Page 49 of Sleighing You
“And she thinks that somehow this belongs to her?” Mallery continued. “That our family’s legacy should just be handed to her—”
I couldn’t listen anymore. I couldn’t stand here and listen to Mallery and Chris break apart everything I stood for, everything I’d worked for my whole adult life.
I pushed the door open and entered the room. They both jumped, startled to see me before Chris relaxed and smiled. “It’s you. I was wondering where you went.”
I searched his face for any sign of remorse for what they’d just been saying. Hell, I would have accepted guilt even. But there was nothing. The curtain was up, proving that Chris was a gifted businessman. And in this world, to be cunning in business, you also had to be cutthroat.
“I was just getting my coat.” I leaned between them and saw a look pass between Chris and his sister.That’s right, I wanted to say.I heard you. I heard every word.
“You’re leaving?” Chris asked. “But we didn’t even get to tell you—”
Luckily, my peacoat was near the top of the pile, draped carefully on top of the pile. I grabbed it, shoving my arms into it as I gave Mallery a curt nod. “It was nice to see you, Mallery… as always.” She was, after all, still my boss. For the time being. I was going to start looking for a new job immediately. As soon as I got home.
“You… too.” She seemed confused and looked to Chris for answers. But I didn’t wait for either of them to say more. I rushed for the front door and ran out of the house.
The tears I’d been holding in almost the entire night flowed freely. In the whipping cold of the night, they dried on my cheek and crystalized almost as quickly as they hit the air.
Boots crunched in the snow behind me, but I ignored him as he called my name over and over. As I reached my car, his hand clamped to my arm and spun me around to face him. “Avery! What’s wrong? What happened?”
My nose was stuffed and I tried to inhale without any luck. Some women were dainty and cute when they cried, but not me. I was a snotty, red-faced mess. Add to that, the freezing temperatures, and I was achapped, snotty, red-faced mess. “I don’t belong here, Chris.”
I unlocked my driver’s side door and yanked it open. “Look at me!”
His green eyes were dark in the shadow, but they traveled my face, studying me acutely. “I’m looking, Avery. I see someone who’s just as meant to be at that meeting as myself.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t say that. Not when you don’t mean it.”
“Who says I don’t mean it?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “You’re good at your job. I’m good at my job. Let’s leave it at that, can’t we? We’re both in the positions we belong.”
“What are you talking about? People who are good at their jobs getpromotions. They move up the ladder. You left before I could tell you, that’s what’s happening. I talked to my dad—”
I snorted and shook my head. “Because we slept together, you got me a raise?”
“No! I talked to my dad because you’re a damn good employee and it was about time someone recognized that this company would benefit greatly from you being elevated to a more significant role.”
My spiked eyelashes were freezing together, thanks to my tears. Was he paying me off? Somehow this was even worse than I expected. I could only imagine how the conversation went with his father… did he tell him about us? About the HR nightmare that he slept with the manager of a store?
I took a deep breath. “Us sleeping together was a mistake, Chris. But you staying in Maple Grove to launch the new store? It’s an even bigger mistake. Go back to Boston where you belong. And I’ll stay here. We both have our places in this world… and it took me until tonight to know where mine is.”
