Page 20 of The Butterfly Effect
Me:Are you okay?
Julianna:Of course.
Me:You’re sure?
Julianna:Yes, I’m sure.
I sighed, knowing she wasn’t. The mask she wore wasn’t surprising. My heart pounded in my chest, and I took a deep breath to calm the irritated shaking in my hands enough to type again.
Me:Julianna…
Julianna:William…
I had to convince myself she wasn’t going to tell me what happened willingly. I’d have to work it out of her. She was being difficult, as it seemed she always was, and somehow, after the last couple of weeks, I hadn’t learned that yet. I still wanted to throw her over my desk and make her scream until she told me what happened.
Me:Why are you lying?
Julianna:I’m not lying. Why are you being so nosy?
Me:Because I saw the bruises. I know you’re not okay.
Julianna:I’m fine. Just drop it, please.
Me:What if I don’t want to drop it?
Julianna:Why do you care so much?
Me:Somebody hurt you.
Julianna:I told you I’m fine.
I ran my hand roughly through my hair, tugging slightly. I expected people to be to the point, and most of the time, I expected them to do what I said, including answering my questions without hesitation. At this point, she was making it pretty clear there wasn’t anything I could do to make her tell me. I painted my own scenario in my head, and my determination to find out who was responsible overwhelmed me. I’d let most people figure it out on their own, but Julianna was different.
I avoided work yesterday,calling in with the excuse that I had a migraine. Katie, and probably William, knew that wasn’t the case, but I hoped it was convincing enough that Sandra wouldn’t have thought twice about it. She had been confrontational enough with me over the last few weeks. Really, I just needed a day to get my shit together, and walking into the office this morning confirmed it was the right move. On my desk was a pink sticky note.
Great Lakes meeting at 9 a.m. -S
Dread filled my stomach, bile creeping up the back of my throat. I wasn’t sure if I was going to scream, vomit, or both, but I had to keep it together. My heart was already pounding when William walked towards my desk. He wore gray suit pants with no jacket or tie. The top button of his black shirt was unbuttoned, and the sleeves were rolled slightly up his arms to reveal his tattoos. It was more casual than anything I’d seen him in before.
He cleared his throat when he stopped; his signature demand for your attention. “How are you feeling?” But his voice was different. It held the same power, only gentler. His eyes looked tired, like he hadn’t slept for long. Was William Carlisle actually worried about me? He’d made such a big deal about the bruises on my arm, but I figured it had been out of obligation.
“I’m good. Thank you.” I hoped my nerves for the last-minute meeting weren’t displayed on my face because I almost liked William more when he was an asshole than when he was worrying about me.
He narrowed his dark-brown eyes, clearly debating whether he should believe me. I followed his gaze to my wrist, adjusting slightly in my seat, but he couldn’t see the bruises. I wore a fitted, long-sleeve black dress that ended at my knees, with a long cardigan over the top. The layers made me feel more protected, even though nobody but William and Katie knew anything.
I slid my arm off the desk and onto my lap under it so he would look away. It looked worse today than it had the other day, probably because bruises always got darker before they started to heal. I didn’t want him to look at it.
“So, this meeting with Great Lakes… ?”
“Budgetary,” William answered before I could really ask. “They’re close to accepting. Their CEO had a couple of questions, and it was easier to bring him in with their team to run through it here. Really, you’re just needed in case he has strategy questions.” He watched me closely as he spoke, flicking his eyes back and forth from my eyes to my lips, with an occasional glance at my arm.
My heart raced, fluttering with nerves about seeing Roger again and having to act like nothing happened, all while William looked at me likethat. I gripped the cup of coffee on the desk in front of me and took a deep breath as I glanced at the clock. 8:45.
Behind me, the office door opened, and the familiar voice made my skin crawl. I tried not to cringe when Sandra escorted Roger, his CEO, and the rest of his team into the conference room. William slid the gray jacket in his hand onto his shoulders and buttoned his top button, gesturing for me to lead the way. I took a deep breath and followed him, entering the conference room first.
My hands instantly started shaking and my heartbeat was heavy in my throat as I walked over to an open seat. I adverted my gaze from Roger, greeting his CEO by nodding and shaking his hand.
“Jules Thomas, I assume? I hear you’requitethe powerhouse,” he said with an almost-seductive raise of his eyebrow. My cheeks grew warm, and William stiffened next to me. “William.” The man nodded, moving to shake his hand.
