Conflict of Interest - By Allyson Lindt Page 0,64

out, but he was willing to stick his ass on the line for Kenzie, not for a loosely worded, boiler-plate clause.

Greta’s expression didn’t give anything away. “Point taken. Thank you for stopping by.”

He paused halfway out of his seat, not wanting to ask but not able to help himself. “This gets her out of hot water, right?”

Greta’s mask slipped, a whisper of a genuine smile leaking in. “I can’t guarantee anything, and I can’t discuss that with you.”

Of course. He knew better. “Thank you for your time.”

Chapter 19

Would it ever get easier to approach those giant glass walls that exposed the office to the rest of the world with no shame? Kenzie pushed the question aside. It didn’t matter. After today she’d never do it again.

The receptionist glanced up as she approached, smile not as friendly as it had been in the past, but still polite. “Mr. Johnston says you can go on back.”

Mr. Johnston. That didn’t bode well. Kenzie returned the smile, hoping her nervousness didn’t show. She couldn’t tell Scott what she’d figured out, not that he would take her calls anyway, but she couldn’t face him. Still, she had to tell someone and Zach seemed like as good an option as anything, so she’d set up a meeting with him.

She reached the office. It was the same basic layout as Scott’s, but instead of industry awards, artwork, and framed magazine articles on the walls, it was sterile like the lobby. Her feet froze to the floor when she saw one of the two chairs across from Zach’s desk was already occupied.

Zach stood and gestured to the empty chair. “Miss Carter. I hope you don’t mind, we’re in the middle of some serious planning, but I’ve got time for you. Have a seat.”

Scott never looked at her. She struggled not to stare at his back, the T-shirt with a faded Sonic the Hedgehog, the torn jeans, everything that indicated he was him and not playing the role he’d been forced into. “Thank you, but I’ll stand if that’s all right. I won’t take long.”

Zach clasped his hands behind his back, rocking on his toes. “Suit yourself. What can I do for you?”

She opened her mouth, and her entire rehearsed speech evaporated from her thoughts. She hadn’t meant to do this in front of Scott. He wasn’t meant to hear this. What if he hated her for it?

Zach watched her expectantly.

She was going to have to say something. “I think you made a mistake hiring me.” The words tumbled out before she knew what she was going to say. She wanted to flinch, but she was afraid if she stopped talking, she’d never be able to start again. “Not me specifically, but in general.”

Zach raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt.

“You have a brilliant designer, developer, director, person driving the creative half of this company.” She forced herself not to look at Scott the entire time. “Regardless of what some suit on the board of directors says, he makes you what you are. And you can’t make him conform just because people say he should. You can’t stifle him.”

She took a deep breath, hating the silence in the room. Should she say more? What else was she going to say? Short of proclaiming how very desperately she personally wished she could take it all back, if only she had recognized how she felt about him sooner … but that wasn’t for public consumption. Or at least, not unless they both felt the same way.

Zach looked away from her, gaze falling to Scott, something unreadable in his expression.

She followed his line of sight, staring at the back of the impassive head.

Scott stood and turned, face a blank mask. His voice was cold, lined with a sharp edge. “It’s my understanding, Miss Carter, that your company has assigned someone else to work with me.”

At his request. Kenzie swallowed, the lack of emotion devouring her as much as the formality. “That’s correct.”

Scott’s smile looked like it had been chiseled from ice. “Your employer might not appreciate you undermining their work. Especially since, if I’m correct, you still got paid.”

The words sliced through her. She’d expected a lot of reactions, but not to be told she was wrong. To have her concession thrown back in her face. She opened her mouth to protest.

Scott cut her off. “You were right to begin with Miss Carter. This is for the best. You can see yourself out, I assume?”

Hurt coursed through her, making every inch of her