Page 87 of After Everything
I was already at the door. "Lock up when you leave. The front door will secure automatically."
"Emma, wait."
I stopped but didn't turn around.
"Thank you," he said. "For the coffee. For talking to me. For—" A pause. "For not hating me."
I looked back at him. He was still sitting at the table, papers spread out in front of him, looking at me like I was the only thing in the room that mattered.
"Good night, David."
"Good night, Emma."
I walked back to my office, grabbed my jacket and bag, and left through the back entrance.
It wasn't until I was sitting in my car in the parking lot that I let myself fall apart.
CHAPTER 28: EMMA
Iwas making pasta when my phone rang.
Not ordering takeout, not reheating leftovers. I was actually cooking. Boiling water, chopping vegetables, doing something with my hands that required just enough focus to keep my brain from spiraling.
It had been four days since I'd sat across from David in that conference room and admitted I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that I didn't hate him. Four days of trying to work, trying to sleep, trying to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do with that information.
The phone rang again. Unknown number. I almost let it go to voicemail.
But I was on call for the clinic this week, and unknown numbers sometimes meant patients in crisis.
I turned down the burner and answered. "Hello?"
"Hi, is this Emma Peterson?" A woman's voice, professional and chipper. "This is Jennifer Paulson from Morrison & Klein Executive Search."
I blinked. Executive search. That was recruitment. Headhunters.
"Yes, this is Emma."
"Great! I'm so glad I caught you. I'm actually trying to reach David Harrison. I understand you two work together? His office phone keeps going to voicemail and his cell seems to be off."
My stomach dropped.
David. A headhunter was calling about David.
"We work together occasionally," I managed. "On some cases."
"Perfect! I'm just trying to coordinate a time for him to fly out to New York nextweek. We have a very exciting partnership opportunity with Morrison & Klein, and the managing partners are eager to move quickly on this." She laughed lightly. "Between you and me, they're being very aggressive with the offer. They really want him."
Partnership. New York.
I gripped the edge of the counter.
"If you happen to see him," Jennifer continued, "could you let him know we really need to hear back by end of week? Friday at the latest. I've sent several emails but haven't gotten a response, and we don't want to lose him to another firm."
"Another firm?" My voice sounded strange.
"Oh yes, I'm sure he's fielding multiple offers. With his background and experience, everyone wants him. But Morrison & Klein is prepared to make a very competitive package. Significant base compensation, full benefits, clear partnership track within eighteen months. It's really a phenomenal opportunity."
I was going to throw up.
