Page 28 of Tempt the Boss

It just makes me cry harder, hunching over like a broken woman. Resolutely, Darla pulls her phone out and begins dialing. I hear a few “okays” and then she hangs up.

Darla sits back down next to me on the couch in her office. “All right. It’s not as bad as you think, Ali.”

I latch onto that. “Yeah?”

“They’re meeting with the board in two weeks to talk about the book, but they’re still going to work with you until then. Jenny thinks she’ll be able to convince them to let you stay on.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “That’s a good sign, right?”

Darla smiles. “It’s a good sign. Jenny is optimistic, and she’s also a senior editor there, so her word carries significant weight. But she also said something curious.”

I blink, my eyes watery.

“What?”

“She said you broke Chris’s heart.”

I sigh heavily. “I didn’t break anything except his ego.”

Darla tucks her flaming red hair behind her ears, shrugging. “Well, Jenny says he’s broken up about it. What did you say when you left?” she asks curiously.

“Um,” I mutter, gnawing on my lip. A sudden surge of guilt assaults me. “I basically told him he didn’t mean anything to me.”

“Oh, shit.” Darla looks like she’s trying not to laugh. “You and I both know that was a lie.”

I frown. “What? What are you talking about?”

Darla laughs dryly.

“Please, sweetheart. You’re like an open book. I can see it all over your face. You like him.” I try to school my features, which only makes Darla laugh more. “Oh, sweetie. You’ve got it bad. Take it from an old lady like me – I know it when I see it.”

I briefly consider banging my head against her desk. “Okay, but I don’t think Chris noticed. He basically told me he was falling in love with me, and I blew him off.”

Darla takes my hand. “You did break the poor guy’s heart.”

But I shake my head stubbornly.

“He’ll get over it. After all, he’s been with a lot of ladies. Women go in and out of his life all the time, and I’m not going to be any different.”

“Do you think that’s really true?” Darla asks, giving me a knowing look.

I get defensive.

“Listen, I had to protect myself. It’s hard enough to be taken seriously as a woman, let alone a woman who’s slept with her boss.”

Darla shakes her head, looking a bit like a red-haired Yoda, wrinkly and wise.

“The heart wants what it wants, Ali. If you want to be with Chris, we’ll figure it out.”

I sniffle, the tears coming back again. “That’s what he said, too. But… I don’t know. I’ve never had luck with relationships, and you know how this is my first big break! I didn’t want to throw everything away so fast!”

She gives me a measured look. “I get that, Ali. I really do. But I see it in your eyes. Don’t give up on your heart just because of your career.”

“I can’t, Darla. I can’t risk it. I’m sorry.”

She pulls me against her side in a tight hug. “I’m not asking you to. I’m just telling you to listen to your heart. Don’t close him out completely. If he gives you a shot at being together without consequences, will you consider giving him a try?”

I consider this. If Chris were any other guy, and we could date without it screwing up my chances of being a published author, would I go for it?

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