but she couldn’t place it. It nudged and nagged until she grabbed it. A way out, maybe?
Things were going well, right? No public incidents, Cartee had said himself at the charity auction that things were better. So that meant she was probably almost done. She could transfer the contract to someone new, say it was in maintenance mode. Or cancel it altogether. If the issue was resolved, there was no reason for her to stay on, right? He’d proved he could clean up when the situation called for it. He knew how to behave. He was absolutely charming when he wanted to be.
He was everything perfect. And if she could just get out of that damn contract, maybe they had a chance together. If he was even still interested in her.
It was the most soothing thought she’d had since they parted ways after the auction. She smiled and turned her head, resting her cheek on her arms and letting the possibilities flit through her thoughts. They would be incredible together at formal parties. He had looked amazing in that tux. The thought tugged something unpleasant, but she pushed away the nagging. More clothes shopping. That had been fun.
The nagging grew, but she couldn’t tell what it was attached to.
Her computer chimed, and she forced the fantasy away.
A message from Zach.
We need to talk. I’d expect this from Scott, but not you.
Nausea slipped through her, and her temple throbbed. What the hell? She was reaching for her phone when her email chimed again. This time it was a message from Greta.
I need you in my office this afternoon. Tell me when you’re available, I’ll make time.
A link to a gaming forum followed the message. She clicked through, curiosity mingling with unfocused dread as the page loaded. Her eyes grew wide at what she saw, and her stomach lurched. Oh shit. What had they done?
The forum thread was titled: Why I rly wnt 2 b a game designer.
And it was full of photos from the charity dinner. The amazing costumes, the fantastic fun. The black-skinned drow she’d dressed as tucked in a dark hallway, Scott’s finger on her lip, the two of them looking very much just seconds from kissing. Then another shot of their lips pressed together, his hand on her lower back, her palms resting on his chest.
Enough evidence that she’d been intimate with a client to jeopardize her job. A mile-long string of profanities raced through her thoughts. How had that gotten on camera? Damn it, why had she let herself fall into this?
Panic pounded through her, overriding reason as she dove into reactionary mode. She had to fix this. She couldn’t let it impact her job.
She tried to call Zach, but went straight to voice mail. She hung up before the beep, not sure what to say. She replied to Greta, saying she’d be there in half an hour.
She forwarded the message with links to Scott and included her own message.
Never again.
She scurried to dress and pull her hair back so she could get into the office. Her email chimed again with a reply from Scott.
Fine with me.
She snarled at her laptop and slammed it shut. Fury and hurt screamed through her veins. The finality in those three words. Her stomach rolled in on itself as she walked out the door. He didn’t get to have the last word in this. She slipped in her earpiece and dialed his number as she headed to her car. Her heels scuffed against the concrete. She didn’t care.
“What?” His gruff voice greeted her.
“That’s my question.” She slid into her car, letting every bit of her frustration pour into her voice. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Really?” Anger and disbelief poured through the receiver. “You called to bitch me out, instead of, oh, I don’t know, admitting this was a shared moment? Or if I really mean that little to you, doing damage control?”
“Damage control.” She spit the phrase out in disgust. She pulled onto the road, maneuvering through traffic. “I don’t have an emergency contingency plan for you being a careless fuckup. Just because you never wanted to do this publicity thing doesn’t give you the right to waste my time and your company’s money. You may have gotten me fired. Do you even care?”
“Do I even care?” His laugh was short and harsh. “What a funny thing for you to ask. So this is still all about business? About your career?” His snide tone assaulted her ears.
There was something