Page 24 of Basil

“In the beginning, we did but…look, I wish I had a good reason, but I got nothing except she wasn’t one of us, which is complete bullshit. Also, we all assumed you and Drew would end up together, the golden couple?—”

“What? We were friends. Inevergave any indication that there was more between Drew and me.” I was frustrated with how my friends seemed to not know me.Alleged friends!

Felix must have sensed it because he swallowed and added, “Drew was adamant you both were together and….” He swallowed. “It was pure meanness.”

“I defended you all to Summer. I kept telling her she was imagining things, that she was insecure. That she was too sensitive.” Self-loathing was a mild word for how I felt about myself.

“Drew made sure of that—she played youandSummer,” he explained flatly. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about what went down last week, but I didn’t know how. I’d been drinking but I wasn’t drunkand…this is gonna fuck you up so….”

“Just say what you got to say. Honestly, I’m at rock bottom. The woman I love doesn’t want to have anything to do with me. My friends sabotaged my relationship with the woman I love. And I find out that people in my company, the one I sacrificed so much to build, think that you get ahead at Stratos if you’re buddies with me.”

Felix looked miserable at that. He knew he was partly to blame. After all, as CHRO engagement and employee perception were his responsibilities. But maybe not for long?

He looked at me defeated. “I overheard Drew and Karen talking. Drew kissed you on purpose—she wanted Summer to see.”

A rush of anger punched through me. I suspected it, but having it put in black and white was something else.

Felix kept going. “I should’ve said something earlier. I should’ve—” He stopped, shaking his head. “When I saw how it played out, how you and Summer blew up…it didn’t sit right.”

I closed my eyes briefly. The realization landed like a sledgehammer. Summer was right, my friends weretoxic.

“How long has Drew been on this mission where I’m the prize?” I asked laconically.

“Since she broke up with Owen.”

“That was right before Summer and I started dating.”

He nodded, looking utterly shattered.

“So, she’s been screwing with Summer since the beginning?”

“Yeah.”

“And none of you said anything to me?”

He didn’t respond, just gave me a ‘what do you want me to say’look.

“Because you all, in all your wisdom thought Drew and I would make a better couple.”

He looked at his hands instead of replying, which was fine since these were rhetorical questions.

After some minutes of silence, Felix sat up, his face impassive. “I can’t change what I did, but I can take responsibility for it.” He took a deep breath and released it as if he were getting ready to jump off a cliff. “I’m offering my resignation.”

I studied him, watching for cracks, for insincerity, but all I saw was regret.

“Are you resigning because you’ve been a crappy CHRO or a crappy friend?” I asked.

He looked at me, surprised at the question. “I…I’m a good CHRO, Basil.”

“Drew’s team has shit engagement scores, have you done anything about that or have you not looked askance because she’s a friend?”

He deflated. “You’re right.”

“You don’t stand in the guilty box alone, Felix,” I said softly. “I stand there with you. I did exactly the same thing.”

Sure, he screwed up, but so did I. He was owning it, ready to make amends, which was exactly what I was doing with Summer. If I wanted her forgiveness, I’d have to grant Felix mine.

I sighed, rubbing my jaw. “I should fire you.”

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