Page 96 of Brooke
Her phone buzzed, signaling a text. The sound was like an arrow shooting her in the gut. She forced herself to pick it up. This text wasn’t from Axel. It was from her boss. She clicked it open.
Brooke, it’s butt early here in Manhattan and I haven’t been to bed yet because I’m furious. I had to hear from Giulia Mariani that you’re planning to expand into interior design.
Brooke felt the urge to puke. “Not this…”
She wasn’t the only one willing to dish about you showing up with Axel Erikson last night. You should see the texts! You brought him to Marcello’s party!!! To help him expand and yourself!!! When you work for ME!!! No, ma’am. Brooke, you either work in fashion for me or you don’t. I won’t even repeat what I heard about your manner with Axel.
Brooke felt a choked cry emerge from her mouth as she continued reading.
When I agreed to let you work out of Paris, I expected your continued dedication and professionalism. I did not think you needed micromanaging. But I’m telling you, if you want to work in interior design, you aren’t working for me or TRENDS. And you will stop helping Axel Erikson on company time. Your reputation reflects on me and TRENDS, and I won’t have the rumors continue about you (really nasty ones about you climbing your way into interior design horizontally), ones Giulia Mariani is all too happy to spread. So it’s your choice. I expect your answer by Monday.
Her phone started shaking in her hand, and she felt outside her body as she lowered herself onto her bed and rested the phone on her thigh. She sat there, pain racking her body while the shock numbed her skin. Coldness spread from the back of the phone. She fought for breath.
Her entire career was in jeopardy. They were calling her a slut. A scheming one.
She bent over at the waist, rocking herself. “Oh God.”
A wild keening sound forced its way out of her throat, and she pressed her fist to her mouth, trying to stop the barrage of pain pressing to get out. She knew what was next and she pressed her lips together to keep it from coming.
A knock sounded somewhere. Her eyes flashed to the door, her heart rapping in her chest.
“Brooke!I’m coming in.”
Then the door flung open. Madison’s eyes widened before she ran to her side, sitting on the bed hard enough to bounce them.
“What happened?” She grabbed Brooke’s arm tightly, her face knitted with alarm. “What’s wrong? Is it Nanine? Your dad?”
The pain of that thought pushed her over the edge. Brooke started crying. She couldn’t stop it. “No…it’s not Nanine or my dad. It’s me! It’s all falling apart. Everything I’ve worked for. Axel.”
Madison’s mouth dropped open and she pulled Brooke against her, holding her tightly. “Okay, I don’t know what happened, but we’re going to make it all right. I swear to you, Brooke. Hang on.”
She sobbed into the black cloth of Madison’s shoulder, no thread of control to hold on to now. Not after this.
“Kyle!” Madison shouted over the buzzing in her ears. “Sawyer! Thea! Come quick! Brooke needs us.”
Hearing her friends’ names had her gripping Madison’s back and crying harder. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Madison squeezed her hard. “I know when the monster can’t be stopped. You just bawl it out. I’ve got you.”
She heard the pounding of feet as everything turned hot: her tears, her face, her chest. Someone sank down on the bed next to her, wrapping her up in his muscular arms around Madison’s.
“Jesus, what is it?” Kyle asked. “Her dad? Nanine?”
“No, thank God,” Madison told him. “Something happened with her job and Axel.”
She continued to cry as she reached for her phone and fumbled with the passcode to unlock it. Handing it to Kyle, she continued to go to pieces as she shoved it in his hand.
Sawyer skidded to a halt inside her room. “Oh my God! What happened?”
“No one’s hurt,” Madison said crisply. “Kyle’s reading Brooke’s texts to find out. She can’t stop crying.”
“I’m…it’s…” She couldn’t get any more words past the pain clawing out of her.
“I’ve never seen her cry like this.” Sawyer hurried over and sat on the floor at her feet, taking her hand and gripping it, tears in his eyes. “Hey! We’re here, Brooke. Okay? We’ll fix it. Whatever it is.”
“That’s what I told her.” Madison squeezed her tighter. “Give her your handkerchief, Doc. Something.”
“Oh my God!” Thea thudded to a stop just inside the door.“Brooke!”
