Page 33 of Getting Off

Lucas’s door was unlocked.She didn’t knock.She opened it and stepped inside.

“Congratulations!”Dylan and Lucas both yelled.They knew she was coming.The desk attendant notified them.

They both looked ecstatic, happy beyond words to see her.They were standing beneath a banner that said the same thing:Congratulations.The word opened a wound in her.

It didn’t take long for either of them to see things were very wrong.There were no congratulations to be had.

“Brooklyn,” Lucas said, moving across the big luxury condo toward her.“Talk to me.Tell me what’s wrong.”

“You know exactly what’s wrong.”

The ice in her words brought him up short.“Gibson told you.”

“You’re damn right he told me.”But she didn’t shout the words or even say them loudly.No, her voice came out as little more than a whisper.“I asked you… Ibeggedyou not to get involved.And you did anyway.”

Dylan was frowning—a rare expression for his usually happy-go-lucky handsome face.“They were fucking you over, Brooklyn.What that guy was doing was bullshit—”

“So you both decided to fuck me over yourselves?”she said, still quietly.“Everyone at the hospital willknowI didn’t earn that position.”She clenched her fists, glaring at them.“First, you trick me into sleeping in the desert after putting my life at risk.Then…I made a mistake and drove that stupid truck, and it cost me my chance at my dream job.”

“That wasn’t a mistake,” Dylan said.“It wasn’t a trick, and your life was never at risk.You loved it.I know.I was there.I saw it.Don’t do this to yourself.Don’t retreat like this—”

“What do you want from me?”she snapped, her voice breaking.“I lost everything today!”

Lucas was watching her with hurt and sympathy in his eyes, and she hated that right now.She didn’t want or need his sympathy, damn him.

“I won’t stand by and watch them destroy you,” Lucas said.“I won’t apologize for standing up for you.Or for using my wealth to right the wrongs in the world.That’s what it’s there for.I won’t hesitate to protect the people I care about.”

She closed her eyes.A tear slipped down her cheek, and she turned her head away from them, hoping they wouldn’t see.She wanted to seem strong.Sheneededto be strong.

“I’m not one of your employees, Lucas,” she said.“I told you I wanted to handle it.You pulled strings with the board of directors and got them to choose me.I didn’t earn it.I didn’t beat out all the other candidates because I’m the best.No, youboughtit for me.”

“Youare the most qualified person for that job—”

“How would you know that?Simple.You don’t.You stuck your wallet in because you were listening to your cock instead of listening to me.You wanted what you wanted and damn the consequences.”

His expression darkened.“That’s not fair, Brooklyn.Not at all.”

“What’s fair about any of this?Nothing.I never cared about your money.But you threw money at my problems—myproblems—as if I’m some investment you were trying to turn around and make a profit on.You want to sweep in and throw your money around, then sit back and be labeled a hero.Was that what you wanted tonight?For me to fawn all over you and thank you for yourgift?”

There.She’d said it.She’d spat out the poisonous words that had been burning inside her like acid since that second meeting with Dr.Gibson.She was breathing so hard she was practically panting.The pressure of tears behind her eyes was almost too much to bear.

“Brooklyn,” Lucas said, taking a step toward her.“Listen, I—”

She stepped backward.“I’m done listening.I’m done screwing around.I’m done acting like a little girl who thinks she can have everything.No.I’m done.”

She turned and headed for the door.Dylan called her name, desperation in his voice.

She didn’t answer.She didn’t pause or wait for them to catch her.That wasn’t the kind of woman she was.There would be no more games.

As she’d told them, she was done.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TBI Center Celebration Gala

Bellagio Ballroom, Las Vegas

Things moved fast.Lucas was used to getting results.It took five days after Brooklyn had walked out of his life for him and his army of assistants to organize and arrange this celebration event at the stunning Bellagio Hotel grand ballroom.

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