Page 108 of For Wrath and Redemption
“What if we just tell them?”
She stops in her tracks, then turns to face me. Her expression is shock. Shock and concern.
“We can’t do that, Jonah.”
“Why not?”
“Because. I’m still here to work. I’m still?—”
“I’m not your job anymore, remember? You’re not employed by Innovation.”
“Yes, but I still need to maintain some semblance of professionalism. Do you know what will happen to my career if it gets out that I’m sleeping with you?”
That she’ssleepingwith me. Not dating. Not even “seeing.”
Justsleeping with me.
I try to ignore the shitty way that makes me feel, but I can’t. It echoes in my head. I scan my eyes over her face, realization hitting me in the gut and making everything worse. I breathe through my nose. I try to stop grinding my teeth before speaking.
“This is about my dad, isn’t it.”
“Has he stopped calling you?”
“No.”
“Then yeah, he has a lot to do with it.”
“Why? He’s not your boss anymore. It’s not like he can fire you again.”
My words come out harsher than I intend. I snap instead of state. My usual calm, unaffected mask is no match for these emotions. No match for Claire Davis.
Her nostrils flare. I’ve pissed her off.
“First of all, he didn’t fire me. I quit. And secondly, you know how influential your father is in the marketing world. Jonah, if he finds out about this—about us—he could seriously tank any chance I have of working in this industry again.”
“So, what? We just never tell anyone?”
She closes her eyes again. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then let me at least tell the rest of my band.”
“Therestof your band?” Her eyes fly open, then narrow at me. “What do you mean the rest?”
I sigh. “Torren knows.”
“How does Torren know?”
“You called him to come untie me from the bed, remember? He’s not an idiot.”
“Right.” She blows out a slow breath. “Right. I should have known that would happen.”
“So let me tell the rest of them.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “It’s too risky.”
“Claire, I don’t want to hide this.”
“I’m not asking you to. Now just isn’t the right time.”
