Page 95 of Words We Didn't Say

What a fucking joke.

Chris leant back in his chair. I hadn’t mentioned any names, but I could feel his eyes on me, calculating what to say next. Nobody else at the table knew he was still involved with her. But if they were even half as smart as they pretended to be, they’d know I was referring to Michaela. I frowned. I should’ve been more careful. Not let her bait me. I’d dumped her right in it.

“Howdareyou?” she spat. “You thinkyouhave the right to say that tome?”

And that was the moment I gave up caring.

“Sometimes, people need to even the playing field,” I said. “They need to take the opportunities they’re given in life and make the most of them. You try to belittle me, but that’s what I did. That’s what my girlfriend did. Then, there’s using people, deliberately hurting them to get what you want, and acting like a cruel, petty bitch. That’s whatyoudo.”

A murmur rippled around the room. Chris cleared his throat to stop the whispering, but it didn’t work. Chairs squeaked as people restlessly tried to get comfortable in the tension closing the walls in around us, waiting to see what happened next.

If I’d read the room, maybe I would’ve snapped my mouth shut, but I was too angry, so sick of Michaela’s games.

I shifted my gaze from her stunned face to Chris. “I won’t work with her anymore,” I said. “I want Michaela off every single one of my files, or I walk.”

Chris cocked his head, trying to figure me out. I’d never stood up for myself. I was loyal. I’d always done my best never to create a scene and follow his rules—and it had almost cost me the woman I love.

Michaela leapt from the chair. “Chris! You can’t! He’s a liability. You—youcan’t—”

Her words choked away when my boss pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. Not blinking, his face far too calm, he pointed at her to sit down. He didn’t have to say a word before she sank back into the overstuffed black leather. His hands braced the boardroom table. Blue eyes fixed on me.

“Done,” he said.

“This is fucking bullshit!” Michaela was already back on her feet and marching to the door. “If you think I’m just going to let you effectively fuckingdemoteme—”

Chris barked a laugh. “Walk out, and you don’t come back.”

Michaela’s hand froze on the door handle.

Void of any emotion, he sat down. “Have a bitch session with your little girlfriends in Human Resources if you need to.” His voice was glacier cold. “But if you want to keep your job after bringing your personal life into my boardroom, you’ll sit your little arse back in that chair and finish the meeting.” He rearranged his papers without sparing her another look. “Do you understand?”

Silently, she slunk back.

Chris picked up his pen and started working through his agenda as if nothing had happened.

The only sound in the boardroom was his voice.

No one said a word.

No one moved.

We were a bunch of adults cowering in our seats, no better than children who’d been scolded by their teacher.

And I stared at the boardroom table, questioning for only the second time in twelve years if this career—working for this firm—wastrulywhat I wanted.

25

She said, “I’m Eden fucking Phillips.”

Eden

“When can we leave?”I whispered to Zach.

I gulped another sip of champagne, hoping the fizz would numb my boredom. The yacht club was so exclusive someone had forgotten to invite the fun. The splattered red flowers on my dress were the most interesting thing to look at in the sea of greige.

I glanced over Zach’s shoulder. Even the birthday boy wasn’t having fun. Chris kept his poor fiancée leashed to his side like he was worried she’d flitter away on the ocean breeze. I scoffed into my champagne glass. Lola should flitter away.Run. I’d known too many men like Chris. That guy was one hundred percent bad news.

“I thought you liked parties?” Zach teased.

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