Page 14 of Forgotten

“Another position?” I asked. “Like what?”

“We were thinking of creating a new region,” he said. “Expanding a bit, into Texas. We already broke ground on a hotel in Dallas and are looking at expanding through Arlington, Houston, Austin, and perhaps El Paso. We eventually want to sweep west and go through New Mexico, Arizona, and eventually southern California. But it all starts with Dallas and getting a foothold there. And I can’t think of a better person suited for such a unique challenge than you.”

“What can I say except I am extremely flattered,” I said, trying to find better words and failing miserably. As much as I did not want to move back to Texas, this was a huge opportunity, and it wasn’t like I was going to go live in Foley. I’d be in Dallas. Running an entire region.

“So does that mean you accept the position?” he asked, stuffing a forkful of pancake into his mouth.

“Of course, yes,” I said. “Thank you!”

“Fantastic,” he said, smiling. “This means you will be working directly under the COO and myself. Welcome to the corporate world, April. From the bottom to the top.”

Beaming and high on my promotion, I got back to the hotel ready to spread the good news. Jessica was one of the first people I wanted to tell, but there was someone else I wanted to let know first.

It was crazy, but a part of my overly excited mind was creating a fantasy scenario where Jesse and I could get back together. Where I could work and live in Dallas, and he could continue his career. I would even be willing to meet his child and find a way to make that work in our life. Maybe I was drunk with happiness, but it all seemed possible in that moment.

But when I got to Jesse’s room, it was empty. He’d already checked out, and nothing remained of his stay. The housekeeping crew was the best in the state, and they had already swooped in and returned the room to its glory before I could get back to it.

I flagged down the head of the crew for the floor on my way to the stairs to go see Jessica. But when I asked if he left anything for me, a note or a phone number or anything, they said no. The room was spotless aside from messed up sheets on the bed and a few dirty towels in the bathroom.

Gutted, I called down to the front desk and got ahold of Stan.

“Hey, did anyone leave a note for me while I was gone?” I asked. “One of our guests? I was expecting someone to drop by and say goodbye before they left.”

“Nope,” he said. “No notes. Though one guy did call and ask about you. From the top floor suites.”

“Oh?”

“He asked if you were around, but I told him you left with that tall guy in the suit. Who was that, by the way? I never pegged you as going for the early-bird silver foxes.”

I sighed. “That’s the CEO, Stan. His picture is on the wall on the outside of the desk.”

“Ahh, that’s where I’d seen him before. I figured he was a movie star or something.”

“You told the person who called that I left with a man? Not the CEO. Just that I left with a man?”

“I mean, yeah,” Stan said. “I didn’t know who he was. Why? Who was it that called for you?”

I closed my eyes and pressed my hand to my head. The headache that I thought left last night was coming back. All the good feelings were being deflated in an instant.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Not anymore.”

Chapter Seven

Jesse

I passed the sign welcoming me to Tulsa and couldn’t help the small smile that crossed my face. Tulsa always had a weird place in my heart now. Partially amazing, partially a subject for more of my heartbreaking honky-tonk lyrics, Tulsa was a town I avoided like the plague and yet desperately wanted to go back to. Just to see. Just to try.

The Bethel Hotel dominated the skyline as I drove down the highway. It was hard to miss, with its new-age architecture and sparkling glass windows. Considering this time, the drive had been a much longer one, driving straight here from St. Louis, I was more than ready to check into a hotel room and crash, even if it wasn’t a massive suite on the top floor.

Hell, I didn’t care if they shoved me in a broom closet if it meant I got to see Charlotte again. I just needed to know if the man she was with, the one she’d left my bed for, was still with her. Or if I had a shot. If I ever did, that was.

The truth was, I didn’t know if she ever intended on giving me a real chance after my ex, Lacey, told her I was her babydaddy. Which was a load of horseshit. For one, the timing didn’t match up. The last time I’d been with her was at least a month before she would have gotten pregnant at the earliest. It was impossible. And while the kid in the picture she showed Charlotte did resemble me, something about it looked off. Like it was too… professional? It was just weird.

I cut contact with her immediately after that and had been hounded by her and lawyers ever since. But none of that mattered if I had Charlotte. I’d deal with a million Laceys if I had Charlotte by my side.

Two years was a long time. Maybe she was married now.

Or maybe she was single again.

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