Chapter 24
Lia
Raph and I stopped back at the hotel to give my mother her keepsakes from Henry’s room, but she was too tired for a visit, so we got back on the road. The sun had already set, and we had a lot of travel ahead, so leaving right away was for the best.
On the way back, we traded stories about our lives since the day we met with our fingers intertwined. I told him about my time in high school, and picking a college far enough away that I could get out of the house. He told me about his time in a corner bar after getting to New York, before he’d gotten into Experience.
I told him how I’d talk to him and imagine him coming back for me when I was lonely, and he told me how hard it was to adjust to having people around who cared. I told him about meeting Shell, and he told me about Kendall and their unlikely friendship.
Our lives took different paths, both fueled by an insatiable, invariable loneliness. And that loneliness grew more pronounced with every passing mile.
As we drove, as if compelled by short time, Raph grew more formal. Gradually, he slipped back into his role as my boss, not as my lover and long-lost escape. Both hands on the wheel.
Nerves danced in my stomach, growing more insistent until we pulled into the lot of my apartment building.
“When will you be prepared to present your plans for Experience Shoreview?”
“Oh, uh, I sent the final plans to my boss. As soon as I get the green light, we can move forward. Tentatively tomorrow afternoon as scheduled?”
“That guy from the meeting?”
“That’s the one.”
“You don’t want to take another day?”
“I said I’d deliver, and I’ll do it.”
His lips pressed into a thin line as he thought it through. “Tomorrow afternoon, then.”
Bile threatened to rise in my throat. We lived in borrowed time. “Do you want to come up? It’s late.”
Raph closed his eyes on a sigh. “We both need rest. I should head to a hotel.”
I shrank back from the cold in his words. The show was over. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, then.” I opened the car, grabbed my bag, and stepped out. “Bye, Raph.”
All he did was nod. I blinked back tears as I turned away and closed the car door with a finalizing thunk.
He didn’t wait for me to get inside before he drove away.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I climbed the stairs to my floor. Every step was a struggle against my breaking heart.
Why did he spend the day with me, tell me stories, listen to mine? He wanted nothing more from me, so why take the time? Hopeless questions swam through my mind.
It was late, but I knew I couldn’t sleep. I flopped down on couch and booted up my laptop to look over my designs and check my missed emails.
The designs were perfect, ready for my meeting with Raph. The lines were crisp and told a story, the colors were on-theme, and everything had links to potential vendors and prices. It was exactly what I wanted.
I went above and beyond, and my empty mailbox didn’t shake that confidence. Now if I could only be that confident with Raph the man like with Raph my temporary boss.
Once I finally climbed into my cold, lonely bed, my tears had dried into an uncomfortable numb. A few nights and a day with Raph had him under my skin. My chest ached, a barren chasm.
What was that look in his eye? Tears welled in my eyes again and I blinked them away. I knew this going in, and was receiving what I’d agreed to. So why did it feel like getting hit by a train?
Wind-driven rain tapped against my window, reminding me it was time to return to reality, and that reality was just as cold and unfriendly as ever. I had to meet with Derrick this morning to discuss my design work, since he refused to be professional, instead opting for pettiness. Then after, I’d meet with Raph who might as well be a stranger, my temporary boss who expected excellence.
Why am I not over the moon with excitement?
This was the defining moment of my career. The golden opportunity to get out of the kick line and show my boss what I’m worth. I could get a raise, better projects, and live the life I always dreamed of. Except one thing…
“Oh, Hey, Lia. I didn’t know you were even here. Welcome back, babe.” Shell said as she passed my bedroom.
But she saw the gloom radiating off of me, and her smile faltered. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Sleepy.” Then, “You’re awake.”
“Of course. It’s Tuesday.”
“Don’t blame me for being surprised. I practically drag you out of bed every morning.”
Shell just laughed. “I’m going to make you some coffee. See you out there.”
By the time I made it to the kitchen, Shell was dressed and had my favorite to-go mug full of steaming coffee on the counter waiting for me. I didn’t know what universe I’d woken up in, but it didn’t make sense.
“Looks like you could really use the coffee. Long night?”
I picked up the mug and let my shoulders droop. “Something like that.”
“Oh, no. That doesn’t sound good. What happened?”
I paused. I didn’t want to bring it up before my meeting and mess up my makeup. Today was too important to be a tear-stained hot mess.
“Nothing, really. It was just a long day. Not enough sleep.”
“Okay, well, drink up.”
Shell didn’t seem convinced, but she wasn’t pressing me, and it made me love her more and want to confide. But I knew I wouldn’t make it through without breaking down.
“I need all the energy I can find. I have my presentation this afternoon.”
Shell clasped her hands together, then banged her fist on the table. “You’re going to be amazing, babe! Kick this thing’s ass like I know you will. Derrick’s going to be blown away!”
I smirked. Nothing could blow him away. Nothing.
Iwalked into Design Everything alongside Shell, just like I had the morning I came face-to-face with Raph, but this time there was no giggling or high spirits. Shell held my hand and squeezed to temper my wall of nerves.
”It”s going to be okay. You”ve got this in the bag, babe.”
I appreciated all the support she was doling out and wished like hell she could direct it where I needed it. The meeting wasn”t the problem, it was the man. We parted ways, promising to catch up as soon as we could.
As I got settled at my desk, my email pinged with a message from Raph. Strange.
”The meeting this afternoon won”t be necessary.
Best, R. Teresse, Owner, Experience”
I blinked at the screen. R. Teresse? What was going on? He didn”t give any followup. I sent a quick reply asking when we would reschedule when Derrick walked up to my desk.
”Good morning, Lia. It”s good to finally see you. Come into my office, would you?”
I took off my coat and followed Derrick to his office. I sat in the chair across from his desk and crossed my legs, careful not to let my anxious foot bounce.
”I”ll get right to it. Since you didn”t bother to come into work yesterday, I sent along your approved design plans to Mr. Teresse. He deserves an opportunity to review them beforehand, unbridled by the sway personal meetings can have on a man.”
My eyes widened and my nostrils flared. I straightened in my chair, uncrossing my legs and planting my feet on the floor. ”I”m not sure I understand,” I spoke carefully. There”s no way I was understanding him correctly.
Derrick was accusing me of swaying Raph”s opinion of my work with… what exactly? My femininity? Her excellent coffee-making skills? I clenched my jaw, but kept my face schooled and neutral.
”Regardless, Mr. Teresse has your designs, so expect contact. The presentation was originally this afternoon, yes?”
”He, ah, wants to reschedule, I believe. I”ll let you know when.”
Derrick sneered. ”Yes. Do.”
Always a dick, Derrick.
I had a few small projects I could work on for the day while I waited for Raph”s schedule amendments and tried to busy myself with them. Waiting another day or two shouldn”t be a big deal, since I made adjustments within the timeline.
But upon checking my email, my heart stopped.
”That won”t be necessary. Thank you for your time.
R. Teresse, Owner, Experience”
That won”t be necessary?! As in he didn”t like my designs? There was no way that was possible.
I wasn”t sure of much with Raphael Teresse. The way he”d behaved last night had shaken the confidence right out of me when it came to our personal connection. After the way we kissed, all the looks, spending so much time on heavy stuff… I bared my soul to him, and he”d done the same. But when the day was over, his professional face fell back into place like none of it registered.
But my design work for Experience Shoreview, that I was sure of. If Raph didn”t like the design, I was as good as fired. It was time to fight. I punched my arms back into my coat and walked out of the building.
My hands shook as I called his personal number.
No answer.
I called again.
No answer.
I called him again.
”What can I help you with, Ms. Hall?”
”Tell me what you didn”t like. Was it my design, or was it me?”
”It”s nothing personal. I have a business to build. That”s my priority.”
”Clearly.”
Raph sighed with irritation. ”Maybe next time, don”t rush. I understand you have a lot on your plate, but you declined to take another day for preparation. That”s not my responsibility.”
”I didn”t rush. I was positive you”d appreciate the work I put in. Consistency in color themes and the seamless movement from the dining area into the bar and into the floor and stage. This was my best work.”
Silence blared down the line. ”I saw very little consistency, actually. The bold, abrupt changes from one area to the next weren”t in line with what we discussed.”
My brows pinched. What? It was like we were talking about two different things. Then, I put two and two together. Derrick.
”Mr. Teresse, I think there”s been a misunderstanding.”
”No, Ms. Hall, there hasn”t. You sent the design along this morning. I didn”t like what I saw, so now we move on. Consider our contract terminated.”
Raph ended the call.
Oh, hell no.
I stormed back into the building and sat down at her desk, heart pounding. I checked my sent mail, and there it was. Derrick sent my plans from my email to Raph.
I opened the attachment and to my horror, I couldn”t recognize what I saw.
Derrick had kept the floor plan the same, but had changed nearly every other thing. How had he even had time for this sloppy disaster? It explained how I hadn”t heard from him all weekend.
He”d cost me the contract, the man, my dream job, my everything. Tears sprung to my eyes as I closed out all the windows.
Derrick won. He wanted to humiliate me, and he succeeded. And now he”d probably fire me for losing the contract. I stood slowly, ready to go face the smug bastard.
Shame, anger, and crippling sadness churned in my stomach as I power-walked back to his office door.
It was open, so I walked in and stood, arms crossed, waiting for Derrick to look up.
After what felt like several minutes, he finally gave me attention. ”Yes?”
”Mr. Teresse has unfortunately decided to go in another direction,” I said, seething.
Derrick turned his full attention to me. ”Is that so?”
”He wasn”t impressed with my designs, said he didn”t care for the bold, abrupt changes.”
”So you”ve lost us the contract?” Derrick stood, irritation warping his paunchy face.
”I think you lost the contract, actually.”
”You”re fired. Get out.”
I spun on my heel and left.
At least I would never have to deal with this awful man again.