Keep the Girl, Lose the Deal

"Ms. Jenner, I know you used to like Mr. Sutton, but he was never into you. When people started those rumors about you two, Mr. Sutton cleared it up with us in private. He said you were just coworkers."

The moment those words left her mouth, the way everyone looked at me changed.

Like I was some pathetic woman who'd thrown herself at a man, gotten rejected, and turned bitter.

I looked at Eddie.

He turned away and stared out the window.

Not a single word.

Eight years of a secret relationship.

I'd handled impossible clients for him. Closed deals that kept his company alive. Sat through endless rumors about me chasing him while he stayed silent every time.

And now, he couldn't even give me this one shred of dignity.

Someone else jumped in.

"Josie, Mr. Sutton and Gina are already married. If you keep going after him, you're basically the side piece. What happens if clients hear about this?"

"Seriously. Stealing your mentee's man? Have some shame."

I looked around at the coworkers I'd personally trained.

Suddenly, the whole thing felt ridiculous.

I'd planned to send them wedding invitations.

Now there was no point.

I tightened my grip on my phone and looked around the room. "In that case, I should introduce my fiancé."

I was about to pull up a photo of Brody and me.

Then someone grabbed my wrist.

Eddie ripped the phone from my hand, his face stormy.

"Back to work. All of you."

His voice cracked through the office.

Then he grabbed my arm and dragged me toward his office.

Behind me, everyone crowded around Gina, comforting her.

The looks they threw my way were filled with disgust.

The second we stepped into his office, he slammed the door and yanked at his tie.

"I told you, the whole marriage thing was just part of a game. Do you have to make this ugly for everyone?"

"If it was just a game," I said coldly, "why didn't you say that out there? Why let them call me the side piece?"

He froze for a second, then answered like it made perfect sense. "She's young. I couldn't embarrass her in front of everyone."

So embarrassing me was fine?

I took my phone back and turned for the door.

My hand stopped on the knob, but I didn't look back.

"The wedding's next Saturday. You and Gina are welcome to come."

***

As soon as I reached the parking garage, my phone rang.

It was the recruiter who'd contacted me before.

"Ms. Jenner, about that Marketing Director position we discussed—the company is willing to raise the offer by another twenty percent. Interested?"

The package was already at the top of the industry.

"I'll take it." My voice didn't waver. "And I'll be bringing an eight-figure deal with me. Make sure the commission reflects that."

The recruiter practically screamed. "Absolutely! Leave it to me!"

After the call, I sat in my car and opened my messages.

My finger hovered over Brody's name.

Then I typed:

[Don't sign the contract yet. Wait for my update.]

Eddie said the company was in trouble.

Eddie said not to cause problems.

But for the last eight years, hadn't I been the one cleaning up every mess?

The Blanco Corp partnership was a deal I'd only secured after swallowing my pride and asking Brody three separate times.

It was the deal that could save Eddie's company.

As my car pulled out of the garage, the city blurred past the window.

Just like the last eight years with Eddie.

Gone before I knew it.

The first time I met Eddie was outside my college dorm.

He was Serena's older brother. He'd come to pick her up for summer break.

Standing under a tree in a white shirt, he smiled.

A tiny mole sat at the corner of his eye.

I fell for him instantly.

Later, at our graduation party, we both drank too much.

One thing led to another, and we ended up sleeping together.