"Fine," she said. "Then I guess I won't tell you what I just learned about him."
That made me pause. "Justlearned about him? You mean like just now?"
"No, yesterday."
Beforeshe toilet-papered him? With renewed concern, I asked, "From who?"
"Mitchell."
"Mitchell who?"
"Youknow. Your old co-worker. The guy with the spiky red hair?"
"Oh,thatMitchell." Mitchell Foster had been a rising star at Winterville Chocolates until late July when he'd quit in solidarity with Mister Grampkin.
He'd done it only a few days afterIhad, except he'd actually given a two-week notice – or at least that's what I'd heard a few months ago through the office gossip mill.
By now, it had been ages since I'd spoken to any of my former co-workers – mostly because I was too embarrassed about my lack of progress on the career front.
My sister replied, "Yeah.ThatMitchell."
"So…" I bit my lip. "What'd he tell you?"
"Well, you know how you've had trouble finding a new job?"
Did I ever."Yeah?"
"Get this." Her voice rose." It's all because of Cole Henster – just like you thought."
I didn’t believe it."What?"
"Yeah, for months, he's been giving you a terrible reference – and not just you either."
Chapter 31
Lexie
Five hours later, I was still bristling with anger. It didn't help that my shift at the candy store had run over, leaving me extra-frustrated as I stomped up the walkway to the front entrance of Winterville Chocolates.
I'd driven here straight from the candy store without bothering to change my clothesormy attitude.
As for my clothes, I was wearing a festive red skirt and my favorite holiday sweater. As for my attitude, it was so terrible, it defied description.
To think, Cole had been sabotaging my job prospects for months now. Even worse, he'd lied about it straight to my face. And this wasafterwe'd become intimate.
Okay, so we hadn't had sex, but we'd shared a different kind of intimacy, one that I'd been hoping would grow into something more – something that might've been pretty incredible if only he hadn't lived up – or ratherdown– to my worst expectations.
When I reached the big glass door that led to the corporate lobby, I yanked it open with such force, it was a wonder it didn't fly off its hinges.
As I stalked into the building, I took a quick glance at the giant brass clock on the far wall. The time now was 6:35, long past quitting time – well, for most people, anyway. But if I knew Cole, he was still in his office, probably rubbing his hands together like some sort of evil mastermind as he plotted new ways to sabotage my career.
And it wasn't justmycareer either. From Harper, I'd learned that Cole had been getting his revenge on nearly everyone who'd supported Lloyd Grampkin. Mitchell, in particular, had been devastated to learn that his reputation was now in shreds, at least among prospective employers.
Mitchell had worked in sales, and he'd always been a real go-getter, which probably explained why he'd taken it upon himself to contact other former co-workers, all of whom were finding it nearly impossible to find good jobs.
Afterward, Mitchell done somemoredigging and learned exactly why this was. Apparently, Cole Henster had been spinning quite a few tales about his former employees, who now had reputations for laziness, drinking on the job, and worse.
And I could only imagine what he'd been saying aboutme.
