Page 30 of Sassy Love
Sweet Jesus, how quickly this day has turned to shit.
I rub a hand over my face and suck in a long, slow breath.
Serelle doesn’t sit. Instead, she wanders to her wall of treasures, pacing a small stretch of carpet as her expression moves through a thousand shades.
I lean forward and try to salvage this. “If I could?—”
Serelle shakes her head viciously, flinging a hand up.
We wait with bated breath as she paces for a few more minutes. She stops abruptly and turns to face us. Lamont gasps, holding her breath.
We took it too fa?—
“It is clear to me now that your history is more like a present issue.”
Lamont opens her mouth to respond, but Serelle glares at her. She shrinks back into her chair.
“The only way to sort through something like this is wade through it. Neither of you, from the intel I received, were given the opportunity to exercise your potential rights or legal options at Carlson’s. I blame that toxic environment for what is happening now.”
She moves to her seat and opens her laptop. Tapping on the keyboard, she cranes her neck and then taps the trackpad a few times. When she’s satisfied, she turns the computer around to face us.
“This here is your—our—solution.”
Lamont leans forward, studying the website. “It’s a resort.”
Her gaze flicks back to Serelle.
“Actually, it’s a retreat. My friend from college runs it. Their programs are designed to target this sort of thing. She owes me a favor, so it would be pro bono.” Her attention alternates between us. “I want you to pack your bags. A week should be enough time to work through the baggage between the both of you.”
“With all due respect, Serelle, I can’t just up and leave. I have a dependent. I can’t leave her alone.”
It’s as if the oxygen has been sucked from the room.
I can’t force my stare from her as she keeps her gaze on Serelle.
Lamont has a kid?
How did I not know that?
Surely that would have been on her file at Carlson’s?
“This is nonnegotiable, Carlie. Same goes for you, Lawson. We need you at your best; this will make sure you can achieve that. You can take your work with you, if you’re worried about falling behind. The activities that are hosted every day only take around four hours. That leaves plenty of time to work and get to know each other better so we have the best versions of you both. This constant war between the two of you stops now. Honestly, it would have been easier if you were screwing...”
Lamont’s jaw drops, her eyes tight with disbelief.
That’ll be the day that ice woman here thaws long enough for a man to get close enough to?—
“Now, get the hell out of my office. I’ll email the details within the hour. You leave Sunday.”
I rise from the chair and walk through the door, almost numb. It shuts behind me, and I hover a little as Lamont composes herself. “Carlie, I?—”
“Don’t fucking talk to me.”
She stalks away, hips swaying, hands curling into fists.
It’s going to be a long damn week.
Chapter 9
