Page 218 of The Seven Rings
She had to turn away, walk away, walk back. “I’m trying to put myself in your place, and I know I’d be angry and frustrated. I wouldn’t handle either one as well as you do. That’s your nature. It’s how you get things done, and over these past months, I’ve really come to rely on that.”
“But.”
“It’s not time to confront her like that. I know it. I swear I know it down to the bone, Trey, and I’m asking you to trust me there.”
She laid a hand on his heart. “I can’t tell you not to take that chance. That shouldn’t be how we work. But I’m asking you to trust me on it. To stand by.”
“I do trust you. And there’s going to come a time, Sonya, when I’ll expect you to trust me on this same thing.”
“All right. We need Astrid’s portrait.”
“You don’t hang it without me. If you find it, you don’t put it up without me and Owen here.”
Meeting his eyes, she skimmed a finger down his tie.
“That’s a promise. It’s for the four of us. I know that, too. Since you’ve got court, why don’t you leave Mookie here? Then I’ll have two fierce dogs looking out for me.”
“Fierce, right. Go get ready.” Leaning down, he kissed her. “Text me if.”
“If. Good luck in court.”
When she went out, Trey looked at the dogs. “Go on. Stick with her.”
Since his coffee had gone cold, he poured it out, made another for a go-cup.
Clover assured him with Rascal Flatts and “I Won’t Let Go.”
“I know. And neither will I.”
Promptly at nine-thirty, Sonya joined the video conference. With only weeks left before the Portland store’s grand opening, the final layer of advertising came into play.
And her part in the campaign approached the finish line.
As the meeting wound down, Burt Springer asked her to stay on after the rest of the team signed off.
“Expectations not only met but exceeded.”
“It’s been a pleasure, Burt, as always.”
“I know Miranda will contact you directly, but I’m authorized to tell you the Ryder family will offer you a contract as consultant for our digital marketing.”
“Oh. You have such a solid team.”
“We do, and we’d like you to be part of it. As consultant, you’d continue to work remotely on an as-needed basis. Something to think about.”
“I can promise I will. Burt, thank you for trusting me, for giving me this opportunity.”
“You earned it, and it didn’t hurt my feelings when you proved me right. You take care, Sonya. We’ll talk again.”
“Wow. Wow and more wow.”
Shuffling down the hall, Cleo asked, “Wow what?”
“Good morning! What a morning. In order: It snowed for about five minutes, I saw Jerome, I just finished a very upbeat meeting with Ryder, and Burt told me they’re going to offer me a digital media consultant contract.”
“All that? Before I have coffee?”
“All that.”
