Page 31 of Delayed
She reared back as if she’d been slapped.“Is that your hope?” She tugged her hand free of his.
“Absolutely not.” He pulled the businesscard from his back jean pocket and slid it across the table. Thiscould ruin everything, but he couldn’t help but plant the seed.“But since we’re talking about scenarios, this is also one.”
“What’s this?” She glanced at the card thenup at him.
“Janella’s business card from WesleyMarketing. She does the marketing for the brewery and had mentionedat our last meeting that they had a spot open for a seniorcreative.”
“I have a job.” She pushed the card back tohim and frowned.
“I know you do, but it never hurts to haveoptions in your back pocket.” Everything she’d conveyed to himregarding her job and potential promotion centered around hercompetition for the role. This Jacob character seemed to have theupper hand by weaseling his way into the good graces of the CEO. Hehoped she received the promotion she’d been vying for—at least mostof him hoped she got it, he couldn’t help but feel that perhaps thedecision had already been made and her employer was just trying tosee how many hoops she’d be willing to jump.
“Is this your way of hinting that thisrelationship will require me to sacrifice my career?” She pursedher lips and her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Sure, he wanted themto be closer and he didn’t quite know what the long-term held ifthey both worked an hour and a half apart, but he would neverrequest that she give up her career.
“It feels like it.” She leaned back andcrossed her arms.
“Sunshine, I hope you get this promotion. Ireally do. I see how much you want it. I see how hard you’veworked.” He paused. “But I also want you to know that your talentscould be used in many more places if they don’t recognize yourworth.”
She glowered.
“Look, you don’t have to call or emailJanella. Just tuck the card in your wallet in case one day you wantto explore something else. And if you never do, then you can throwit out.” He slid the card back across the table.
Rex took the last bite of his breakfast andpushed back from the table, gathering their plates and bringingthem to the sink. He rinsed the dishes and slid them into thedishwasher.
“I’m going to take a quick shower.” Annastood and walked out of the kitchen.
When he turned around, he noticed thebusiness card no longer sat on the table. A grin split his lips.Maybe this would work out.
Chapter Seventeen
Anna paced her small office space. She’d hada long, glorious weekend with Rex. He’d returned from Georgia onWednesday and spent the remaining time with her in Tampa. Shortlyafter he’d left to catch a flight to Houston on Sunday evening,she’d received a meeting maker from her boss, John Farrow, set forMonday morning at 8:00. It had put her on edge. John wasn’t anearly bird. Almost all of her one-on-ones were scheduled for 10:00AM or later. The title of the meeting—touch base. Most of hismeetings had meticulous subject headings. It just didn’t sit wellwith her. What did “touch base” mean? Could they be making theannouncement for the new AVP position already? Maybe she wasreading too much into it.
Regardless, she hadn’t slept but a wink lastnight. Her stomach churned all night. She’d given up around 4:30,did a thirty-minute yoga practice, and jumped in the shower. Afterdowning two cups of coffee and a piece of peanut butter toast, shewalked into the office a few minutes before 7:00 and wore out thecarpet in her office for close to an hour.
At five minutes to 8:00, she knocked onJohn’s office door. “John?”
“Come in.” His voice was rough like he’djust woken up.
Anna stepped into his office. He sat rigidbehind his light oak desk looking worse for the wear. His blackhair salted with grays lay ruffled on his head. He wrung hishands.
“Rough night of sleep?” Anna inquired. Helooked like she felt. If he was about to announce her promotion, hedidn’t seem thrilled.
“Yes.” He offered her a stiff smile. “Have aseat.” He waved a hand toward one of the chairs opposite hisdesk.
Anna sat. The acid in her stomach roiled andthreatened to rise.
“I wanted to let you know … um … before anyofficial announcement was made that, well, Jacob is being promotedto Assistant Vice President of Marketing.” John pushed the lastpart of the sentence out with a whoosh of air.
Anna just sat there. Her mind emptied. Hervision blurred.
“I know that you were hoping for thatpromotion.” He squirmed in his chair.
She didn’t move. She didn’t breathe.
“Anna? Are you okay?” Concern laced John’svoice. “Do you need some water?”
“Jacob got the promotion?” Tears pricked hereyes. She blinked, trying to keep them at bay. She hated that sheresponded to her anger with tears. Tears were a sign of weakness.Deep breaths. She raced through the mantra she used to calm heremotions. Never let them see you cry or lose your shit. As she hadonce been told by Jacob—more women weren’t in positions of powerbecause of their inability to control their emotions. She couldcontrol hers.
