Page 71 of This Means War

“You can’t bow out,” Harrison sounds incredulous. “You bow out, you’re fired.”

“You can’t fire someone who just quit.”

I press end on the call, cutting off Harrison’s growl of frustration. As I toss the phone to thepassenger seat, I exhale fully for the first time in years. Now I just have to find Lydia.

Chapter 51

Lydia

Cole isn’t at home. Doubt starts to creep back in as I consider that, despite our fight, he appears to have gone to Traverse City. Then I find my phone and see that I have 12 missed calls from him. Maybe he didn’t go. Maybe he’s looking for me. At the very least, he wants to talk to me. I’m about to hit the call back button when my phone chirps with an alarm.Mandy Avondale Interview in One Hour.

Oh no! I forgot all about my interview. I can’t stand her up. She’s Mandy Avondale! Star of Holland daytime news. She could do some real damage to Cole’s campaign if I snub her. It’ll take me twenty minutes to get to the station and, I squeak in horror, I’m still in my pajamas! Throwing my phone aside, I dash to the shower. Maybe I don’t have time to talk to Cole right now, but I’ll do him one better. I’m going to go on air with Mandy and sing Cole’s praises. I’ll show him in front of the whole world, or at least the daytime viewers of Holland News One, that even though we fought, I’m still standing by him. Thenlater, when I talk to him, I’m just going to put it all out there. I love him. If that makes me pathetic, then so be it.

Cole

She’s not at TheRobin’s Nest. She’s not with Jamie. She’s not at the school. Neither Josh nor Jamie have heard from her. I’m starting to get a little panicked. As I pull out of the school parking lot I try Lydia’s cell one more time, but she doesn’t answer. I guess the only thing left to do is go back home and see if she’s gone back there. All her stuff is there, so she has to go back eventually, right?

When I pull onto our street, I spot a car in our driveway, but it’s not Lydia’s. I do a double take as I park my car in the drive and spot the man waiting on our front porch.

“Saul,” I say as I step out of the car, “what are you doing here? You should be–”

“In Traverse City,” he finishes for me. “As should you, and yet here we both are.”

I cringe. I’ve been so wrapped up in finding Lydia, I didn’t think to call Saul and tell him about my decision to quit the firm. “I’m sorry,” I sigh. “I should’ve called you to tell you personally. I quit this morning.”

“I heard.” Saul crosses his arms across his chest and studies me for a second. “I’m proud of you, son.”

That stops me in my tracks. “What did you say?”

“I said,” he repeats slowly, “I’m proud of you.”Annndd…I’m crying again. Well, not all out crying thankfully, but there is definite wetness in the corner of my eyes. Luke Combs could put out a whole album on me today. This song would have a line about how my own father never once said those words to me, then maybe a really long guitar solo to allow time for crying.

“For what?” I croak.

Saul grins. “Why don’t you take a seat.” He gestures to the two rockers on my porch. I do as he says, waiting expectantly for him to continue. “You should know, Cole, that I spoke with Benton Hotels this morning and told them that I was no longer interested in the merger.”

“What? Why?”

“Well, I was about an hour into the drive when I got a call from an irate Harrison who informed me that you’d quit, but that I shouldn’t worry because he was sending Ashley up to help with negotiations, and, as he phrased it, she’d be sure to help with Pat Benton seeing as he’s a man who appreciates doing business with a woman in a short skirt.” His lip curls up in disgust. “Turns out, I’m not too interested in doing business with a man who objectifies women.”

“I feel the same way.” I sit back against the rocker. “I’m glad you’re not going into business with him, Saul.”

“Yes, well, it cost me a lot less to stand up for what’s right than it cost you. I still have a job and a multimillion-dollar hotel business. You lost your job.”

“Well,” I sigh, “I have to admit, it wasn’t just Pat Benton’s misogynistic tendencies that made me quit.”

“Oh no?” Saul raises a questioning brow. “Tell me, did it have something to do with Ashley?”

“How did you know?”

“My secretary may have mentioned a thing or two.”

I flush. “She kissed me in the elevator on the way up to our last meeting with you,” I admit. “I pushed her away immediately, but I can’t work with a woman who doesn’t respect the fact that I’m a married man.”

“I agree.” Saul nods in approval. “What did Lydia say when you told her?”

“I haven’t actually told her.” I hang my head. “I wasn’t sure how to tell her.”

“Ah.” Saul frowns in thought. “You know, Cole, anytime you’re not honest in a marriage, you’re playing with fire. Lying to your spouse is a surefire way to let Satan spread division within your union.”

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