Tess #2
“I know that oversimplifies things,” I went on. “But maybe instead of worrying about all that you’ll lose, you can focus on what you’ll gain. As someone who is loved by Teyana, I bet it’s worth it.”
Kendra cocked her head, thinking. Absorbing, perhaps.
“Exactly what I needed to hear,” she said. “You’re very wise.”
Then she wiped her eyes, though there was nothing to wipe since her tears hadn’t actually made it to her cheeks—God, she was even the perfect crier—and clapped her hands together. “Which is why I have to have you as my partner.”
I nodded.
Then shook my head.
“What?” I couldn’t have heard her right.
“My partner. I know it will be a while before you can afford the buy-in, but keep making deals like this Sebastian deal we’re signing today, and it won’t take long at all.”
I shifted, crossing my legs and ignoring how wrinkled my pantsuit would be later. “Does that mean you want me to do what you do? Match up organizations with sponsors? Pitch and everything?”
“All of it. And you can keep eighty percent of your negotiated salary. The other twenty percent can help us afford a new assistant.” She grew suddenly sober.
“If you want to, I mean. But if you’re over me or Conscience Connect, I will write you a glowing recommendation and wish you the best as you go off on your own pathway.
I love you enough to lose. Whether I have to lose myself or lose you, I love you, and I hope you choose to stay. Think about it. Please.”
I didn’t have to think about it. The one offer I thought she could give me to make me stay was letting me pitch deals. Giving me a raise and offering a buy-in was beyond anything I could have imagined.
But I couldn’t agree without a semblance of negotiation. “Throw in season opera tickets, and I’m on board.”
“Done.”
We both smiled, and it felt suddenly like it had when we were in college, both of us with equal footing—or equal-er footing. When the only thing between us had been friendship, and that had been plenty.
Having my career decided was a relief, but it didn’t change the rest of my life, and soon enough that reality set in.
Today, the DRF sponsorship would be wrapped up, on paper at least. The latest contract stated the funding would take place over eighteen months, according to Kendra, who had acted as the liaison and kept me informed with brief texts over the weeks of my leave.
Eighteen months until Scott could break up with Kendra.
Would they even be able to postpone a wedding that long?
I didn’t want to think about that. We were doing a good thing for the DRF. An important thing. That was what mattered.
“Speaking as a future partner, not a nagging assistant, we should probably get moving.” I stood up and reached a hand out to help her up.
“I couldn’t decide what I should wear.” She picked up a couple of dresses from the floor. “The red? Or the peach?”
“What look are you going for?” Neither screamed professional, though both would do.
“Too sexy to resist.”
“Uh, then the red.”
She scanned over my appearance, as if really looking at me for the first time since I’d arrived. “And you’re going to wear that? Do you want to wear the peach?”
The pantsuit I was wearing was new, a present to myself with my mother’s money, and I knew for a fact it made me look powerful. At least that’s what both Tey and the saleswoman had said, and I was trusting enough to believe them. “I’ll stick with this, thanks.”
“Even though Scott is going to be there?”
Especially since Scott was going to be there. I didn’t need to walk in looking for his attention. Today would be easier ignoring our chemistry altogether.
And after today, I wouldn’t have to see him for work at all.
I tried not to be disappointed about that.
“You do know Scott and I broke up?” He’d told me she knew about us, but I had no idea if he’d updated her after I’d walked out on him.
“Yeah, but after to—” She cut herself off. “I’d better rush. Can you do me a favor and see if you can find where I left my phone?”
Future partner or not, there were some parts of our relationship that I suspected would never change. “Yep.”
Less than an hour later, we walked into the Sebastian Center and discovered Teyana waiting for us in the lobby.
“I thought you had an appointment with the specialist and the documentary people today.” I looked around, half expecting to see the camera crew.
“I did, but you know how they provide a car for me to and from? The driver brought me here afterward. When I asked why, he said they didn’t know anything except that Mr. Sebastian told him to. I hoped you’d know what was up when you got here.”
I definitely didn’t.
But I knew who did.
Narrowing my eyes, I turned to Kendra. She shrugged innocently, but she refused to meet my gaze. Or Teyana’s. She obviously knew something.
“There’s Sarah and Peter,” she said, deflecting. “We should grab the elevator with them.”
She hurried to catch the employees from the DRF. We towed just far enough behind that Tey and I could talk without being heard.
“She’s up to something,” she said suspiciously.
“She knew you were coming for sure. It took her forever to choose what to wear.” I didn’t add that Kendra had also neglected to put her engagement ring on. I didn’t want it to seem like it was something I noticed.
“Really?” Her voice lilted up with cautious excitement. “She does look damn good in red. Bitch.”
It was strange to watch her around Kendra now. I’d assumed that the snarky remarks Tey always made were about my relationship with Kendra and not her own. Now I saw the resentment of their situation for what it was.
If I ended up talking to Scott today, I might behave in the same way.
Or I might end up blubbering in his arms. It had taken all the restraint I possessed to not text him back over the last few weeks. If I’d had any sense of self-preservation, I would have blocked his number and deleted all the messages he’d sent.
But while I was pretty confident I was getting better at the whole choosing myself thing, I was still a sucker for every notification ping that came across my phone.
I knew I needed to cut myself off so I could move on, but right now those glimpses of his life kept me going.
The one he’d sent only that morning burned in my mind like a tattoo in my brain.
Soon. It will all be over soon. I love you.
It was both ominous and uplifting. Soon it would be over, and I’d have no reason to see him until his engagement was up. And I still loved him.
Knife. Straight to the heart.
After today, I told myself. When the contracts were signed, and his eighteen-month commitment to Kendra would be official, I would block his number and delete the texts then. What better reason for closure would there be than that?
Kendra caught up with the others and pushed the call button before Tey and I got there, so when we did, the elevator was waiting, and we walked straight on.
“Today’s the day,” Sarah said, excited.
“I can’t believe it’s actually happening,” I said. When I let myself think about the fact that the sponsorship was going through and that it was because of me, the day became a lot more thrilling.
“You’ll have a nice salary, too, according to the stipulations set out by SIC.” As the president of the Dysautonomia Relief Foundation, Peter probably looked at my pay as money he could be doing more with if it went straight to them instead of me.
Well, too bad. I needed to make a living, and as far as I was concerned, I’d earned it.
Sarah gave me a wink that said to ignore him.
Then the elevator doors shut, and I made polite conversation with the two of them as we rode up while Teyana and Kendra stood shoulder to shoulder in front of me.
The sexual tension sparking off them was so thick, I couldn’t believe I’d ever missed it, and when their fingers brushed against each other, I swear I felt the jolt through my body as if it had been my fingers brushing against the person I loved.
And they were both in the same position Scott and I were in. Unable to really be together, even if Kendra decided to ignore her parents and choose herself. Not without sacrificing the DRF. None of us were willing to do that.