Page 47 of Three Hearts Hideaway

She sat wordlessly, waiting for him to continue. Nothing she said was going to change whatever was about to happen, so she thought it’d be better not to stick her foot in her mouth if it could be avoided.

“Here at Method Marketing, we take the opinions of our staff seriously. We want everyone in our work environment to feel safe and comfortable.”

Okay. Sign number three. Shit.

Ava chewed the inside of her cheek as she waited for the other shoe to drop. She wanted to get up, walk around, do anything other than sit with her hands folded in her lap. But that would be unprofessional, and she hoped against all odds that she was reading the signs wrong. She nodded as he continued with his obviously rehearsed speech, the words flowing through one ear and out the other before she could fully process them.

“—all that to say, Ms. Anderson, we’re letting you go.”

Even though everything pointed to this happening, she was still shocked. “You’re…letting me go?”

“This is a reputable company. We have many clients with family owned and operated businesses. Not to mention our federal government contracts. It’s on my head to make sure we are represented by people who reflect our values. I’m sure you can understand.”

“And you don’t think I represent the company’s values? Since when?”

“Ms. Anderson, I think you are well aware of the answer to that question.”

“If you’re firing me, I deserve to hear you say exactly why I’m being dismissed.”

Mr. Carter’s eyebrows pinched together, and he straightened his tie. “Many of your colleagues heard the message that your partner sent about you. And not solely them, but myself, as well as seven high-ranking clients.” Shifting in his seat, he cleared his throat. “How am I aware of this? Because those seven clients either called me or came to see me in person to voice their concerns and complaints.”

“But you have to know I had nothing to do with that message. I?—”

He held out a finger to silence her. “I do. I can’t imagine you condoned such a thing. But you let your partner have access to your phone, which contains sensitive client information. Theirdata was breached on your watch. And the morality clause you signed in your contract outlined appropriate behavioural expectations. That voice message has left your reputation irrevocably tarnished, and I can’t have a project manager that clients—and colleagues—don’t trust.”

Ava was speechless. Her gaze unfocused, eyes glossing over. Years of hard work and dedication to this place meant nothing. Now, she was a liability. There would be no convincing him otherwise.

“You will clean out your office immediately. Human Resources is waiting outside to escort you and finish the exit paperwork for your dismissal.”

Any fight she had left drained out of her. She opened the door to find Marissa waiting for her. Ava allowed her to usher her to the office she’d occupied the past ten years.

How was she supposed to pack a decade’s worth of shit in her office into two boxes? How was she supposed to start again somewhere else? The time she’d put in building relationships, making connections, working her way up the ladder here—none of it mattered anymore. Her chest squeezed as she gulped down a big breath of air, trying to quell her rising panic.

She hastily grabbed the most important things: binders of previously completed project outlines to add to her portfolio, and the Hoya plant she’d named Lenny. She shoved other odds and ends, like her coffee mugs and lumbar pillow, in the boxes as well. Small things were leftover. Her pencils and pens, binder clips, and folders she’d purchased to replace the generic company supplies. She didn’t need it. What did it matter? It’s not like she’d have a marketing job to go to after this, or any clients.

As Marissa walked her to the elevators, co-workers peeked their heads out of cubicles and offices to watch her go. All because of Sebastian. Because she had the confidence to dare askfor what she wanted in the bedroom. Because her sexual desires were supposedly a deviation from the norm.

She should’ve had a password on her phone, but Sebastian convinced her to remove it a few months after they started dating. It made sense at the time.It showed trust, he said. Thatshe had nothing to hide. What a load of bullshit.

She wanted to hold her head high as she left, but her stomach was in knots and her legs were heavy—as if she were underwater. The ding of the elevator’s arrival was muffled. Marissa’s quickgoodbyewas deadened by the ringing in her ears.

The drive home didn’t register in her brain. Somehow, she arrived outside her apartment. Like highway hypnosis, except in the city. How long had she been sitting in the underground parking? How would she afford her parking spot now that she didn’t have a job? Or the rent on her place?

She took the elevator to the eighth floor and emerged, precariously balancing the boxes containing her belongings. The last thing she needed to do was drop Lenny and spill his dirt on the hallway carpet.

Stabilizing the boxes against her hip, she dug for her apartment keys in her pocket. Fucking Sebastian. This was his fault. If she’d only had the courage to dump him sooner. She needed to talk with Roman and Logan. Hear their?—

What the hell? Why washehere? Her whole body shuddered at the sight. Who told him she was back? “Sebastian?”

“Hey, babe. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“What are you doing here? Who let you in?”

Presenting a silver key in his hand, his eyes narrowed at her like the answer should be obvious. “I had an extra key made along time ago. In case you ever did anything rash like taking my original copy back.”

Her pulse quickened. She made a mental note to have her locks changed and talk to the security guard. “You need to leave.”

He shook his head. “Now, now, Ava. You don’t mean that.” Sebastian leaned against her apartment door, a smarmy smirk etched on his face.

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