Page 105 of I'm Looking for a Man in Finance
I halted a few steps before reaching the Berkley Williams entrance. “I’m glad you think so, Theo. I’m honored you thought of me for the job. I’m excited about what you’re doing with Rooster and about the company’s larger ecosystem.”
Theo blew out a breath. “What I’m doing for Rooster is only the beginning. I have my sights on the larger industry. The possibilities are endless, Rossi.”
“Wherever the destination is, I’m excited about the journey.”
Theo laughed. “Save the cheesy lines for your speeches. I’m sure you’ll be having to give plenty of them soon for our events. Now, I don’t want you to feel like you need to jump from one shark tank into another. There’s no need to rush into your new position. I need to wrap up a few things with Rooster and the disaster my brother caused. So how does a month sound?”
“That gives me plenty of time to wrap things up with Berkley Williams too.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I meant you should put your two weeks in and then enjoy a vacation before you start.”
Everything about working with Theo Drake felt foreign. Not feeling like I was competing against everyone else over who could work themselves into the ground the quickest would definitely be a bit of a change. The free time made me nervous. I wasn’t sure if I was up for it yet.
“I don’t think I need a vacation,” I started.
“Didn’t you mention that you’re seeing someone?” Theo asked. “Take some time and spend it with her.”
Her. My mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse. I wasn’t ready to share my personal life with Theo, especially not the complicated mess that was my relationship with Hallie. But there was no escaping the truth.
“Iwasseeing someone,” I admitted reluctantly. “But things between us … they’re not exactly smooth sailing anymore.”
Silence stretched down the line. “Well, that’s even more reason for you to take some time off,” he said firmly. “Relationships need nurturing, James. Sometimes a little distance can help bring clarity.”
His words struck a chord deep within me. Maybe Theo was right. Maybe a break from the chaos of work would give me the space I needed to figure things out with Hallie. And if it didn’t work out, at least I would have recharged and refocused.
I sighed. Theo had a point. “Alright, you win,” I conceded. “I’ll take that vacation.”
Theo chuckled. “Deal, Rossi. Just make sure you come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever challenges lie ahead. Rooster is counting on you.”
As I walked into Berkley Williams, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. The road ahead was uncertain, both in my personal life and in this new chapter of my career.
Yet part of me still hoped that maybe, just maybe, everything would work out in the end.
37
Hallie
I walked intoSophisticatelike a woman on a mission. Even Janelle gave me a double-take as I marched past my cubicle and hers on my way to the print team. I desperately needed to direct my anger into something. So, what was better than understanding who changed my article and ruined my life as I knew it?
“I was sorry to read about your date with Mr. Old Fashioned, Hallie,” Janelle called after me.
“Yeah, so was I.”
Janelle gave me a sympathetic look, completely misjudging the furiousness in my gaze. “Maybe it was just too good to be true. Nobody could bethatperfect.”
Mabel was the head of the print team and had been with the company for ages. She was retiring at the end of the year and looking forward to chasing her grandkids across the country for their various hobbies. Their pictures covered her desk. Her record player crooned Boy George.
“Hallie!” Mabel exclaimed. “Your latest column has been so much fun to follow along with. Such a shame how it ended last week, though.”
“Well, that’s the thing, Mabel,” I started. “It didn’t end that way. In fact, I’d written a completely different articledetailing a wonderful night. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
Mabel clutched a hand to her chest. As if I’d accused her of something quite terrible. “If you think I had anything to do with it, Hallie, I promise you I didn’t. In fact, I remember your first article. I thought it was so romantic. When Anthea stopped me from going to print with it, I just assumed something had happened with you and Mr. Old Fashioned after your date.”
Her eyes grew wide as realization dawned across them. “Are you saying that Anthea changed your article?”
Anthea changed the article after it had already been sent to print?
“Mabel, has anybody told you how important you are to this office?”
