Page 44 of Without Apology

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Simon

“Wait. What? Rewind what you said.” I had to be missing something.

“I’m withdrawing my application. I’ll do the interview with you to retain my current job, but I’m not traveling to New York.”

“Why on earth would you pass on the CFO job now?” I thought she wanted me interviewing her about as much as I wanted to, which was not at all. Her reaction to the board doing it instead should’ve been relief.

“Because I don’t fly.”

“Come again?”

“I don’t fly, Simon. My parents were killed in a plane crash, and I haven’t been on an airplane since.”

I stood there completely gob smacked. How had I missed this? “I assumed auto crash when you’d mentioned it was an accident.”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“What if I charter a jet? You can take something to calm your nerves and not deal with people.”

Her sad eyes locked on mine. “It doesn’t matter what kind of plane. Three years ago, I tried to travel to Disney World with my sister and her family. I didn’t get past security before I started to hyperventilate. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

I raked a hand through my hair. A night I’d thought might hold promise for a new start had gone to shit in moments. “Perhaps I can ring the board and explain the circumstances.”

She was already shaking her head, apparently understanding that would not be feasible. “No. You won’t. It would only highlight a shortcoming. Let’s face it: I knew the promotion would be a long shot anyhow once my phobia came up.”

“You knew the CFO had to travel sometimes. When, exactly, did you intend to tell me about your issue?”

Her face heated with temper at my statement which unfortunately sounded a lot like an accusation.

“How about when we sat down for the actual interview? How about then? Don’t go accusing me of withholding information. It’s not as if I should’ve spilled that info on our date or after we kissed. When I put my application in, I knew George was aware I didn’t fly. I was hoping he could make an exception for me when it came to travel. If possible, I could drive to the location. If driving wasn’t possible, then I could do a video conference. Then you came along last Monday, and my whole world has been upside down ever since. So if you’re implying I would’ve taken the job without informing you that I don’t fly, then you’re wrong.”

“That was a rash thing for me to say.” I felt like shit for having opened my trap.

The fight seemed to leave her. “Doesn’t matter. In a way, this takes the burden off. I’ll let George know tomorrow unless you’d rather tell him.”

I absolutely hated the thought of her giving up. Instead of making things better, I’d made things worse. “But this is your career.”

“My life means more to me than my career. I’m not flying. Period.”

Although I empathized, I simply couldn’t fathom how she could give up like this. Guilt seeped in that I was to blame. If I hadn’t come to town to purchase the company, George probably would’ve made the exception for her. If I hadn’t changed her interview to New York, perhaps she’d still have stood a chance. But telling New York executives who traveled the world that you wanted a high-profile job without flying? It was impossible.

Yet, I wanted to fix it. Needed to. “Don’t tell George or anyone else. Give me tomorrow.”

“What’s the point?”

“I need a day.”

She remained unsure, which brought out a side of me I hadn’t accessed in years. Protective.

I framed her face with my hands. “Peyton. I’m going to fix this.”

She stepped away, looking defeated. “No. It’s better to have this out in the open. I’d been worried about it.”

“Promise me you won’t say anything until I say so.”

She hesitated but agreed. “Fine.”

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