Page 74 of Designed for Disaster

“Get out of my office!” I said. Louder. Bolder. “Until you can calm down.”

“This is my company!” he shot back. “You’re the one who needs to leave!”

My spine went rigid. Was he…no, he couldn’t possibly be serious, could he? I thought we needed some space from each other to cool down, but this sounded like?—

“Pack your shit and get the hell out!”

Like that. A sad little sound of disbelief escaped me. I felt like I’d been transported back into Echo’s offices as I got fired for telling the truth; back into the apartment I used to share with Fisher as we had that last fight; back into my bed when I got that middle-of-the-night call from my parents’ neighbor telling me about the house fire. Back into all the moments when the ground disappeared from underneath me, and everything I’d counted on vanished.Stupid,was all I could think.How could you be so stupid to think that wouldn’t happen here? That you’d finally found a safe place to land?

“Trent—”

“Go, Natasha! I don’t want to see you here ever again!”

“Right then,” I said, forcing myself to react. I grabbed my purse from my desk. “Consider me gone.”

I brushed by Trent on my way to the door, swinging it open and storming across the conference room. Office doors quickly shut, and I knew the team had been listening to every horrible accusation he’d thrown at me.

The humiliation burned, as did the anger over him treating me that way. And yet, some ridiculous part of me actually slowed down as I reached the hall,hoping,waiting,wantingfor him to call me back. For him to admit he’d overreacted and to say that he’d let me explain—that he wanted us to work this out. But that was a fantasy.

I reached for the elevator button. Trent didn’t try to stop me, and when the elevator came, I stepped in without looking back.

22

TRENT

Can’t make it tonight, I texted the guys, bailing on our squash game. I slumped back in my office chair, twisting to face the window. Dark grey clouds hung heavy in the sky, washing out the entire street. It was all just ugly and miserable.

My phone buzzed in my hand. I looked down at the group chat.

Ah, come on,Aiden messaged.I promise not to beat you and Dom as badly as last time.

I was off my game, Dominic replied.Don’t get too excited.

Aiden replied with a giant question mark.What are you saying?

That we obviously let you win.

Aiden responded with a GIF that said KISS MY ASS.#sorelosers

Trent, you gonna let him talk to us that way?Dominic replied.

Sorry. Too busy. The last thing I wanted to do was play goddamn squash with my friends. They’d totally know that something was wrong and try to talk to me about it. And I didnotfeel like talking this out.

Busy doing what?Aiden asked.

Probably spending quality time with Natasha,Vincent cut in.You know…going home to do those not-safe-for-work things.

I’ve done plenty of not-safe-for-work things at work,Aiden said. He followed it up with a smirking emoji.

I do NOT need to think about you getting action in the office,Dominic messaged.

Keep it G-rated,Vincent said.Or you’ll scar Paul’s delicate sensibilities.

Shut the hell up! I’ve been married longer than all of you,Paul responded.

Technically I was married the longest,Dominic said.

You’re divorced now,Paul said.It doesn’t count. You’ve been reset.

---