“Why don’t you take a seat, Rosie.” He gives me a tight-lip smile and unease settles over me.Oooookay,well that isn’t unnerving at all.
I hesitate for a second but keep a tight grip on my mask as I take a seat and give him a look of pure confidence. Even though I’m mentally going through every single decision I’ve made since being promoted, combing through every email, interaction, and communication of any kind. But I find nothing he can use against me. Because my work is immaculate. I know that, he knows that, the board sure as heck knows that…so why do I get that itching feeling under my skin like the rug is about to be pulled from under me.
“There have been…things that have been brought to my attention.” Chris looks like he’s sweating right now, and I shiftnervously on my seat as I try to remain calm and confident. IknowI haven’t done anything wrong, so this has to be something not that serious and Chris just has no idea how to deliver information.
“Things?” I press, because I’m not really having a great time hanging out in the purgatory of suspense right now. Chris sighs, running a hand across his jaw like he’s collecting his thoughts.
“I understand that you’ve entered into a…relationship with Caleb Smith from Karvelas Media?”
Woah,HUH?
Chris must see the astonished confusion across my face and takes my silence for confirmation. And though I’d like to rebut that we arenotin a relationship, I’m so stunned at where this conversation is going that I can’t even form the words.
“Caleb and his team were in charge of interviewing and making recommendations for the EIC position of the new imprint. It has been made clear that your…” Chris closes his eyes for a beat, looking horribly uncomfortable as he continues. “…intimacy with Caleb has given you an advantage in the selection process.”
I can feel my blood slowly begin to boil. “I’m sorry…I’m confused…what?” I raise a hand to interrupt Chris, shaking my head to make sure I’m hearing this correctly. “What does my personal life have to do with my job? I knew Caleb personally, but he’s a professional, and I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just accuse me of sleeping my way to a promotion.” I let him see the ire in my eyes, the anger at his despicable words shining through my calm and composed words. Chris straightens and clears his throat.
“Rosie, some people have expressed concerns over the selection process being unfair, and that your flair for dramatics in flaunting your new relationship in the office is unprofess?—”
“All right, let’s pause for a moment.” I take a breath to calm my racing heart so I don’t lash out. Because I am Rosie Garcia, I am very much in control here. I let my mind settle so I can be very, very clear. “Let’s stop pretending that ‘some people’ isn’t Daniel, because you and I both know it is.” His rapid blinking confirms my thoughts, and I make a silent vow to put roaches in his coffee tomorrow. “Secondly, I have worked for you for over five years and worked my ass off for every one of them. I have exceeded every bar you’ve set. I have my name on books that have won awards and earned this company award-winning authors in return. And you’re about to wipe all that away and reduce me to someone who threw my clothes off to get where I am right now? Are you really taking that path, Chris?” The anger is clear in my tone, not able to stop the rumble of my voice as it delivers the underlying threat there. But despite my rage at the accusation—because, like fuck I’d need to use sex to get my promotion; my work ethic and performance speak for themselves—I’m really confused.
“Rosie—”
“No, before you start making excuses, where are you going with this? Why accuse me at all? What’s going on?” I slowly stand and move closer so he has no choice but to look me right in the eye, which is exactly what he’s avoiding right now. I click my fingers in the coward’s face to get his attention. “Chris. Look me in the eye right now and tell me what is going on.”
He heaves another breath, and with defeated eyes, he turns to me. If I wasn’t busy trying to stop myself from throwing up from how quick my stomach drops, I’d almost recognize the apology in his eyes when he says, “Rosie, I have to remove you as editor in chief.”
CHAPTER 30
a prisoner of my own life
Rosie
“Say that again,” I breathe as I fall back into my chair.
“Look, it’s not how I wanted this to go, but given the circumstances?—”
“Circumstances? Are you kidding right now? Is this a joke?” I look around the office, and a little hysterical laugh works its way up my throat. “Tell me Ashton Kutcher is about to jump out from behind a door or something and I’ll forgive you for taking five years off my life right now.” Chris rubs at his face and then looks me dead in the face, saying nothing. Rage. Pure hot rage floods my system and I get back to my feet. “You cowardly piece of shit, Chris,” I hiss at him, pointing right in his face.
“Rosie—”
“No. Tell me who put this in your head, tell me right goddamn now.”
“It was Daniel,” he says under his breath, and that hysterical laugh leaves me again.
“Now tell me who you’re going to replace me with.” My fingers scrunch into fists as I refrain from slapping his stupid, idiot face.
“Daniel.” It’s barely a whisper, and my head throws back on a laugh before I look back at Chris.
“So, let’s make this perfectly clear, shall we.” I lean my hands on his desk and get right in his face, making sure he hears every fucking word. “You’re taking away my job—that I earned and wasunanimouslyselected for,by not just Caleb, but both his coworkers, as well as their CEO and the entire board of both Andersen SchulzandMeyers—because of a private, consensual relationship I entered into with someone not under your employment.” I let the words hang in the air, seeing the wheels turn behind Chris’s eyes as I continue, “And instead you hand it to who? Tell me again the full name of the person you’re giving it to?”
Chris frowns and starts to stand, his frustration getting the better of him. “Listen, Rosie, this is unprof?—”
“Unprofessional? You sit the fuck down right now,” I growl at him. He only curls his hands into fists and remains standing. “Answer my goddamn question.”
“Daniel Loughty,” he says with gritted teeth.
“Oh! You mean the guy who hasn’t signed an author in two months? The guy who claims it’s the writers that suck and not him? Or is it the guy who is constantly having sexual assault complaints against him from people whoareunder your employment? Is that the Daniel we speak of? Be so fucking for real right now. The reason you are doing this is because I don’t have a dick in my pants and the first excuse you get to replace me with a man, no matter how trash he is, you take it, because you’re a coward.” Oh yeah, Chris is flustered all right. There is a vein in his forehead bulging, and though I am significantly shorter than Chris, I feel miles above him in this moment.
