Page 16 of Abyss

Because I fucking no longer do.

He’s just another heartless, thoughtless—and probably dickless—rich bastard who thinks he can treat people like shit, like all the other useless ones I’ve met in my life.

I hope all his whites turn pink in the wash.

Barely hearing most of the presentation over the screaming inside my head, I shuffle out of the room as soon as the meeting ends, heading back to Belinda’s desk without so much as another glance at him.

Closing my eyes momentarily before taking in a wobbly breath, I remind myself once again what I’ve said many times throughout my life: No one can make me feel small and shitty without my consent.

Chapter Six

HUDSON

“Just when I think you have something that might resemble an actual heart left inside you, you go and change my mind.”

I’m still turned toward the blank projection screen, my hand in a fist over my laptop, unwilling to make eye contact with Belinda.

The room cleared out a few minutes ago, but I knew she would stay back to hand me my ass.

Her voice drips with contempt unlike I’ve ever heard. It isn’t mere disappointment at my choice of words telling an unsuspecting employee to scroll social media on their own time; it’s unadulterated disgust for the way I spoke to Kavi.

“You’re an asshole, Hudson Case, and if you have even an ounce of decency left inside you, you’ll apologize to her.”

“Apologize?”I reel back, turning to her, and immediately regret doing so. Not only is Belinda’s flushed and furious face at the center of my vision, but I noticeherthrough the glass windows, seated behind Belinda’s desk. Her eyes are trained on her computer screen, but I get the feeling she has no idea what she’s even looking at.

A frown pulls down the corners of her lips and it pisses me off that I’m the reason for it.

I haven’t fucking slept.

I swear, between thinking about whether we’re going to close this deal with Rose City Skyport and my new admin, I’m running on an hour of fragmented sleep.

The sound of her sniffle reverberated inside my head like it was an amphitheater all fucking night. I tossed and turned, knowing I’d have to see her again this morning. Her pouty, bee-stung lips, those ridiculous curves, and those doleful, amber-colored eyes—the ones that said so much more than she allowed her words to say.

There’s a sadness behind her smiles, an exaggeration she’s practiced. Like she thinks she has to pay the price for each one day. Like maybe she’s paying for them now.

But what I don’t understand iswhyI notice. Why, in the short and disastrous meetings we’ve had, have I noticed the wariness in her eyes or her practiced smiles?

And furthermore,whydo I care?

“Yes, Hudson.” Belinda’s head bobs condescendingly. “You know the thing a person says to another person when they’ve made a mistake?”

“Mistake?”I hook her with my piercing glare, though I know it does nothing but piss her off more. “I’m not the one who came in over an hour late, dressed like I was going to a Bohemian rock concert. I have standards that I expect every employee to abide by. I’ve made those abundantly clear, and it’s what’s made this company successful—”

“Oh, wake the fuck up!” Belinda’s voice slices through my words, but it's her next words that scrape at a scab that refuses to heal. “It’s also the reason Jett was able to take your staff—why theywillinglyleft. Because your standards are unreasonable and make for a stressful and resentful work environment. The only reason most people haven’t left isbecause you pay better than our competitors, but remember, time changes all.”

It’s not the first time I’ve heard a disgruntled employee talk about my unreasonable standards, but it’s the first time Belinda has been this forthright.

Maybe there is truth to her words. Maybe I have held people to standards that no longer make sense, but it’s not something I’m willing to admit just yet.

Belinda rolls her chair back with a resigned sigh, as if she’s exasperated with what she already knows I’ll do. “It’s your company, Hudson. Run it the way you want, what do I care?” She rises, gathering a few papers in her arms. “I just thought you should know that things aren’t as black and white as they seem. That girl,” she throws a thumb over her shoulder, indicating Kavi, “has been nothing but grateful for this job. In just one day, she’s taken on more work than I thought possible for someone who doesn’t know our industry or our clients. Did you know she reworked the RCS slide deck over the weekend? I thought she could use it to get up-to-speed on the excavation project for them before her official first day, but she sent it back to me with improvements I hadn’t even considered.”

She walks to the door before turning over her shoulder, her voice defeated. “She told me how badly she needs this job—she wouldn’t commute more than an hour if she didn’t. Her car broke down today so she had to take the subway. And in case you don’t remember this from the days you weren’t all rich and mighty, shitty weather and shitty subways equate to delays.”

Her words spark the memory of what Maddy told me a few days ago.“I have a friend who desperately needs a job . . . she’s had a rough year . . .”And before I’m even sure why I’m asking, I hear the words tumble from my lips. “Why does she need this job so badly?”

Belinda halts her movements, closing the partially opened door, and my eyes trail back to the woman at Belinda’s desk who hasn’t moved.

Even under the harsh office lights, her skin looks flawless, her button nose delicately sculpted on her face. How could a woman be so captivating in her silence, yet be so fucking loud?

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