Page 45 of Perfectly Wrong

I thanked John for always having my back, and we left. Once again, he was there to help pick up the pieces of me that were shattered all over the floor. And as if that wasn’t enough, he didn’t leave the next day or the day after. He stayed in Toronto, helping me manage everything while still sharing his hotel room with me. He even went to my house to grab my things so I wouldn’t risk running into Sam.

Jeremy called him on Friday morning and asked us to come to Icon Records. John said he sounded both frustrated and relieved. We finished our breakfast and headed over.

“I’m trying to figure out what he wants,” I said, eyeing John suspiciously as we sat in the back of the taxi. I saw his mouth tighten into a thin line. “You know, don’t you?”

He shrugged. “I have a hunch, but I’m not going to say anything until I’m sure.”

I rolled my eyes. When we arrived at the building, I found myself checking the area for any unwanted faces. John waited patiently, and when we got out, we headed straight to Jeremy’s office.

“Finally!” my boss exclaimed. “Have a seat.”

We did, and Jeremy settled into his chair, looking almost smug. There was some unspoken exchange between him and John that I couldn’t decipher.

“Elena, if you still want to work at Icon Records, we have an offer for you.”

“What?” I held my breath.

“You can still be with us, just not here in Toronto.” Jeremy sighed. “Like I said, either you or Martin leaves. And since you won’t be honest with us, we don’t have much choice. You’ll go, but to another branch.”

My eyebrows shot up. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re coming to New York with me,” John said, barely able to contain his excitement.

“You jerk. I wanted to break the news!” Jeremy’s laughter filled the room.

I glanced between the two of them, completely lost. How could they transfer me instead of firing me? Sam and I would still be at the same company. Wasn’t that against some policy?

“Look,” Jeremy continued. “The board can’t afford to lose you, but they also can’t break Martin’s contract without your cooperation, and you won’t give them that satisfaction. So, after some meetings and favours, we found a spot for you in our New York branch. You’ll be working on Project TS, which will benefit from your direct involvement. It’s a great opportunity.”

This was the last thing I expected.

“Lena,” John said gently. “We know you never planned on moving to New York, but this is the best option right now. Once this project wraps up, we’ll talk to the board here and look at transferring you back. But for now, it’s our only way out.”

“Guys, this…” I was speechless. “Thank you. This is so much more than I expected. I know you’re both taking risks standing by me, and I’m so grateful! I’ll take this chance and move to New York, even though I love working here in Toronto. I promise you won’t regret it.”

“There are just two things you need to do first, Elena. First, take the fifteen vacation days you have left. You need it. As a friend, I’d suggest going to your parents’ place to get some distance. You need a break, and it’s best to get out of Toronto for a bit.”

He was right. Gossip was probably spreading like wildfire, and staying here would only make things worse. Jeremy cleared his throat and exchanged a look with John. My friend sighed deeply.

“Are you serious?” The annoyance in his voice made me nervous.

“What?” I asked.

“Martin’s putting on a secret show after his album release and before the tour. The decision was made yesterday. The entire team, along with fans and the media, will be there. And I’m sorry, Lena, but you can’t skip it.”

My jaw dropped.

“This is insane, come on,” John muttered.

“I know this is a mess,” Jeremy admitted, “but can you imagine how it would look if she didn’t show up? Elena put everything into this project, and it would seem strange for her not to be there. Especially since everyone from Icon Records, including her team, will be present.”

Hearing about my team made my heart sink. I’d miss them so much. We’d worked together for so long, and we had this unspoken bond—I could read their thoughts, and they could read mine. Just another thing Martin had taken from me.

I sighed and agreed. What couldn’t be helped had to be endured, and there was nothing I could do to change things. Jeremy was right: going to my parents’ was the best choice. Their love and support would help me deal with all the changes coming my way.

John handled my transfer to New York, staying in Toronto to sort out the logistics and help me pack up my house. Since I wasn’t sure if I’d ever return, I decided to sell it. Project TS would take at least two years, and I had no idea what New York held for me. I could rent, but I preferred to own a place in the U.S., and selling my home here was the best way to make that happen.

Sam’s third album was about to drop, and I would return to Toronto for that damned concert. Before that, I’d stop by Icon Records to sign my transfer papers, then I’d watch his performance and fly to New York the next day. The timing was perfect—it would keep me busy and help me avoid Martin, even in my thoughts. His texts and calls were relentless, but I ignored them until I finally blocked his number. The last thing I needed was his pathetic excuses. He’d already done enough damage, and I never wanted to see that boy again.

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