catching the elevator. That way, they wouldn’t be seen waiting for the elevator on their own floor, which would scupper their escape. Cari’s hand on her shoulder was a grounding influence that kept Marina in motion. Cari took her car keys, and Marina slumpedinto the passenger seat without a word. She hit the Home button on the GPS, and Cari pulled out of the parking lot.
Marina’s phone buzzed and buzzed again, and she pulled it out and turned it off. She was already as good as fired, so why not piss him off right to the end?
She barely registered it when Cari parked in her space at her apartment. Numb, she let Cari take the lead until they were at her front door. She dug out her keys, dropped them when her hand was shaking too much to hold them, and Cari took over again.
Inside, she chucked her jacket on the floor, kicked off her heels, and flung herself face down on her couch. Then the tears came.
It was only when she’d cried herself out that she uncurled from the fetal position and forced herself to sit up. Cari nodded at the glass of water on the table, and Marina drank gratefully. “Thank you for not trying to coddle me.”
“Are you kidding? That was a lot of snot and saltwater.” Cari’s smile was gentle. “Want to tell me what’s going on now?”
Marina hugged her knees to her chest and explained what had happened.
Cari’s eyes were wide when she finished. “Okay, there’s a lot to unpack there, but I have to ask. How was the sex?”
Marina laughed, and a little of the tension eased in her shoulders. “Really fucking amazing. But I don’t think it was worth my entire career.”
“Are you sure?” Cari got up and pulled a soda from the fridge and offered Marina one before she went to sit back down. “I mean, if we break it down?—”
The buzzer for the door went off, and Marina groaned. “Please don’t let that be Montgomery here to fire me in person.”
“Want me to get it?” Cari asked. Marina nodded, and Cari went to the intercom. “Marina’s apartment. How can I help you?” she said in her most assistant-ish voice.
“It’s Rob.” He sounded far too serious.
Marina nodded at Cari’s questioning look, and she buzzed him in. When she opened the door, he gave her a quick nod before going to Marina. He pulled her off the couch and into a strong embrace.
“Are you okay?” he asked, holding her at arm’s length.
“What have you heard?” Marina squeezed his arm and then sat back down, hugging her knees again.
“Oh, honey.” He looked between Marina and Cari as he flung himself into the lounge chair. “I heard you were so sick you vomited everywhere, including on your client. Monty keeps yelling at everyone to find out where you are and to get you on the phone.”
