Page 101 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
“What did I do?” she asked.
“Reggie said the portfolio you sent to Peter Stafford included the drawings that Claudia claimed as her own, and—and here’s the kicker—he said Claudia’s drawing of Max’s wedding dress has a later date than when you sentthe package to Peter. Peter’s been in Switzerland. I got a message from him, too, but let me tell you what else Reggie found first. He looked at the building’s security tapes—not JBD, but the actual building’s tapes, the ones Claudia didn’t realize existed—and he found footage of Claudia not only going through your desk and your trash, but your HR files, too, which means she had seen your portfoliobefore you even came on board. She was ready for this. She must have seen the quality of your drawings and felt threatened, or overlooked, or whatever.” Josh punched the air with his fist. “I knew my girl would never do those things.”
Riley rose to her feet. “I forgot about those drawings. I had included a few sketches of that dress, but they were so rough, and in my mind it wasn’t really goingto be Max’s wedding dress. I drew them after lunch at your dad’s a few weeks ago and put them in the portfolio because Peter had said he was interested in any new designs I was playing with. I didn’t make the connection. Does this mean…?”
He pulled her to him. “It means Claudia’s full of it.”
“You called it, Josh,” Treat said.
“I also had a message from Peter, and when I called him back, heapologized for being so far out of the loop since he’d been in Switzerland. He said he would have brought the portfolio to my attention earlier had he heard about the issues with Claudia, and more important, he wasn’t upset with me about firing Claudia. Once I explained the games she’d been playing, he said I should have come to him a long time ago.”
“That’s great news,” Riley said.
“There’smore,” Josh said. “Apparently, Peter’s interested in backing a new line, a partnership of sorts, and after seeing Riley’s portfolio, he wants her included in the process.” Josh turned to Riley.
There was a collective cheer from all but Dane, who was typing on his phone.
“Dude.” Treat tapped Dane on the shoulder.
“Yeah, what? Sorry.” Dane stood. “Riley’s in the clear?”
Savannah swiped the phonefrom his hand and ran across the room with it as she read his messages.
“Oh.” She laughed. “Gosh, blush, blush.”
Dane chased her. “Give me that, Savannah.” His voice boomed across the room.
“Goodness, who knew you were so into Lacy? Those Snow sisters must be something else. Blake fell just as hard.” She turned her back to Dane as he swooped in and retrieved the phone.
“How long have you beendating her?” Savannah asked Dane.
“We’re not exactly dating,” Dane answered.
“Don’t tell me you’re…sexting a girl you’ve never actually taken out,” Savannah said with atsk.
“I’m not sexting. Our schedules haven’t come together yet, but she’s coming to Treat’s wedding,” Dane explained.
“Do you even know how to read a calendar? Are you telling me that she’s going to wait for you for the nextthree months?” Savannah shook her head and flopped into the now vacant couch.
“I’d wait for Dane,” Jade joked.
Rex pulled her close. “Oh no, you wouldn’t.”
“We talk all the time,” Dane explained. “You know how crazy my schedule is.”
“That’s hogwash, Dane. Make her a priority or set her free,” Treat said.
“What makes you such an expert? Lacy understands my schedule,” Dane said.
“Then I needto have a talk with her,” Treat said. “No woman deserves to be treated that way. It’s been, what? A year? Inexcusable. Push a button or get off the elevator. Women are different. You may have other women filling your nights, but I’d put money on the fact that Lacy Snow isn’t dating anyone else. I met her, Dane. She’s not that kind of girl.”
Dane let out a breath. “Look, I’m not trying to hurther. I really like her. Maybe too much.”
“You haven’t even dated her yet,” Savannah reminded him.
“I’m well aware of that fact,” Dane said.
“Okay, listen, guys, this is supposed to be a happy time for us,” Josh said. “Can we just break out the champagne and let Dane worry about his love life? I can’t wait to meet her, and if it’s at Treat and Max’s wedding, then it is. Whatever. Let’s justkeep the good mojo rolling.”
