Chapter 39 – Andrea
THIRTY-NINE
ANDREA
Later that afternoon, David pulled to the curb and helped me out of the town car.
I wiped my tears with a Kleenex, trying not to cry so hard that I made myself sick all over again.
I carried my duffel bag inside Everly’s brand-new condo, holding back tears with every step forward.
“Let me help you with those,” Dave said, taking them from me. “Please, Miss Stone.”
He carried the bags to the guest bedroom and hit the lights. Ever the gentleman, he pulled back the sheets on my bed, but the last thing I wanted to do was lie down.
“Can you do me a huge favor, Dave?” I asked.
“Name it.”
“If Mr. Cross asks where you last took me—”
“When he asks, you mean,” he corrected me.
“Yes, when.” I swallowed. “Can you tell him it was at the Grand Alaskan Hotel near Wall Street? And that’s where I’m staying for a while?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
“Thank you.” I pulled him close, hugging him. “Thank you for everything. I wish there was a way I could pay you for all you’ve done these past several months.”
“I’d never accept it from you.” He patted my back before slowly releasing me. “It’s been a pleasure, plus I’ve gotten a front-row seat to history.”
“History?”
“First person to ever tell Mr. Cross ‘no’ and get away with it, and first person to ever make him seem like an actual human being.” He smiled. “I’m in awe.”
I tried to think of something else to say—something more fitting for our goodbye—but he saved me from an awkward closing.
“Call me if you ever need anything else,” he said. “I won’t tell Mr. Cross. Best of luck, Miss Stone.”
He walked away, and the moment the door shut, my heart finally gave in and fell out of my chest.
Tears streamed down my face as I paced the floor, heaving.
“Such a liar,” I hissed under my breath. “Foolish, foolish girl.”
“Um…” Everly stepped inside my bedroom, arms crossed. “You want to tell me what’s wrong, or continue attempting to put a hole in my floor?”
“I want to keep wearing a hole into the floor.”
“Okay then.” She shrugged. “Well, it’s good to see you here, but I’ll be in my room if you need me.”
“Screw Harrison Cross. Screw him and his entire life.”
Her eyebrow lifted.
“I should’ve known better, Everly.” I shook my head, pacing again. “I should’ve listened to you and Lisa.”
“About what exactly?”
“Everything,” I said. “He’s an evil person who only cares about money.”
“I’m pretty sure he cares about you, too…”
“What did you just say?” I narrowed my eyes. “Who are you right now?”
“I misspoke, sorry.” She gave me a sympathetic smile. “Tell me all the ways I was right about your soulless egomaniac boyfriend.”
“Ex-boyfriend.”
“Since when?”
“Since today. While he was literally screwing me in his bed and all over the office, he was stabbing me in the back and lying to my face.” My voice cracked. “Can you promise not to judge me for the next twenty minutes?”
She nodded and plopped onto the couch, patting the cushion beside her.
I sank down and leaned against her shoulder.
“He’s laying off nearly half the staff,” I said. “He promised me he wouldn’t lay off a single soul.”
She clasped my hand.
“If you look at the numbers, there’s really no way around it, but I thought…” I paused. “I thought he, of all people, would find a different way, and that he wouldn’t lie to me.”
“I thought you made him put everything in writing.”
“I did.” I paused. “He has the best lawyers in the world, so I’m sure there’s some clause that makes his promise invalid.”
“Are you still going to work as the CFO?” she whispered.
“No.” Hot tears spilled before I could stop them. “I’m not taking anything else from him except my last paycheck and the bonus benefits… Then again, he might decide to renege on those, too.”
Everly went still, watching me.
“Okay,” I said. “Go ahead. Let me have it. Pile on extra pettiness, hundreds of ‘I told you so’s.’”
“No.” She shook her head slowly. “I’m not going to do that.”
“Until later?”
“Until never.” She sighed. “There’s no point. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I slept with my boss.”
“I know, but…” She wiped my tears with her shirt. “It’s because you have feelings for him.”
“Had. Past tense.”
“Okay, fine.” She touched my arm. “Are you planning to talk to him anytime soon?”
I shook my head.
“So, how exactly are you going to quit?”
“By not showing up anymore,” I said, letting her wipe my face again. “He’ll get the point eventually.”