Page 17 of The Dom

“I have something of yours.” He held up a thumb drive.

Relief of different kinds flooded me. First, for the drive being recovered. Second, because Nate had a clear business reason to speak to me. He would’ve had to walk past me to get to Mr. Hancock’s office anyway, so it made sense he’d just stop and give it to me directly.

I reached out to take it, careful not to make any direct contact. I hadn’t yet learned how not to flush when we touched, and I honestly doubted I ever would. If someone happened to be watching and saw my physical response, it’d be impossible to keep the rumors from flying.

My curiosity, however, kept me from simply taking the drive and thanking him. “Can I ask where you found it?”

His smile flattened. “Let’s just say we need a new receptionist.”

“Oh.” Clara. “Are you sure she didn’t just find it?”

“I watched the security footage myself.” The muscle in his jaw pulsed. “She came up not long after you would’ve walked by her on your way out of the building. She used the key on your desk and rummaged through it for a minute or so before taking out the drive, then relocking the desk, leaving your key almost exactly where you’d left it.”

I was glad he’d found it because I hadn’t been entirely confident in my ability to recreate everything I’d already done, not without compromising on time or quality, but I felt awful that he’d fired a second person because of me. Yes, Flora and Clara had both committed terminating actions, but neither one of those things would’ve happened if I hadn’t been involved. Flora probably still would’ve gotten suspended for talking about Nate the way she had, but Nate’s treatment of me was the reason she’d continued to spread rumors, and I had no doubt that it was Clara’s loyalty to her friend that had prompted the theft.

“Don’t.” The order was sharp, startling me.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t blame yourself for any of this.” He started to reach out his hand, then pulled it back, putting both hands into his pockets, as if that was the only way he could keep himself from touching me. “None of this is your fault. They made their own decisions, and they deserve the consequences. If anything, Clara’s lucky I didn’t call the police.”

He was right. I knew that in my head, but that didn’t ease my guilt as much as it should have. I’d caused so much trouble for Nate, all because I’d been too scared to just walk up to Finley and tell him who I was. And it wasn’t like I’d only been here for a few months either. I could’ve approached Finley after working here for a year and then quit, long before this thing with Nate and I had begun. But I’d stayed and stayed, hiding my real intentions, giving myself excuse after excuse as to why I needed to wait.

I didn’t need to wait any longer. I shouldn’t wait any longer. It was time for me to talk to Finley…and for me to leave Manhattan Records. I’d caused enough discord in this place. Me staying wasn’t fair to anyone. All it was doing was hurting people. People I cared about.

I didn’t say any of this, though. Nate would just argue against it, tell me that he’d fixed any issues that could possibly come up. He’d say that this was his company and if anyone had a problem with me, they could leave. He’d protect me, no matter the damage it did to him personally or professionally. That was the kind of man he was.

It was my turn to protect him, even if he was pissed when he found out.

“I’m glad you found it,” I said as I plugged it into my computer. “I could’ve replaced the information, but it wouldn’t have been as polished as what I’d already done.”

“That’s good.” He rocked back on his heels, then forward onto his toes.

This was awkward.

“Nate, there you are.” Finley’s voice preceded him, and I saw my own relief mirrored on Nate’s face. “Hello, Miss Webb.”

“Hi.” I smiled at him, pressing my fingers together so he couldn’t see them shaking. I needed to get past this.

Nate offered his reason for being here before Finley even asked it. “I found the flash drive that Miss Webb left in her desk.”

“That’s good,” he said. “Stu told me how much information was on it.”

“I fired Clara Dayton,” Nate continued with his quick explanation. “She stole it.”

Finley frowned. “The receptionist?”

“Her friend was fired previously for…unbecoming behavior. She blamed Ashlee and wanted to get her into trouble.”

Something flickered in Finley’s eyes, and I wondered if it was because Nate had referred to me by my first name. He knew that Nate and I had been together, but I didn’t know if Nate had told him about our recent weekend.

“Stu also told me that you’ve made a…change to Miss Webb’s position.” Finley sounded like he was choosing his words carefully.

“I did.” Nate gave a brief outline of my contract, and as he finished his explanation, he glanced at me, his eyes warm. “I wanted to be sure that there’d be nothing problematic about my girlfriend working here.”

I didn’t know who was more surprised by the word girlfriend, Finley or me. Nate was the only one who acted like it was no big deal.

“I guess that answers my next question,” Finley said finally.

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