Page 13 of Undeniable

I typed out my name and sat back with a satisfied sigh. “There.”

But when I heard a telltale whoosh of an email sending a second later, I bolted upright. “No! No. No. No.” I tapped at the screen frantically, trying to unsend the email, to take back the words I’d said. But it was too late.

The phone fell from my hands, and I hung my head. “This is bad. So, so bad.”

When I peeked up at Alyssa from beneath my chestnut hair, she didn’t look nearly as frazzled as I felt. And if I wasn’t mistaken, she looked rather amused as she patted me on the shoulder. “It’ll be okay.”

“No.” I navigated to the internet browser, searching for ways to unsend my email, to no avail. I finally gave up and tossed my phone into my purse with a huff.

“It was totally unprofessional. I could get—” I gasped, the realization dawning on me. “I could get fired.”

“You’re not going to get fired, Olivia. Connor doesn’t know you work for Igloo Books. For all he knows, you’re just another random volunteer.”

“Yeah, but…” I covered my face with my hands and shook my head. “I was so incredibly rude.”

“Like he wasn’t?”

“And that’s supposed to justify my response?” I stood, knowing it was getting late, and we needed to head back to the office. “I never should have listened to you. ‘Just type out the email,’” I said in a poor attempt to mimic her sultry voice. “Just imagine what you’d say if you could.”

She wrapped up the rest of her sandwich and followed me to the door. “So you showed him you have a backbone, that you’re not going to take his shit. Good for you.”

“No.” I shook my head. “This is sonotgood for me. I’m supposed to be showing how well this program can work, not undermining it by insulting my fellow participants. If anyone were to find out… If Seth…” I felt sick.

Oh god. Goodbye, promotion.

She threw her hands in the air, as if I was exasperating, not the other way around. “If you’re really that concerned, tell Connor you sent it by mistake. Or—” She held up a finger. “That it was intended for someone else.”

I laughed. “Someone else? I think it’s pretty obvious he was the intended recipient.” I stopped midstride on the sidewalk. “Maybe my dad knows someone who can take it back. He’s got to have some tech wizard who can erase it.”

“Olivia.” She grasped my shoulders, forcing me to look at her. “Take a deep breath.”

I did as she said, though my heart was still racing. I couldn’t believe I’d typed those words, let alone sent them.

“Your email wasn’tthatbad in the grand scheme of things.” Her calm tone was at direct odds with the churning of my stomach.

“Not that bad?” My eyes bulged. “I called him an asshole and insinuated that he was a pussy.”

She scrunched up her nose. “Okay, well, it wasn’t great. But it could be worse.”

I shook out of her hold, digging around in my purse for my phone. “If I can’t take it back, I should at least apologize.”

“Nope.” She grabbed it out of my hand. “Nuh-uh. You should never apologize for standing up for yourself.”

I sighed, sensing that I needed to step away from the situation. As much as I hated to admit it, I’d allowed my emotions to get the best of me. And I never let that happen. Not when my parents told me they were getting divorced, not even when rumors circulated in high school that my mom was sleeping with one of the teachers.

Whatever happened, I rarely allowed myself to show any outward emotion. I rarely let anything get to me. But this man—this asshole, Connor—had gotten under my skin.

One email exchange with a man I didn’t know, and I’d completely lost my cool. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

CHAPTERFOUR

“Is something amusing, Cujo?” Tatum asked. It was nearly the end of my second therapy session, and it hadn’t gotten any easier.

I hit the power button on my phone and flipped it facedown on my thigh. “No.”

“Good. Because I’d hate to think that you were laughing when I was asking you an important question about your childhood.” He glared at me as if challenging me to disagree.

I was already on thin ice. I wasn’t doing myself any favors by zoning out during mandatory therapy.

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