Page 66 of Fauxmance in the City

I slide to the floor, then pull my knees to my chin. The second person I’ve been dreading telling is Natalie.

“We’re fired, Nat. I told Gillian the truth, and she fired Sam and me.”

Natalie drops the towel in her hands, gaping. “You have to fix this.”

“I know.”

“Now. You have to fix this now.”

“I know!”

“Why did you tell her?” Natalie sits next to me, nudging me with her shoulder.

“I was tired of the lies.” I rest my head on her shoulder, and she pets my hair. “And when I told Charles earlier, he didn’t care. In fact, he was almost gleeful over the fact I was pulling a fast one over on Gillian. Those two have a fucked-up relationship.”

I pop my head up, an idea hitting me like a UFC fighter’s punch. It isn’t fully formed, but pieces are coming together in a jagged jigsaw. I pull out my phone and tap a plan into my notes, sliding the pieces into place. It’ll take some crafty maneuvering, but I may be able to get our jobs back.

“What is it?” Natalie perks up. “Do you have a solution?”

“Maybe,” I say. “But we need Max.”

eighteen

Natalie and I fly across the Brooklyn Bridge in a taxi. I spoke to Max about my plan, and he’s on board. If Jess has broken up with him, he did not indicate it over the phone, and I pray she holds off until afterward. I don’t want him distracted by heartbreak.

Gillian and Charles went back to Gillian’s office, and that’s where Natalie and I are headed. Gillian was elated by Max’s spontaneous recovery, and I’m hoping her good mood will work in my favor. As they left, Gillian bragged that she knew it would work, and Charles rolled his eyes, looking dubious at how nicely it had all come together in the end.

My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Max. My chest tightens in giddy anticipation.

I spoke to Charles.

And… I type.

He’s in!

I yelp. “Charles is going to do it!” If Charles hadn’t agreed, the plan would’ve died then and there.

My phone pings with another message from Max.

I’m about twenty minutes behind you guys. Good luck!

What about your flight? I ask. He was meant to leave for the ski trip, and I assumed it was still on.

Change of plans.

My fingers hover over the keys, wondering if this change is because of Jess. Natalie leans over me, reading the exchange. “Why did he change his flight?”

I shrug.

“Ask him,” she urges, way too interested.

“Do you like him?”

Natalie sucks on her bottom lip, but she says nothing.

We pull up to the glass-and-chrome structure that houses all of Kennedy Corp’s offices. Terrified, blood rushes through my head.

I pull my fob from my key chain, and we pass through the turnstiles. On the top floor, I pause at the empty reception desk. Gillian’s suites take up half the floor. Natalie stays by the large reception area, and I sweep through the offices. A minute later, I’m back.

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