Page 103 of A Bossy Roommate

I walk out of the conference room without any regrets.

28

EDEN

The boardroom erupts after Carter leaves. I’m stuck there in shock, trying to process what the hell has just happened. I had been more than prepared to deny everything, to tell them that Carter and I were simply employee and employer. After all, that was what we had said we would do in case we were busted. And yet, Carter had blown me away. He’d not only admitted that we had been fake married, but he’d also said he didn’t regret it.

He had stood up for me, and even praised me for everybody to hear.

My heart is racing and my mind is being torn in different directions.

I want to run after Carter, to talk to him about what just happened. He was fired, that much is clear. But what about me? Am I going to be let go? None of the board members have said anything specifically, except for Mr. Bernie who urged me to stay and wait. Do they plan on discussing my fate now? Should I quit? Do I even want to stay?

I look around the room, trying to figure out what the hell I’m supposed to be doing. The board members are now hunchedtogether, discussing with Mr. Bernie and Huxley, not loud enough for me to hear.

When he catches my eye, Mr. Bernie quiets everyone down. “You two are not married?” he asks, probably double-checking on Mr. Huxley’s request.

“We’re not.”

“And your apartment, when will it be available?”

“In a few days.” As fate and Hattie will have it, but that’s none of Mr. Bernie’s business.

He exchanges glances with the board, then turns back to me. “Eden, you may return to your desk. I will meet with you in a few to go over the next steps.”

“I’m…not fired?” I have to ask because I can’t quite believe what he’s saying.

“No, you’re not. If you were married to Mr. Bancroft, we would have to reconsider your employment. It seems to me that circumstances led to your involvement in a situation that was beyond your control. You only followed Mr. Bancroft’s orders…and since we don’t question your ability to carry out your duties effectively without him, and there have been no performance or misconduct issues on your part, you are permitted to remain employed with us.”

I desperately want to get out of there. The moment Mr. Bernie dismisses me, I slowly get up from my chair and walk out of the room. Then I book it. I have to catch Carter and talk to him before he leaves. I need to know what he wants to do next.

Also, did he really mean what he had said? That he didn’t regret anything? I’ve never known him to say something he didn’t believe in, but I need to know.

Unfortunately, when I get to the office, Carter is nowhere to be found. His office is just like he’d left it.

I grab my phone and fire off a text.

Me:

Where are you?

Him:

Going home. We’ll talk later.

Me:

Wait for me. I’m coming with you.

Him:

No, stay. Don’t throw the job away because of me. I’m fine.

The three dots appear, indicating to me that he’s writing another message.

I wait. Those are the longest twenty seconds of my life.

Him:

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