Page 44 of We Met Like This
“I can definitely sift through emails,” I said. “I’ve been doing it for four years. I think I found half your current list. And I found all the writers we coagent on.” I offered Rob an innocent smile with my very true statement.
He brushed over the fact as if it wasn’t a big deal. “You won’t have quite as big a selection, which will make the standouts few and far between. Nobody knows who you are.”
“But I could have my face and bio on the agency website?” I suddenly wished I hadn’t invited Rebecca. I couldn’t say the things I wanted to say. Like:You owe this to me, Rob.Or:I’m not making this up; this is how you told me it would work in the past.
“If Rebecca and Dusty are okay with that.”
Rebecca nodded. “We can have a more in-depth meeting, the three of us.”
“Sounds good.” He clapped his hands together like the meeting was over.
Rebecca stood as if the clap dismissed her as well. “This was fun. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Thanks for making the time,” I said, staying firmly in my seat.
She lingered in the doorway before Rob winked at her and she exited the room. My breath caught in my throat. I hadn’t imagined that.
When she left, Rob picked up the phone.
“Wait,” I said.
He raised his eyebrows.
“You’re going to make this happen.” I stared at him.
He stared back.
“Right?” I added. I shouldn’t have added that. It weakened my statement.
“Hopefully.”
My chest was tight with anger now. It clawed its way up and wrapped a hand around my throat. I didn’t want to let my emotions take over, so I tried to push it back down. “I don’t expect you to hand over clients you’re passionate about, but if there’s one that isn’t a fit for your list, you can suggest me as an alternative.”
He let out a hearty laugh. When I didn’t join him, he said, “Oh, you’re serious?”
My eyes stung. Shit. I was going to cry. I could not cry. I sucked in a breath and stood.
Before I even took a single step, he said, “Margot, don’t do that to me again.”
I paused, not understanding what he meant.
He looked toward the hall. “Inviting another agent without informing me first, putting yourself on my schedule. It was unprofessional and immature. Proves exactly why you’re still where you are.”
“Are you sleeping with her?” I asked in a low voice.
His face paled before he recovered with a slimy smile. “Of course not. Is that what this is about?”
“You’re an ass,” I spit out, and whirled around. The chair I’d been sitting in shot across the room with my sharp movement. I didn’t return it to its place, I just marched towardthe door. So much for keeping my emotions in control. When I had almost made my escape, my ankle rolled to the side, my heel not supporting my angry gait. I nearly tripped, but caught myself by the door handle and finished my walk out.
CHAPTER 14
Did I just quit? No, no, no, no, I didn’t. Right?I couldn’t afford to quit. I had a year of savings but with zero prospects, that’s all I had. I could not start over at the bottom again. And I especially couldn’t make a move to New York now to find a place to do that. My money would last half as long there.
I made it to my desk, out of breath. I leaned onto my palms and sucked air into my lungs because my eyes were still stinging and my ears were red, burning beneath my hair. I could feel the blood pumping through my veins, heavy in my limbs and loud in my ears. I waited for several long minutes, thinking maybe Rob would come out, smooth things over. After all, hewasbeing an ass, despite the fact that I shouldn’t have pointed that out.
When he didn’t come, I retrieved my purse from beneath the desk and left. If I was fired, I’d come back after hours and clean out my station. “I can’t be fired,” I pleaded under my breath as I opened the door and stepped out into a perfect Southern California day. How dare it be so nice today. “I will smooth things over. I have to.”
The first thing I did was kick my feet, one at a time, up behind me to take off my heels. Then I walked around the building toward the small lot in the back. A rock dug into my bare foot halfway to my car and I sucked air between my teeth before continuing on with a limp.
