13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Emma
"Soooo…" Cassie said as she came over to my desk. "I'm guessing based on the lack of updates that things didn't go so well yesterday?"
"Take whatever your worst possible scenario was and double it."
"Oh, honey, what happened?"
"The executive I was meeting with? He turned out to be my ex-boyfriend," I groaned.
Her eyes widened. "No!!"
"Yes!! It was horrible!"
"What's he doing here?" Cassie asked skeptically.
"Making me miserable."
She scoffed. "Besides that. I'm sure there's another reason he's here."
"No, seriously. He said he picked the island to make me miserable."
"Did he really?"
I paused before clarifying, "Well, not in those words. But it was clear that was what he meant. He said he picked the island because of me, and because it was so special to me that it must be a special place."
"That sounds...nice?" she asked, clearly confused.
"Trust me, it’s not,” I argued. “He's pissed I left him to come home and wants to get back at me."
"So, he's basing his business decisions and financial future around getting revenge against you?"
"It's crazy! How can I possibly reason with crazy?"
"Doesn't sound like you can."
"Exactly!” I huffed. “But if I don't, by the time he realizes I was right and he's wasting time and money on the island, it'll already be too late for the trains."
"I didn't take you for a quitter," Cassie challenged.
My heart leapt into my throat at that as I forced out a reply. "What? I'm not, but what else can I do? I don't have his money or influence."
"But he doesn't have your drive and determination, or your passion for this island and the trains," Cassie insisted.
I fought to keep my face neutral at the “passion for the trains” comment, but she wasn't wrong about that, or any of the other things she'd said.
Maybe there was something to do. I gathered up my binder with my flyers and petition in it and said, "You're right. I needed that, thank you."
"You've got this!" she encouraged me as I headed out the door. "And don't worry! If today doesn't work, you'll have the whole weekend to brainstorm."
I laughed at that, replying, "So glad you believe in me," as I exited.