Page 104 of Until We Burn
“If you knew who he was, you wouldn’t be running your mouth.”
“How useless you must be if daddy has to come and fight all your battles.”
“What’s your fucking problem?”
The words freeze on my tongue, as realization hits me hard.
The reason is Kai, but no one can know that. If they do, they might connect the dots and expose the secret to ruin us both.
I slowly back away.
“Sorry,” I force out. “I-I’m just stressed from everything. I didn’t mean to attack you.”
The words feel like swallowing acid, but it’s enough to wear him down.
Simon nods, yet his disgust doesn’t fade. He simply turns around and snatches the tassels out of Andrea’s hand before quietly returning to decorating.
I walk out of the office with as much dignity as I can muster.
Andrea calls out to me in the hallway. “Diana!”
I sigh and turn around. She storms towards me with her nostrils flaring.
“Why do you have to ruineverything?”Her eyes flash with so much anger, tears well in them. “Simon was in there trying to help me and you insulted him!”
“Look, my words were uncalled for and I’m sorry,” I insist. “But he still shouldn’t have pushed you away like that.”
Andrea huffs. She avoids my eyes and crosses her arms. “He just gets mad easily.”
“You don’t need to justify his horrible behavior?—”
“See, this is why you lost your position!” Andrea seethes. “A good editor would’ve never fired off at someone like that for no goodreason. That’s whyIshould’ve been leading the Howler from the start and notyou!”
I thought I raised you to be more competent than this.
You’ve been an embarrassment and a blight on this family.
Bàba’s words come flooding back in a crushing torrent that drowns all the fight I have left.
Andrea pales. She blinks, as if realizing what she just said. She backs away, her crossed arms unfurling.
“It’s good that you took over, then.” A forced smile stretches across my trembling lips. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have places to be.”
I leave the Howler and round the corner where no one can see me. I drop my box to the floor. Some of my things jostle and spill out.
Tears break out of my eyes. I slump down and hug my knees to my chest.
Just this morning, I was so giddy about my phone call with Kai. Now, the shards of everything I had built litter at my feet, and I’ve never felt more broken and ashamed.
This is not what my life is supposed to look like.
I’m supposed to be occupied with the CEO running and successfully balancing my duties at the HMG and the Howler.
I’m not supposed to be sneaking off to be friends with benefits with my crush. But I can’t say I regret everything that’s happened either. Being with Kai like this has been so liberating and exhilarating, I feel like I’ve had a chance to enjoy every minute that passes rather than racing through time to reach the bottom of my to-do list.
I swallow back the choked sobs in my throat. The heels of my hands press into my eyes.
How can everything be so new and exciting, yet horrifying and disastrous at the same time?
