“I know you think I’m the bad guy and that’s fine with me. Do you know how hard it was to get to where I am? I had to fight. Every day. But I’m good at my job and I know what I’m doing. Jenner hired me for a reason and I’m going to give him what he wants. To do that we need to project a certain image. And Immy, you are cute and sweet, but you don’t fit with him.”
Immy worked hard to keep her hurt from showing. “Right.”
She wasn’t saying anything that Immy didn’t already know.
But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
“It’s not enough anymore to be talented. It’s a harsh world out there and you have to be the whole package. You really should move on and find someone else. Someone who will have time and attention for you and won’t be surrounded by beautiful, single women all the time. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
“I knew you’d want to do what was best for Jenner.” The other woman stood. “And this is what his career needs. He told me it was his dream to be famous and rich, I’m sure you don’t want to get in the way of his dream.”
No. That was the last thing she wanted. All she ever wanted was for Jenner to be happy. Immy watched as the other woman walked to the door, turning back.
“I think you’ll thank me. Better than him breaking your heart. The way all men do.”
Right.
Immy knew about heartbreak. It was splintering right now. After Lauren left Immy knew she couldn’t stay in her office. She needed a break from this house.
When they’d first moved in together, she’d loved it. They’d lived in a crappy apartment in a terrible neighborhood and the guys would never let her walk around on her own.
She hadn’t been able to work much, so she’d done most of the cooking and cleaning.
She’d loved taking care of her guys.
Then Jenner’s career took off and everything began to change. Sampson and Abe quit their jobs to work for him. They’d moved into this huge mansion in a gated community. Jenner had also insisted on hiring a cleaner and a gardener.
Everyone had been so happy about the move. Especially now they were in a safer community.
And yet Immy often found herself longing for the days when they’d lived in that horrid apartment.
Standing, she left the office and walked toward the house. But when she walked in, it was so quiet and cold. She didn’t think she could stay here.
She should go and take a nap. That would be the sensible thing to do.
But she was tired of being sensible.
She was going to go have a drink instead.
Immy arrived at the small,rundown bar about twenty minutes later. She’d discovered this place about six months ago.
It wasn’t trendy. It didn’t serve a hundred different types of cocktails. It wasn’t the place to be seen, like where Jenner would go.
Maybe Lauren was right.
They weren’t suited. She wasn’t going to fit in with his life and the last thing she ever wanted was to stand between him and his dreams.
Perhaps if he’d shown a sign of wanting her . . .
Move on, Immy.
But God it hurt.
She sat in her usual bar stool.
“Go sit somewhere else.”