Page 50 of Samson

She still had some time to cover, and her failures were not secrets. She had nothing to lose by being honest with him about her past.

“We had a massive failure in our software. Everything was riding on it.”

“The failure was your fault?”

“No, but they needed a fall guy.”

“Or girl.”

“Yeah. And the company had a lot of debt I didn’t know about, so now I’m bankrupt.”

“I’m sorry. Truly.”

“I had everything riding on it. I lost my house, my car, everything. I came here with my tail between my legs.”

“You said you had a bad breakup. Was that part of it?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about that.”

“I understand probably more than you’d believe.”

“You’re right.”

“You don’t think I’ve had my fair share?”

“You say that, and yet you walk in here with the world at your feet. And I’m supposed to believe you have pain?”

“Why not? You saw it the other night.”

“You never told me what that was for.”

“I’m probably not ready to tell you now.”

Her phone buzzed twice in her pocket, signaling Marc was clear. “I should get back to work.”

“What time do you get off?”

“Don’t ruin it.”

“I wasn’t going to invite you to my house, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ask you out.”

“I’ve got a book at home awaiting my return.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then it will be there when you get home.”

“I will not be another girl on your arm.”

“You wouldn’t be.”

“Only because I refuse to be taken in by you.”

“And yet, here you are.”

“I need to get back to work.” She stood.