Page 91 of When Glitter Meets Gold

If he’d told me tomorrow, I wouldn’t be mad. If he’d told me in a week, I still wouldn’t be mad. I’m mad because I shouldn’t have found out he and Kandi shared a connection,through Kandi!It’s the best way to ensure I feel like I’m on the outside of his life. You never want to find out something about the other woman,fromthe other woman. The information should have come from him.

Not that I think Kandi is the other woman. I really don’t think there’s anything going on between them. I think she’s scheming and conniving and I think she probably has everything to do with the reason why Jack is so paranoid of people’s intentions.

I could have listened to his explanation, and perhaps gained some clarity, but the truth is, I was too worked up, and if I’d stayed, my rage for the whole situation would have only escalated, and that wouldn’t have solved anything.

So here I am, chained to my desk, trying to force Jack from my mind. It doesn’t help that I’m working on the app forhiscompany. Yeah, there was the added awkwardness that amongst all this, we still shared a business relationship. I’m in the middle of sketching a couple of extra logo designs when I hear an incessant clicking next to my ear.

“Kirby.” Walter snaps his fingers twice. “Grab you for five minutes?”

I fight to keep a neutral expression, because if I show how much the finger snapping has pissed me off, Jack might just get his wish, and I might just give Walter a piece of my mind. Instead, I wheel back in my chair to give him my attention.

“We need to have a conversation.” There’s a sharp edge to his voice.

“Is this the conversation we should’ve had before you announced to our new partner you wanted me off the project?Myproject. How could you do that to me?” Looks like I might be giving him a piece of my mind after all.

Walter makes a grumbling sound. “I had to keep relations good with Vandenberg. You know I run a tight ship around here. It wasn’t personal.”

My lips pull to one side.” Honestly Walter. It really does feel personal sometimes.”

“Kirby,” he begins with an exasperated sigh before glancing at his watch, his eyes then rolling up to the ceiling like I’m already wasting his time. “This isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about. And anyway, you should be thankful Vandenberg still wants to work with us…and that I haven’t pulled you from interviewing for that promotion.” He waves a finger at me.

What?!

Everything inside me seizes up, and I know there’s not a chance I can let this man continue to stomp all over me. The finger snapping. Waving his hand in my face like I’m a child. His condescending, fucking face. It all hits a nerve. Everything about today has hit a nerve. Perhaps my last one, because when Walter uses the promotion as leverage to control me, a chasm gapes in my chest, and I can’t help but feel fire pour out.

“Pull me from the promotion?” I fight to keep myself from gritting my teeth. “Why would you do that?” I use his open mouth as a cue to speak a decibel louder. “Because you suspect I was careless and left the files for someone to stumble across? Or because you suspect I went to the first journalist to offer a handsome sum?”

He holds up his hands. “Nobody’s accusing you of anything, but I have to consider all angles. I have to keep my client happy.”

I laugh. “You mean,myclient. The Vandenberg Group are collaborating with me. I’m the one who brought them on board, and I’m the one who could take them with me if I leave.”

He laughs hard. “They have contracts. They’re going nowhere.” He places both hands on his hips. “What’s gotten into you?”

I’ve never looked at anyone with more ferocity than I’m looking at Walter right now. “Contracts stating they’ll only work with me,” I say, not caring who else should be listening.

Walter narrows his eyes but before he can say anything, I stand from my chair, the gesture causing him to flinch.

“Maybe you missed that part because when you should have been taking care of business, you were too wrapped up in commenting on my footwear,” I step toward him. “My clothes,” Another step. “Or any other personal choice I make that has zero baring on my job.”

Walter is frozen, his mouth opening and closing while he scrambles to find the words to defend his behavior. He remains silent, however.

I hold his gaze. “The Vandenberg Group aren’t interested in Street Bandit, and they’re not interested in you.” I want to throw in,and Jack hates your guts, but I manage to refrain.

“I’ve given so much of myself to this job, to this company…” I raise an eyebrow, folding my arms over my chest. “But maybe it isn’t enough.” I shrug. “Maybe you don’t need me here. Maybe I should just take myself and our shiny new client elsewhere.”

Walter shakes his head, his mind clearly in overdrive as he attempts to regain control over the situation.

“Okay, let’s calm down.” He finally huffs out. “Of course I don’t want you to go. You’re a decent employee.” He frowns like the realization just struck him on the head like an apple falling from a tree.

“If that’s the case, then I need to feel valued.” I step back. “Because if you don’t start taking me seriously around here, I’m going to walk.”

“Kirby…”

“My name is Sara,” I grit out before composing myself. “Now, am I packing up my desk, or did you have something to tell me?”

I don’t know if his dumbfounded expression is because he genuinely didn’t know my name, or because he’s shocked with the ultimatum I’ve presented him with. Either way, hedoesn’t argue further, perhaps realizing I’m not so easy to manipulate and control after all.

“Very well,” he says reluctantly. “I wanted to talk about the Hemmingvale ball.”

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