I lifted my head. “The raspberry.”
Dean threw his head back in laughter. “Oh man. What are you going to do?”
I frowned and jerked back a little. “I just did it.”
Something shifted in Dean’s expression and he stood abruptly. “Well I’m going to undo it. You forced my hand back there and put Starr and me under pressure to fire one of our best. One of thecity’sbest,” he shouted. “She had a point, you may have the money but you don’t know anything about the business. If you did, you would have given her a chance to explain before letting go one of our biggest assets. He moved to the door. “I’m calling Elle. Hell, I’ll give her a promotion if that’s what it takes.”
“Don’t bother,” I muttered. “She doesn’t want it.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve known Elle for years; she loves this job. She’s remarkable at it. Last night was just—”
“Last night was my fault,” I rose to my feet and buttoned my jacket. “I haven’t known Elle very long. But she was probably right about one thing; sheisbetter than this. And I wish her well.” I crossed to Dean, who was holding the door open. I stopped before him to make myself clear. “But she won’t be coming back here.”
In the elevator, all I could think was that Isabel had been in the same one just a few minutes ago. I pushed down the annoying sting of regret of not taking the ride down with her instead of forcing her into the goddamn fishbowl.
The truth was, thisshouldn’t have been a surprise to me. I was always good at reading people; I knew when I was being lied to. In fact, thinking back now, I could have probably pinpointed exactly at what point she was lying.
But it was never about who she was or what she was passionate about, it was all superficial stuff. Stuff, as she correctly suspected, I would have guessed from someone I met at Donovan’s party.
I ran my hand through my face again as the elevator doors opened to the bright lobby and stepped out. My face burned when I found an angry tall blond shouting at the small-framed brunette.
“What do you mean you no longer owe me an explanation.”
Elle rolled her eyes and turned toward the exit. Claudia grabbed her arm, shifting her back. “Do you have any idea—”
“Claudia!” I barked from the elevator bank.
Both women turned at my voice. Elle took the opportunity to break free of Claudia’s grasp and raced out through the revolving doors.
Claudia stalked towards me. “I can’t believe you hired that woman. She’s an absolute ditz, Scott. I want answers for last night and someone better give them to me.”
“The hell do you think you’re doing putting your hands on anyone?”
That only seemed to have frustrated her even more. “I was really looking forward to yelling at someone today, Scott.”
“Get a grip Claudia.”
“Excuse me?”
“You had some ridiculous demands for their planning and they came through, unbelievably. Which reminds me why I should have never gone into business with you again. You set one foot upstairs or make any kind of threats against Elle, my business partners, or any of my staff, I will make sure that all my contacts are generously warned.”
Claudia opened her mouth, a rebuttal prepared.
“And that’s not slander, sweetheart, that’s business.”
I walked out of the building. Dark clouds had spread across the late morning sky and the wind grew strong. Thunder rolled in the distance. I hated that my first instinct was to search for her, but I knew she’d been long gone.
And it was probably better that way.
34
ELLE
I ignoredall calls for the rest of the afternoon. I did eventually acknowledge a text from Mimi shortly after I got home.
Hope you’re okay. Let me know if you want to talk. But I have to know…is that the guy you met at a party that didn’t know your real name?
I replied with a yes, and tossed my phone aside. I was done with people for the day.
