Page 59 of Pin-up Girl

“Beg pardon?” Lia had perfected stern-but-offended tone.

“We all know why we’re here.” My desire to cut to the point had served me well early on. People were impressed with that. The novelty hadn’t lasted long for them. I could play the corporate politics games, but I didn’t like to. “Whatever reason you have for dragging your feet getting to the punchline, stop. If it’s because you need to get the legal stuff out of the way, I’m going to have to sign some shit regardless that says I understand. Send me that, and say what you came here to say.”

“That’s fair.” Grady was our Director of Human Resources. “The reason we’re here is because the Board has decided it’s time to part ways with you.”

He said more, but the instant I heard those words, a bubble popped inside me. Relief flooded in.

Why relief? I should be disappointed. Upset. Hurt. I should be furious.

And I was happy it was over.

“Okay, thank you.” I talked over Grady, and didn’t realize it until he stared at his camera in shock. “I’ll keep an eye out for the paperwork. My lawyer will need to review it before I sign. Enjoy the rest of your day.” I hung up before anyone could say anything,

Holy shit. I just lost my company. The thing I built from the ground up from my brainchild in high school. They took it from me. they owned the intellectual property and the patents.

And I was happy about that?

No. Not happy, but free. It had been years since I recognized what the business had become, and now I got to go back to the start. Do things my way. I had my own capitol now. I had more knowledge. Bigger ideas. Experience ignoring the people who said they wanted what was best for me, and really just wanted to make what I’d made into theirs.

I needed to talk to Clint about that chemical formula.

Holy—

My mind raced. Once this rush wore off, I’d start listing all the things that sucked about this. Probably. Maybe. They hadn’t taken my money though. They didn’t take my company shares.

The only thing they took was the original idea, and everything they’d built around it when they stole it.

Good. They could have it.

My phone rang, and I glanced at the screen. It was the office. I didn’t work for them anymore, and didn’t have to answer. I sent the call to voicemail, closed up my laptop, and stashed my background screen at the far end of the room.

I changed my shirt to an old T-shirt that had nothing to do with anything, grabbed the delivery for Clint and Dee, and headed out of my motel.

As the door swung shut behind me, it felt like the period at the end of the paragraph. That part of life was over. Not that the transition would be easy, but…

Wow.

I needed coffee then I’d go visit Clint. His truck was gone from in front of Aubrey’s, and the reminder it had been there all night nearly soured my mood. But I refused to be brought down.

As I walked down the street, I caught snippets of a conversation. Something about local property and buying. The man acting as an agent-slash-finder.

I turned, looking for the source. Was this someone who could help me?

My gaze landed on Travis, who I recognized because he was on the city council, and I’d learned about all of them. Thought it might help me buy here. Develop property here.

He was just finishing up a phone call, so I approached. It would be fantastic if he was the missing piece I’d been trying to find.

“Do you have a minute?” I called out.

He looked me over, his brows furrowed, then his frown faded when he looked at my face. “It’s Brodie, isn’t it? Brodie Watson?”

“Yeah.” I extended my hand. “Nice to meet y?—”

Another man stepped between us, out of nowhere, and looped his arm through mine, pulling me away.

“You don’t want to talk to him,” the newcomer said. “I’ve got you covered.”

“Dang it, Maddox. Mind your own freaking business.” Travis’s frustration hit my back.

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