Chapter 32
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
MACKENZIE
Going viral isn’t what it used to be, thank God. Within a couple of days Eli and Isabella’s kiss – and his subsequent fight with Danny Hart – is just an already-stale TikTok, replaced by the latest gossip du jour. We don’t get a call from Jimmy Kimmel. No hashtags trend.
My name is barely mentioned anywhere.
Isabella also makes it clear there’s nothing between her and Eli when she does a Dirty Dancing routine with Justin and the two of them kiss heavily afterward. I have a feeling she did it on purpose to take the heat off of me, which is kind of sweet.
And so life goes on and our own lives return to normal within a matter of days.
And I have to fly back to New York to face the music. Or rather we do, because Eli is sitting by my side on the airplane, holding my hand, telling me it’ll be okay. That I’ll keep my job.
I feel strangely calm as we walk through the arrivals terminal, where his brother Holden, is waiting for us.
I already like him a lot. He’s the quiet one of the family.
Last week when they all came back to Gramps’ place after we left the arena – don’t ask – I got to spend more time with all of Eli’s family and I think I’m in love with them.
My younger brothers and his had a blast trash talking us all. And Myles and Liam gave me some good advice for when I talk to my boss about having a relationship with a client.
They even offered me a job if I end up getting fired.
But Holden, he’s different. He watches and listens. When he talks, it’s because he has something important to say. Maybe that’s what makes him a good doctor.
“You sure you want to head straight for the office?” Holden asks as he drives us into the city. I’m impressed by his patience when a car honks loudly because he’s stopped at a red light. I hate driving in Manhattan. I rarely do it.
But he doesn’t seem to give a damn.
“Yes, please. I have to meet my boss at twelve.”
Eli squeezes my hand. “I can come in with you.”
I shake my head. “You two go ahead and do… whatever it is you’ve got to do. I’ll call you once I’m done.” And by then I’ll either be packing my desk up or… I don’t know. What will I be doing? I’m not sure.
It’s been months since I’ve walked into Warner Power’s lobby, and everything feels completely alien. It’s too clean, too bright. People don’t shout at each other. It’s like the place has no soul.
Or maybe it was sold to the devil.
I press my security pass onto the electronic reader, waiting for the metal waist-high gate to swing open, but instead a red light appears. My stomach twists, because if they’re firing me this is a hell of a way to find out.
The security guard walks over and checks my pass. “When were you last here?” he asks.
“A few months ago.”
“That explains it. We had a reset last month. Been catching all the consultants by surprise. You guys barely come in here, do you?”
“If we’re not with a client we’re not earning,” I say, repeating the mantra that’s been beaten into me since day one of working for Warner Power.
“Billable hours.” He nods. “Saw all about that on a TV series. Suits was it?” He takes my pass and walks over to the little waist heigh desk with a computer on it, next to the gate.
“People working all the hours God sends and still panicking that they’re not earning enough.
When does it stop?” He presses my card against a reader and types something into the laptop.
“Nobody gets to stand and smell the roses anymore, do they?”
“What are roses?” I ask and he laughs, passing me back the card.
“It should work now. Have a nice day.”
Carmine is at the front desk when I walk out of the elevator and into our offices. “Miss Hunter,” he says, smiling.
“Hi Carmine. How’s it going?”
“Good as always.” He glances down at his laptop. “Mr. Power has asked that you go straight to his office.”
I take a deep breath. “Okay.” If they fire me it’ll be Carmine who has to escort me out of the building. I’ve seen him do it before, his thick muscled arms carrying boxes of personal belongings as the poor person who’s just lost their job trails behind him in tears.
I can’t even remember what’s in my desk anymore.
Probably a change of pantyhose because those damn things always run.
And a few cereal bars for the days when I don’t have time to eat lunch.
I think there might be a pair of sneakers under my desk, put there years ago when I had the great idea of going for a walk every lunchtime to get some exercise.
I used them exactly once.
When I reach Mr. Power’s office his assistant nods me in, and I take a deep breath before I knock at his door.
“Come in.”
I do as I’m told, pushing it open to find Kenneth Power and my boss, Mark, sitting at his desk. They both look up at me as I walk inside.
“Um, hi.” I attempt a smile. I just want this over with. I know I messed up, and could have caused so many problems.
But really, I didn’t. I just didn’t.
“Mackenzie,” Mr. Power says. “Take a seat.”
I slide into the empty chair next to Mark. He lifts his brows at me but says nothing. Some things don’t change. He’s still talking with his eyebrows.
“So,” Mr. Power says, steepling his fingers as he leans his elbows on his desk. “I guess we have some things to talk about.”
I shift in my seat. “I guess we do. And I’m extremely sorry if I brought the company into disrepute.”
Mark’s brows knit. “Disrepute?”
I swallow. “By having a relationship with a client. I’m sorry. I know it’s unprofessional.” A firing offense. “I didn’t mean to cause any issues.”
“What are you talking about?” Mr. Power asks.
“The press conference.”
He and Mark exchange glances. “Where you talked about what happened years ago?”
I nod. “And that I’m in a relationship with Eli Salinger. The head coach of the Mavericks.”
“But he’s not our client,” Mark says, glancing at Kenneth Power again. “Your grandfather is.”
“I told Mark about your relationship to the team,” Mr. Power says. “I figured since it’s open knowledge now that would be okay.”
“Of course.” I nod. “So I completely understand if you need me to leave. All I’d ask is that you let me resign instead of firing me.
It’ll look better on my résumé.” And that really isn’t a lot to ask.
I’ve worked my ass off for this company.
Yes, I broke their rules and made them look bad, but surely they could do this one thing.
I need to work to survive, after all.
“I’m sorry, what?” Mark shakes his head. For once his brows stay still. “You think we’re firing you?”
Mr. Power starts to laugh. “What is this, the dark ages? Why would we fire you for being in a relationship?”
“Um, isn’t it in my contract? No fraternizing with clients?”
“Well, yes,” Mr. Power concedes. “But that’s to protect us. And it’s good etiquette for the most part. But we’re not inflexible. If staff members become involved with somebody who works in a client’s location and they come and talk to us about it, we’re amenable to talking about it.”
“The hours we all work, if you don’t date somebody in the same office, you’re never going to date,” Mark adds. “My wife used to work here.”
“I was going to talk to you about it,” I tell Mr. Power. “Once the exhibition game was over. Things just went a bit awry.”
Mark smiles at me. “I know you would have. You’re a professional. That’s not why we’ve asked you to come here.”
“It isn’t?” I’m still so confused. Thinking about how I won’t have to pack up those barely used sneakers.
“We want to give you a promotion,” Mr. Power says. “The one you worked so hard for.”
“A promotion?”
“The one we talked about when we last spoke,” he says, giving me a strange look. “Remember?”
“I remember.”
“I know we said it would be after the end of the project, and you’re not quite there yet, but I’ve spoken to Wayne and he’s amenable to releasing you early. We can send another consultant down to finish things off, while we put you at the head of your new team.”
“You’re going to be a partner, Mackenzie,” Mark says. “Congratulations.” He shakes my hand and I shake it back, but my head is spinning with thoughts.
I’ve always dreamed of a promotion. Becoming a partner at a firm like Warner Power means you’ve pretty much made it in life. Yes, I’ll be working harder than ever because now half my job would be schmoozing clients and finding new ones, but the rewards are huge.
And more than anything it’s the kudos that matters. It’s the equivalent of winning the Stanley Cup.
So why do I want to cry?
“When would I come back?”
“Next week. We have a big project we want you to bid on. You’ll need to build your team,” Mark says. “I’ll be sorry to lose you as part of mine.”
There’s ringing in my ears. Next week. I won’t even get to stay and see the Mavericks to the end of the season. I won’t have Goran bringing me coffee every morning. I won’t be eating hot dogs at intermission.
My stupid heart is aching.
“I…”
“Speak to Rina on the way out,” Mr. Power continues. “She’ll organize the concierge service to bring all your things home. She’ll also arrange for your new office.” He lifts a brow. “With a corner view.”
“They’re the best.” Mark grins.
I open my mouth to say something, but no words come out. I need to talk to Eli. I need to think about if this is really what I want to do.
And I can’t get my thoughts straight in here.
“Can I think about it?” I ask Mr. Power.
He exchanges glances with Mark. “Um, yes?”
“Thank you,” I say, pushing my chair away from the desk and standing.
I need to call Eli, but not from the office. There are too many ears, too many gossips. I rush for the elevator and punch the button, grabbing my phone as I step inside.
But of course there’s no signal. Stupid metal cages. And though there’s only one floor to go, it takes forever.
Long enough for me to envision a thousand scenarios. How is it that you can get everything you want and it still feels like you’re missing something?