“Look, I’m not intimidated by you the least bit, Danvers. You want my job, you can have it. You’ll never find someone to run this place like I have for the past fifteen years. Now you listen to me. Haley Spencer is something–you’re right about that. But you’re letting the emotions you have for her get in the way of business. Mark my words, if you throw money at her like this, she’ll run.”
“I’ve heard enough.” I was ready to fire him on the spot, but he continued.
“I care about you, Parker. I can see you’re upset because this surprised you. Don’t let it ruin your business sense. Okay? I’ll do what I can to negotiate with her, but if you even touch this, the whole thing blows up. You’ll get slapped with that lawsuit, lose everything, and Haley will never speak to you again. Let me handle this.”
Tom walked out like he owned the place, but all I could think was how the hell was I going to get through a five-day trip with her without letting on how hurt I was?
21
HALEY
Istepped out of the shower, toweling off while I listened to the news on the television in the other room. Parker had it turned all the way up so he could sit on the balcony and still hear it. It was so loud we couldn’t really hold a conversation, so I’d excused myself and decided to shower. I hoped maybe he’d be done by the time I got out, but the television still blared.
As I dried my hair and dressed, I couldn’t help but feel upset. It had been four days and Parker had been distant. We visited Santa Monica Pier and watched the sun set over the Pacific, but our conversations had been shallow, more about the weather or the way the waves crashed against the pillars of the pier. I tried to initiate sex a few times, but Parker had a headache or was too tired. I didn’t want to seem uncaring, so I didn’t press the issue, but I was hurt.
Why would he invite me on a trip, then be distant and cold the entire time? I hadn’t done anything that I could think of to upset him. When I was packing, just before my interview, Parker had seemed so happy about the trip, but when he picked me up, all he did was work, constant phone calls and emails. His laptopdidn’t get put away until he was forced to stow it for takeoff, and then he pulled it back out the minute we were airborne.
Tomorrow was our last day here, and I wanted to see things. I dragged myself out of the bathroom and made my way to the balcony where Parker sat with his phone pressed to his ear, talking. I hoped my presence would pique his interest, but he held up a finger to inform me that he was too busy to talk, so I slunk back inside the room and sat on the foot of the bed. I turned the TV down and changed the channel, finding a rerun of a sitcom to entertain myself.
Only moments later, Parker stepped into the room with a scowl. “I was listening to the news.” His phone was no longer glued to his ear.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were on the phone. I’ll put it back.” I picked up the remote, which I had laid on the bed beside me, but he sighed heavily and shook his head.
“Don’t bother. I have to step out anyway.” He kissed me on the forehead chastely and reached for his suitcase, out of which he pulled a tie. “Possible investor wants to meet for brunch.”
I nodded, understanding that he was doing business even though we discussed having a vacation. It was about all he’d done this whole trip, anyway. Only, this time when he told me that yet again, he was leaving me alone, I wasn’t able to hide my disappointment.
“Something wrong?” He whipped the tie around his neck and tied it up faster than I could tie my shoelaces. He had a lot of practice, I supposed.
I shrugged and looked up at him. “I just thought we’d be spending more time together. We haven’t even made love.” I picked at my fingernails, turning my eyes away from him. “I feel sort of lonely. I wanted to see the city with you today. Is it possible to do the investor thing tomorrow before we leave?”
Parker looked uncomfortable, as if he didn’t want to be alone with me or something. He stood across the room, staring in the mirror at his reflection as he straightened the tie and folded his collar down. His expression stayed as stoic as it had been all weekend, but I could see something in his eyes I didn’t like.
“No, Haley. I have to do this today, right now, actually. It will be huge for the paper. I’m sorry.” His tone was stern. I could tell I had upset him.
“But I—” I started to protest and cut myself short. “Yeah, okay.”
“What now?” He turned to face me and glowered at me. “I have to do this, okay? I know you can’t understand, and I’m sorry about that, but I don’t have time to sit and bicker with you about this.”
I didn’t understand at all. He wasn’t acting like the Parker Danvers I was falling in love with. This was the irritable, grumpy boss that no one liked. I felt like a scolded child and wanted to snap at him, but I bit my tongue. Instead of letting my anger out, I simply asked, “Why did you want me to take a trip with you if you were just going to work the whole time? I wanted to connect with you, you know? Have sex, maybe? See the city. Go on a few dates.”
Parker sighed through his nose and pursed his lips. “I have to go, Gordon is waiting.” Without another word, he took his grumpy ass and marched out the hotel room door. I felt like I wanted to cry, but no tears would come. I watched him leave and didn’t try to stop him.
If he didn’t want to see the city with me, I’d just see it by myself. I wanted to get a feel for the way life was here in LA because if Global offered me the job, I had to know what I was getting into. And given the strange change of attitude Parker seemed to be having, I felt a bit more at ease with the idea of leaving Chicago now.
I strapped my shoes on and grabbed my phone, wallet, and a jacket and headed out. An Uber picked me up outside the front of the hotel and took me to my first destination—theGlobalGazettebuilding. The massive globe logo forged out of welded iron was impressive, protruding from the front of the building. The Uber driver—Becca—was kind, offering to be my escort for the full day. She was happy to drive me everywhere so long as I was paying her rates, so I settled in and got to know her a bit better. An LA native, she answered so many of my questions.
At lunch, she showed me the most amazing Latin bistro, where we had the best ropa vieja. I found out she was a writer too, but she wrote fiction stories, not news articles. I enjoyed chatting with her. She took me to see the Hollywood sign, past the homes of a few prominent celebrities in Bel Air, and we saw some of the stars on Hollywood Boulevard. I was exhausted by about four p.m. and asked her to take me back to the hotel. I told her about the potential job, and we exchanged numbers in case I made the move.
The longer the day went on, the more confident I was that I could live in LA and be comfortable. It was something I had known about myself to begin with, but being here and seeing it close up made it real. I paid Becca’s tab and made my way back up to the seventh floor, having not heard from Parker all day. When I let myself into the room, I saw a note taped to the television stating that he was out and wouldn’t be back until late, to not wait up.
I crumpled the note and tossed it in the trash can, then peeled off my clothing and crawled into bed. It was early for sleeping, but coming back to an empty room crushed any energy I had left. Parker didn’t even realize that his lack of attention or compassion on this trip was sealing our fate. He was upset with me and refused to talk with me about whatever it was I haddone to hurt him. It didn’t bode well for a healthy relationship, especially not when he told me he loved me.
That wasn’t love. That was immaturity. And I needed a man who could handle his emotions enough to just communicate.
22
PARKER
