Page 20 of Failure to Match

“Jamie, what do you think?”

Heads snapped in my direction. But, again, I chose to keep my focus on Minerva.

“I think there are a lot of other consultants that would be better suited for the job than me.” Plus, the second this meeting was over, I was walking straight out of the building and never looking back. There was no way in all of hell I’d agree to do an Immersive with Jackson, even with the bonus?—

The bonus.

Forty thousand dollars on top of my monthly salary. Even after tax, I’d have enough to pay for the shoes, the dress, and a new phone. The rest would help cover my living expenses until I landed a new job.

Still, I wasn’t entirely convinced it would be worth it.

“But would you be willing to do it?” Minerva asked.

I shifted on the couch. “Vivian’s right. I don’t have the training or the experience.”

“Minerva, is there a reason you’re set on Jamie?” Vivian asked. “Experience aside, I have more than a handful of senior consultants who would be much more suitable personality-wise to handle the demands of an Immersive experience.”

What didthatmean?

“Explain,” Minerva ordered.

“Jamie is… young,” Vivian said. “And these month-long experiences can be intense. I also need to make sure that my employees are comfortable with the positions they’re being put in at work.”

Oh,bullshit!

First of all, I was twenty-eight, so not that young. Second of all, where was this so-called concern for our comfort when we’d been forced to sleep on conference room couches to meet Jackson’s standing deadlines? Where the hell had it been when we’d tried to tell her, time and time again, that thiswasn’t working?

I swallowed it all back, averting my gaze.

Minerva’s attention drifted back to me. “You still haven’t answered my question. Would you be willing to do it?”

No. Absolutely not.

Or, like, maybe. I didn’t know. Forty thousand dollars was a lotof money to turn down. Especially since I wasthis closeto unemployment.

“I need some time to think about it,” I said, ignoring the two sharp glares my answer earned me.

Minerva’s mouth ticked with a faint, secretive smile. “How does twenty-four hours sound?”

I limp-ran straight to the White Room as soon as I was finally dismissed, while Vivian stayed back to finish the meeting.

“They want me to do an Immersive,” I blurted before either Alice or Mitch could speak. “With Jackson. They want me to do an Immersive with Jackson Sinclair.”

They both looked up at me from their seats around the small table, jaws going slack.

Alice recovered first. “What? Why?”

Great question.

I sank into the chair across from her. “That meeting didn’t go at all the way I expected. Minerva actually listened. Well, first she asked, and then she listened. And when I was done talking, she asked me what I would do differently if we started over with Jackson’s file, and— You know what, not important. What would you guys do? Would you do it?”

They both answered at the same time.

“I would.”

“Not a fucking chance.”

Mitch jerked back in his chair, blinking at Alice. “Wait. Did you say youwould?”

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