Page 62 of Words We Didn't Say

She bristled. “How else was I supposed to get your attention?”

“Pardon?”

“How else could I get you to notice me, Zach? You’ve got tunnel vision. The only thing you care about is work. You don’t see or hear anything else.”

“You say those awful fucking things to me to get my attention?” I laughed. “Michaela, come on. You said that garbage even after you started seeing Chris.”

She laughed even louder. “Newsflash—I’ve been screwing Chris for years, Zach.”

Shock jerked me back a step.

“Yeah, that’s right, golden child.Years.”She lifted a stubborn chin. “And what choice did I have? I started in this firm the same time you did. A few months earlier, actually, considering you chose to yack all over the floor trying todo goodin the world first. I work the same hours you do. I settle the same deals you do on the financing side. Yet, you got promoted to senior associatetwo yearsbefore I did.”

“I deserved that promotion. I worked my arse off!”

“Me too. Mefuckingtoo. And until I sucked Chris Stone’s dick, I was never going to get the same opportunities as you. Not just this firm but any firm.”

“I’m sure that’s not true—”

“Where are the women partners, Zach? Fuckingnowhere. I used whatever advantage I had to even the odds, but when Chris put a ring on the doctor’s finger, it ended my chance for promotion in this firm.” Her fists landed on her hips, and she blew out a long, steadying breath, stamping down her anger. “That’s not your fault. You’re not like that, and I love that about you. You’re going to be an excellent partner.” Her smile was thin. “In and out of work, you’re an excellent partner.”

“Not with you.”

“We’regoodtogether.”

I shook my head. “There’s notogether. Nous. Nome and you.” My hand curled around the door handle, and I pushed it down, ready to leave. “I’ll treat you fairly, Michaela, but if you ever drag my name again because of where I came from, or if you say one damn thing about Eden, you can guarantee you won’t be a partner under my watch either.”

17

She said, “I want you to keep trying.”

Eden

The Simmons Squad hadbeen summoned.

Their call to action? Little ol’ me.

Sam’s online group of devoted fangirls was in meltdown. Was Sam finally settling down? Was I ‘the girlfriend?’ Post after post dissected every photo the Squad dug up, and the paparazzi were only too happy to feed their hunger with fresh content.

I’d become news. An even bigger deal.

But frustration tugged my stomach into knots. I’d dated celebrities and powerful men before, always quickly shaking off the gossip, but the comments about Sam annoyed me. Too many people deemed my long list of achievements as finally being worthy because the owner of a famed penis was standing beside me in a few photos. So much for feminism.

“You willnotbelieve this,” Yvette said.

Groaning, I sank into the leather chair. I bet Icouldbelieve it. Thank God Yvette scored us this booth in the corner of the bar. At least my misery was safe from prying eyes and photographers. I scooted up to peek over the upholstered wall blocking us from view.Hopefullysafe.

Andie leant over to get a better look at Yvette’s phone. Her beer stayed hovering at her lips. Her eyes went wide. “Ah…” She grimaced.

Was the latest photo that bad? I squeezed my eyes shut. “Just tell me,” I said. “Get it over with.”

Yvette’s cackle peeled across the bar. “The paps got one of you leaving the laser clinic.”

“Seriously?” I groaned. “Can’t a girl get the hair on her vajayjay zapped without it becoming national news?”

Nope.

When Yvette flipped her phone around, I was rewarded with the headline:It’s Silky-Smooth Sailing for New Couple.

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