Page 172 of Plus Size Player

“Should I be worried that you’ll get all the runway shows or big opportunities?” Jacqueline complained as we walked into the showroom. “Because I can’t compete with someone who’s screwing the boss.”

My brows furrowed. On one hand, I could understand where her mindset was but at the exact same time, I knew she was being shady.

“I already said that he didn’t nominate me to walk,” I returned.

Jacqueline frowned. “Well, it feels suspicious that you two are together and then all of a sudden, without a tryout or anything, you’re selected to walk. No offense.”

“Well, I take offense to that,” Angelica stated as she emerged from behind a rack of clothes. She pushed her red glasses up the bridge of her nose as she crossed the room toward us. “I nominated Nina. I pushed for her to be selected. Are you questioning my judgment?”

Jacqueline looked shook. “No ma’am.”

“Are you questioning the integrity of this company?”

“No—no, ma’am.”

She placed a stack of T-shirts on the table and looked around at all of us. “These shirts will be part of your content creation for this week. It is not for the Miami appearances. Taisha, come with me.”

We sat in silence as we waited our turn to get our clothing. My sadness subsided momentarily and was replaced with worry. Thatwas the most I’d ever heard Angelica speak and even though it was in defense of me, I still felt like I needed to stay quiet because I didn’t know how she felt about me and Russ. When we left as a group thirty minutes later, we didn’t talk until we were in the elevator.

“I’m grown and Angelica wasn’t even talking to me, and I felt like she told me to stay in a child’s place,” Taisha commented.

We all burst out laughing because it legitimately felt like that.

When the humor died down, Jacqueline turned to me. “I’m sorry about what I said. I was being a hater.”

“Yeah, you were. The first question was shady, but there was some validity to the concern. The second time, you were being a hater for real.”

She pouted. “I was jealous. I was hating. And I’m sorry.”

The elevator door opened, and I gave her a smile. “Apology accepted.” I pointed at her. “But don’t do that shit no more.”

We exited the building, exchanging goodbyes.

“See you tomorrow,” I called out as I headed to my car.

As soon as I started my car, my cell phone rang. The minute I saw Russ’s name flash across my screen, I was immediately flooded with guilt.

“Are you okay?” I answered frantically. “What happened?”

“I’m good. What’s wrong?”

The concern in his voice made my eyes prick with tears.Even when he has just done something so heartbreakingly selfless, he’s still thinking about me.

“You’re not CEO anymore.”

“It was the only way for us—”

“You should’ve told me you planned on leaving,” I interjected, trying not to break down and cry. “I would’ve told you not to. I never would’ve wanted you to do it like this. We could’ve snuck around for the next seven and a half months if we needed to. We could’ve figured something else out. We could’ve—I would’ve made the sneaking around work if I thought you leaving your company was the only option.” My voice broke. “You don’t deserve for it to happen like this. You don’t—”

“Nina,” he interrupted gently. “Where are you? Have you already left the building?”

“I’m in the parking deck across the street.” I blinked back tears. “On the third level.”

“Don’t move. I’m on my way.”

His phone was breaking up and I knew he was on the elevator. When it disconnected altogether, I took a shaky breath and climbed out of my car. A couple of minutes later, the elevator opened and the second I saw him, tears burned my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I called out to him.

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