Page 89 of The Fake Out

Chris scoffed. “I’m not going to cry over a television show.”

“I do sometimes. I love a good cry once in a while,” Avery chirped.

“Me too,” Emerson agreed.

In unison, Chris and I scoffed. And then glared at each other.

“It’s funny how the two of you can be so different sometimes, and then others, you’re practically the same person.” Avery’s bright blue eyes danced between my brother and me.

“I know, right?” Emerson laughed, the sound echoing around the kitchen.

The buzz of my phone on the counter stole my attention. It danced on the quartz as the firm’s number flashed on the screen.

“We can watch whatever, but give me a sec. This might be important.”

Normally I was pretty opinionated when it came to movies and TV shows, but tonight, I really didn’t care what we watched. If Avery and Em chose some sappy romance, then I was okay with that. Emerson would love it, so I’d be happy that he was happy. And yes, I realized that made me almost as sappy as the stupid movie we’d be watching. But not many people in his life did things with the goal of making him happy, and I wanted to be someone who did. “Em and Avery, you pick.”

My brother handed Avery the remote as I stepped down the hall and shut the bedroom door.

As I swiped the screen to answer, I braced myself, expecting Jake. “Hello?”

“Ms. Damiano?” A voice I didn’t recognize greeted me.

“Yes?”

“This is Jonathan Whittemore.”

My heart dropped right out of my chest. Why was the president of the company calling me?

“We met at the Boston Zoo event.”

I cleared my throat. “Yes, I remember.”

“I wanted to meet with you in person, but I’ve been advised that you’re working remotely for another few weeks.”

There was no official end date to my remote employment. We’d left it open-ended so I could return on my own time. But I wasn’t going to correct the guy that was my super boss.

“What can I do for you, sir?”

“I’m not sure you’ve heard yet that Mr. Caderson and Doucette Design parted ways earlier today.”

My lungs seized and my knees wobbled. Seriously? Jake had been fired? Zara mentioned that it would likely eventually happen, but the article wasn’t slated to come out until next week. Zara had asked if I wanted to be a part of it, but I’d decided against it. The story here should revolve around the people who’d been brushed aside, whose ideas and designs had been credited to others. That was the story. Yes, I was one of those people, but there were many more, and if I was mentioned. I worried the focus would turn to the scorned girlfriend.

The long pause on the line meant I should speak.

“I hadn’t heard.”

“We kept it quiet.” He sighed. “We’re dealing with an issue regarding designs being poached, so to get ahead of the problem, we’re reorganizing. We want designers, the artists, in management roles. Guiding and fostering our young talent. We want to have a very proactive approach.”

Getting ahead? Meaning they’d been clued in to the article, so they were reacting? That didn’t seem like being proactive. That seemed like damage control.

“Okay,” I said carefully, scanning the room without really seeing anything. I loved the feel of this room. Between the heavy furniture, the family photos, and Revs gear, it was a soothing, comforting space. I took a deep breath and refocused on the conversation.

“We were impressed with how you handled the Boston Zoo’s account. Not only the designs, but your interactions with the zoo’s marketing team.”

“Th-thank you.” I stuttered the words, shocked by the compliment. At the zoo event, this man acted like he had no idea who I was, and so did every other person from Doucette in attendance. Besides Jake and Libby, of course.

“I will be honest,” he said with a sigh, “there is some bad press headed our way. And although, through our own internal investigation, we noted that you could have joined the impending smear campaign, you didn’t, and that shows loyalty.”

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