Page 14 of The Revenge Agenda

“What’s going on with you? I’m sensing vibes.”

That is not something I want to get into with her. “Bold of you to think I ever know what’s going on.”

Only this time, I do, and I’m totally lying, but what are my options? Tell her the guy I thought I was falling for was only using me to cheat on his fiancé? That the same guy has been messaging me nonstop and it’s a real struggle not to reply? And his ex-fiancé is now currently my boss, who’s probably going to make life difficult and tell the whole office that I slept with his ex?

I’ll have to quit. And leave Seattle. I have no family, a shitty employment history, and no savings to my name. Dear fucking god, I’m going to wind up homeless. I don’t even have a car to sleep in.

I’ve gotten myself into some tricky situations in my life, but this one really takes the cake.

I wonder if there’s something in my contract to say I can be fired without notice if I’m a total, total ho bag?

Even unintentionally.

I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t see the signs. That I got so swept up in Ian and our relationship and forgot to make myself focus and see it for what it was. I’m naive. Easy to take advantage of. Madden always worries about it, but I don’t know how to be any other way. If someone tells me something, how am I supposed to know they’re lying? How do people pick up on that?

I sigh, taking a sip of my cooled coffee, and follow it up with an M&M. I know for a fact I can’t go to drinks tonight. I just can’t. But telling everyone the real reason or making up an excuse is more effort than stopping by, having a quick drink, and then leaving again.

Though I am notorious for always forgetting about things, so it wouldn’t be out of character for me to accidentally-on-purpose forget. Hell, I might actually forget. That would be convenient.

Though how I’m supposed to forget his judgmental gaze burning into me and the looming threat of having to face him every day, I’ll never know.

If I go, it might be a chance to clear the air. Maybe I’ll be able to pull him to the side and explain. Get him to stop hating me. Make it clear that I never knew.

Yes.

That’s a plan.

Not one I feel great about, but we’ll see what happens.

Would it be too dramatic to cut off my leg instead?

Chapter 5

Hunter

All day, I’m tempted to hand in my notice. This has to be a sign, right? Apparently, all the other ones since I got to Seattle weren’t enough, so this is one last kick to get me out the door.

And I’m still not leaving.

I’ve got a stubborn streak in me a mile deep, and I can’t shake the feeling that if I flee, Rush wins.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself because it’s easier to face than that tiny seed digging in behind my sternum, reminding me I can’t get anything right. It’s a lie. I know that. But it still hits deep.

I couldn’t get that promotion.

I couldn’t hold down my fiancé.

I can’t even start the first day here off right with my team.

Instead, I look like an idiot who can’t hold down a fucking conversation.

I’d always told myself I’d be a good boss. An easy one. I wouldn’t ride my employees and make them hate coming to work, but even after a few hours here, I’m the one who hates it.

Because my office looks out onto the bullpen, and I have a direct line of sight to Rush’s desk. I either glance up directly toward him or put so much effort into not looking at him that an ache is building behind my eyeballs. Going back to the hotel and crawling under the covers seems like the perfect way to put an end to this nightmare, but I couldn’t even get that right.

I had to invite them out for drinks.

Instead of canceling like any sane fucking person would do, I set up a group chat for my team on the work server and fire off an invite to have a drink after work while we get to know each other.

---