Page 96 of Eight Steps to Alpha

Taking a few slow breathes, she forced her eyes back in Mary’s direction. A man was standing at a pedestal, a white mustache making his smile more endearing. “She’s here, ladies and gentlemen! Please, raise your glasses! Raise your glasses and welcome Mary Fisher home!“

Mary turned toward the crowd, her cheeks flushed and eyes cast downward. She looked humbled, almost embarrassed, and Fe couldn’t make herself look away.

“Thank you, Mr. Gibbon’s,” she said quietly into the microphone. She then glanced around the room, smiling at her colleagues and blushing even more deeply. “First,” she began. “I want to thank all of you for coming out here tonight. I’m extremely humbled by your presence. The acquisition went better than any of us could have ever hoped for, but I couldn’t have done any of this without all my staff.”

The patio erupted in cheers and hollering.

“Sue, Michael, Jose, Elliot, Veronica, please join me. This honor is as much yours as it is mine.”

Elliot, glanced over to Fe, then pushed himself to stand and walked toward Mary, who was beckoning them toward the podium. But when her eyes locked on Elliot, she tilted her head to the side and grinned.

Fe should’ve been proud, relieved, but that wasn’t what she felt at all. In fact, she felt sick.

Mary quickly recovered from her shock, then turned toward the podium and spoke again. “Without these people,” Mary announced, “I’d be a complete wreck.” She waved a server forward and began passing out glasses of champagne. “To my wonderful team!” she shouted.

Glasses began clinking all around them, adding more chaos and laughter to the patio. Fe watched as Mary came down the steps, slowly making a b-line in Elliot’s direction.

“Wow,” she read on Mary’s lips, but she turned herself toward the bar, unable to watch any longer.

She should be proud, should be happy for him, because this was exactly what they’d been working for. Elliot would get the girl, and things between them would go back to normal.

But… Why did it feel like she’d just lost something? That a piece of her soul had just left her body forever. She started shivering, and she thought she might throw up.

She heard laughing all around her, people celebrating and having fun, but all she could focus on was her breathing. Pulling in one deep breath, then another, she used the calming techniques she’d learned in therapy years ago.

This night was about Elliot, and she wouldn’t let her stupid anxiety ruin that for him. Turning in her seat, she walked toward him, trying not to notice how Mary’s hand sat comfortably on his arm.

Elliot’s eyes locked on hers when she was a foot away. She could practically read his mind. What’s wrong? How can I make you feel better?

He held out his hand as she came closer, his jaw flexing as he squeezed her fingers in his. “Mary, this is Fe—”

“His roommate.” She forced a smile and shook Mary’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Really?” Mary asked, placing her hand on her heart as though she were flattered.

And that’s when Fe noticed the sprinkling of freckles along Mary’s nose. The clef in her chin that was almost masculine, but somehow looked perfect on her. They were flaws that gave a person character, that made her realize she wasn’t someone to be demonized. She was pretty, she was human, and Elliot had good taste.

Pulling in a calming breath, she turned back to Elliot and met his eyes. “I think I’m going to get going,” she whispered, “I have an early day tomorrow.”

He made a small step toward her, a weird, almost worried expression crossing his features. “Is everything okay?”

She forced her face upward, then nodded—even though the soft tone of his voice made her want to cry. “You’ve got this, Elli,” she whispered to him. “You don’t need me anymore.” She touched his arm, then gave him an encouraging nod and turned back toward Mary. “Well, I’m afraid I must be going, but it was nice meeting you.”

Mary nodded, said a polite goodbye, and Fe turned toward the elevators.

Her saving grace was that the doors opened right away. A gentleman pressed the ground floor, and she pulled her phone from her clutch to schedule an Uber.

Out in the front of the hotel, her hands shanking, she wrapped her arms around her stomach and waited for her ride. All she wanted to do was go home, rip the ponytail out of her hair, and put on her most comfortable pajamas.

“Fe.” Elliot’s voice called from behind her. It had been less than two minutes. He’d only said it once, but his voice sent a million goosebumps loose all over her skin.

He’d come after her. Damn him, he’d come after her. She hugged herself harder and spun around to face him. “Go back inside, Elliot.”

He moved closer, touching her arm as he shook his head. As though he was confused, as though—

“What are you doing here?” she choked out. “Go back upstairs, go to Mary—”

But his jaw flexed, and his voice interrupted her. “You don’t look fine.”

She forced her eyes up to his. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. She’s up there, wanting to talk to you.” She pushed at his chest. “Go, Elli.”

His body tightened, but he didn’t budge. “Is that what you really want?” His voice was pleading, his jaw hard and tight. “Tell me the truth.”

The Uber pulled up to the curb then, and she held up one finger to tell him to wait. “Yes.” She turned back to Elliot with her head held high, but all she could manage was a whisper. “That’s what I want.”

His jaw flexed, he looked down the ground, and she opened the door to her car.

Slamming the door shut behind her, she turned toward the driver. “Go,” she whispered. He pulled away from the curb, and her head fell back to the upholstery. “Drive. Just—drive”

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