“Hey,” I objected. “First, you know I don’t think you’re a fool. I’m a fucking fool, Kai. You’re the one with your head on straight. Second, River was doing good. Very good, in fact.” I was surprised at how animated I felt after acting sheepish and apologetic all day, but I needed to make sure he understood that River had actually worked hard and changed some of his patterns. “He’s going to school, and you know he’s looking for his own place, and this whole time, he acted totally chill with me, I swear. He never tried to do anything irrational or obsessive.”
“You don’t know him, Leo. The second you two are over, he’ll start this up with someone else and drop out of school, and he’ll be back to square one.”
“He willnot,” I objected again, as upset by his lack of faith in River as I was by his implication that things would end between us.
Kai winced and glared at me. “What, are you mad now? Are you angry with me for this? Unbelievable.”
I bit my tongue. Mad wasn’t the word, but I was frustrated. It wasn’t fair of me, and I knew he deserved time to process, but I wanted Kai to see the truth of what was going on. It wasn’t only different for his brother this time, but it was different for me, too, and I wanted my best friend to acknowledge that.
I’d never fallen for anyone before, and if he would stop and think for a minute, he might realize what a big deal this actually was.
The door opened, and before I could muster a response, our clients entered. The pained looks vanished from our faces, and Kai and I both stepped into work mode. I chatted the clients up while he offered the occasional insight from our market research or long-term strategy, and I kept an easy, natural smile on my face the whole time, despite the pain still tearing at my insides.
When the meeting ended, Kai hurried away without giving me a chance to talk. I wandered back to my office, depressed. It was too early for a drink, but I wanted one, which only threw my memories back to my first hookup with River, late that night in the office.
If I could go back to that night, I wouldn’t stop us. How could I? But I would tell myself to do it all differently, to take Cass’s advice from the camping trip and show River the basic respect of seeing him out in the open, instead of hidden away like a dirty secret.
I had tried to treat him right, but now I worried that, for him, I had just been another heartbreak, a mistake in a long line of painful mistakes.
Figures. I finally fell in love, and I instantly made a giant mess out of it.
My next appointment arrived, and Roger Hank stood in the doorway. He wore his sunglasses inside, and his stubble had grown out to an unattractive near-beard. “Take a seat, Roger. How can I help you?”
I was surprised he’d asked for a meeting, considering his new foundation was basically out of his hands at this point, but I was glad I’d have the chance to ask him about the movie theater in person. Even if everything else was screwed up, this pile of shit in a fancy suit could get that done for River.
“Things are moving smoothly with your new foundation, I see. Our team was already working on the first press releases. I assume you’re pleased?”
He paused and scrunched his face up like he’d smelled something rotten. “What, that? I don’t care,” he said.
I moved quickly, not wanting to lose my opening. “I did want to let you know, we think a different neighborhood is preferred. Before you move forward, we’ve scouted alternative locations for you. My team can send them over.”
He shook his head, then helped himself to a glass of bourbon. “That won’t work. My friend needs us to build there. He wants to open a cinema down the street, and he’s got an in on a good deal with the building owner. But like I told you, Leo, that’s not why I’m here. Ask me why I’m here, will you?”
I drummed my fingers on the table, distressed that he wasn’t just following my lead like usual, but I kept my poker face. “Why are you here?” I asked.
Roger crossed to the front of the room and shut the door behind him, then returned to me. “This is the thing. There are a few women, and they’re not happy about me. About the way I treated them, you know what I mean?”
My mood turned to ice. I didn’t know the details, and frankly, I didn’t need to. Roger Hank was an asshole, and it took no stretch of the imagination to understand the things assholes like him tended to do.
Disgusting.
I stood. “Roger, our firm has been very clear. We do not assist in matters of abuse, harassment, discrimination, or sexual misconduct. It’s a hard no for us.”
Roger rolled his eyes. “Of course you say that, the way things are these days. I get it. I’ll pay extra. We shouldn’t have this on the books, anyway. I just need you to help me kill a couple of magazine stories and spread some rumors about a few women. Hurt their credibility before they come forward.”
Rage boiled through me. I hated this kind of shit. It happened in the PR world, and I wasn’t naïve about it, but anytime I ran into this kind of thing, I lost my head.
“What magazine?” I asked, almost hissing the words.
“A tabloid.Flash Frame. You know anyone there?”
“I do,” I answered. “I’ll call them the second you leave the office.” I paused long enough for him to look smug and pleased, then continued. “And I’m going to make sure they run that story, and I’m going to ask them to contact the women, too, and let them know that we’re happy to provide representation as they move forward.”
Roger slammed his drink on the desk. “What? Leo, are you fucking with me?”
“Not at all, Roger.” My jaw ticked. “You’re fired.”
“Fired? You’re firing me?”
