Page 43 of Beyond Question

“How many of the women in this room are housewives?” Paige asks. “Please raise your hands, ladies.”

I glance around as a good portion of the audience raises their hands. The wives of some of the men still standing, as luck would have it, though now they look at their husbands with barely constrained rage. Mrs. Carrington included, of course.

“This is for you. Forallof you. The women married to men like these and the women who work beside them. For thewomen who are forced to remain silent while they take credit for your work. This is for all of us.” Paige sneers as she focuses on Peter Carrington once more. “Sit down, Peter,” she commands. “You’re embarrassing your wife.”

He does so and as soon as he’s seated, his wife begins whispering angrily into his ear.

Leaving them to it, we all return our attention to the woman on stage.

It’s all I can do not to begin clapping now. To hoot and holler and claim her as mine.

“You can imagine how delightful it is to prove Peter wrong.” Paige smirks. “But as for this award, though I am pleased to be recognized, I’m only getting started. We’re coming for you, boys; your time is up. Rising star? No.” She pauses, then leans forward, bringing those luscious lips right up to the mic as she says, “Risingtide.”

The room erupts in a roar of applause as women jump to their feet, clapping loudly and cheering for a woman who just single handedly told the publishing industry its time is up. Men around the room scowl, or murmur to one another unhappily. Some of them even try to tug their wives back into their seats, but these ladies are not having it.

A few men slowly rise to their feet, joining the women in their lives and clapping awkwardly. These are thegood guys, the allies, the ones who don’t want to be considered part of the problem, though I can guarantee they’ve done nothing to fix it.

I know these guys. Hell, Iamone.

Do I want a world where men and women are equal and have equal opportunities? Equal pay? Of course I do.

Have I done anything to make that happen?

Can’t say I have. Our guilt is in our inaction.

As I watch Paige walk to the side of the stage, then down the stairs, back straight and head held high, I’m completelyawestruck and glued to my seat. Instead of returning to our table, she strides toward the side door and leaves without another word.

And I just sit here grinning like a fool because my cock is hard as a rock and if I chase after her right now, no one will remember her speech because I’ll forever be the guy who got a boner when Paige Matthews gave the publishing industry the bird.

But fuck if chasing after her isn’t theonlything I want to do right now.

“What are you grinning about?” Cabot snaps.

I swivel my head to look at him, but my eyes catch on Paige’s date across the table. My smile widens as I hold his gaze. He hasn’t moved to follow her, the schmuck. In fact, instead of looking proud to be on a date with a woman like Paige, he looks downright embarrassed.

The shame in his eyes makes my hands twitch below the table.

As I analyze him, he averts his eyes.

Staring a hole into the side of his head, I lean toward Cabot and proclaim, loudly enough to be heard over the ongoing applause, “I’m going to marry that woman.”

Chapter Fifteen

Paige

The fallout was expected. I knew when I chose to walk up onto that stage and give the publishing industry a piece of my mind, people would be unhappy. Speaking out against injustice is never received well from the party you’re attacking—especially when it’s an old boys club of powerful men. They really hate anything that calls into question the system they’ve benefited from for centuries.

But it’s long overdue and if someone had to do it, why not me?

Well, I’ll tell youwhy not me.I wasn’t expecting my name and face to be blasted all over the internet, from news outlets to blogs to even a goddamn meme or two.

I wasn’t expecting nonstop attention. I never wanted fame—or the renewed fear that has accompanied it.

I find myself looking over my shoulder again, checking my surroundings whenever I leave the house or office. Jumping whenever my phone rings.

I’ve made a terrible mistake and I’d give anything to go back and accept my award quietly and gracefully.

If I’d known that speech would catapult me into infamy and threaten to expose me to the very people I’ve been hiding from, I would havenever.

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