Page 69 of Knocked Up by my Rival

“I really need to talk to you—”

I heard someone talk to Mackenzie in the background before she addressed me again.

“Sorry, Troy. I have to go. I guess I’ll see you at Johnson’s office after lunch.”

“No, Mackenzie, just—”

She ended the call before I could say anything else.

Shit. I was in trouble. Alotof trouble.

I dialed Scott’s number.

“Can you talk?” I asked the same question I’d asked Mackenzie.

“Yeah, I just got out of surgery. What’s up?”

Thank God someone was able to have a conversation with me.

“Mackenzie and I are presenting today.”

“Okay,” Scott said, showing me he was listening.

“I didn’t tell her.”

“What?” Scott asked, the shock clear in his voice. “Why the fuck not?”

“I couldn’t,” I said. “It’s been a really tough time, and I couldn’t find a chance to.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“Present, I guess,” I said and let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do. I don’t have much of a choice.”

“You always have a choice,” Scott said.

“I can’t talk to her until the presentation; she’s in a meeting until then, and when we’re there… well, it won’t make much of a difference then, will it? There’s nothing I can do.”

“I’d let her have the contract,” Scott said simply. “Let her have your presentation, if that’s what it takes.”

“What!?” I cried out.

“What’s the alternative?” Scott asked.

I bristled, irritated with his suggestion, irritated with myself.

“I don’t know,” I said after thinking for a moment.

“Everyone has a choice,” Scott said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I don’t get the contract!” I cried out.

“But you get the girl.”

“Relationships don’t last."

“That’s your excuse? You’re going to let this go on because you figure it’ll fail eventually, anyway?”

“Don’t tell me that people stick around,” I snapped. “Don’t tell me that life isn’t full of heartache and pain.”

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