Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Hayden
When I first left the CEO’s office yesterday, I wanted to get as far from Blue as possible.
But that’s my natural reaction to bullies.
Given a few hours of perspective, the fight in me returned.
I came back to Lake Tahoe to build a life here because I love the area.
I won’t back down and run like I did before.
I stare at the pile of work in front of me. My initial thought was that Blackwell didn’t care what I did at Blue, but that was foolish. He’ll have my ass fired and replaced with a more pliant female manager if I don’t do my job.
Blackwell isn’t opposed to working me to the bone.
He simply won’t give me credit for it. Bonuses are reserved for his Blue Stars—the group I’d bet my right arm Adam is rubbing noses with.
Those two jackasses, William and Paul, have been in and out of Adam’s office all day. My little spies tell me so.
Mira, my assistant, and Nessa, who works in marketing, sit across from me.
Both Mira and Nessa have long, dark hair, but Mira’s hair is slightly wavy, and their faces look totally different.
Nessa is petite, with a heart-shaped face and classical features, and Mira has stunning, high cheekbones, and rosy, bow-shaped lips.
She’s also slightly more tanned than Nessa, thanks to her Washoe heritage.
Mira’s caramel-colored eyes flash with interest. “Rumor has it that Adam is looking for an assistant.”
I grind my black pointy heels into the plush carpet of my office and let out a growl. “Dammit.”
Mira places a document on my desk with an arrow pointing to a signature line. I glance at the form and scribble my name. It’s for Adam’s new promotion.
I drop my pen. “How can he hire people without going through us?” As the head of HR, I’m aware this isn’t protocol. I just want to hear it said, because it’s crap.
Mira shrugs. “Blackwell’s orders.”
I sweep my long, thick bangs to the side and huff out a breath.
“Fine. It’s fine. Let Adam hire whomever he wants.
It’s on his shoulders if he doesn’t do the proper security checks, and ends up hiring a serial killer.
” I glance at Mira. “You sure Tyler won’t return as a Blue security guard?
We could use him to protect us from Adam’s new hires. ”
Mira glances up as though considering my absurd suggestion. “Pretty sure. His book is in its third printing, and the community college just made him tenure track.”
“Fine.” I roll my eyes dramatically. “I guess the world needs a brilliant biologist more than Blue needs a bodyguard with morals. Though it’s debatable.”
I rest my head on my hand, my elbow propped on my desk. Mira’s smile fades as she takes in my face. “How much sleep did you get last night?”
I stretch my neck, not bothering to lift it off my hand. Too much effort. “An hour. Maybe two. I couldn’t sleep. Too disturbed after my meeting with Blackwell.”
Nessa takes in a sharp breath. “Asshole.” Mira and I both look at her. “What? He is.”
Nessa is the sweet one in our group, but I’m not surprised at her outburst. These girls are loyal, and Blackwell’s on our shit list.
“Come be with us tonight. How many times have Zach and I invited you over? Five, six? You always have work. Forget about this place for one night and have margaritas with us.”
“Seriously, Hayden,” Mira urges. “Knock off early. Put on some comfortable clothes, and bring an empty stomach. Zach and Nessa will take care of you.”
Zach is a dealer at Blue, but he’s also Nessa’s live-in boyfriend, and from what I hear, an excellent cook. He hosts a taco dinner every week for their friends.
The deep rumble of a familiar voice has me grimacing. I glance over the girls’ heads and catch Eve passing my office nearly attached to Adam’s side. They’re speaking in low tones, as though they don’t want anyone to hear.
I grind my heels deeper into the carpet. “You know what? I will go. I could use a margarita.”
Mira grins. “Tyler and I will pick you up. That way you can drink without worrying about moderation.”
“Sounds perfect. I’m tired of moderation.”
As much as I love my high-fashion heels, sometimes a girl wants to dress down.
I do as Mira suggests and slip on white sneakers with jeans rolled at the bottom and pair them with a simple blouse.
The early summer weather has been unseasonably warm, so I don’t bother with a jacket.
I comb my shoulder-length dirty-blond hair and sweep my bangs behind my ear, feeling ready for a night of unwinding with friends and comfort food.
But just as I’m getting used to the idea of a night off, I realize that relaxing might not be in the cards.
Mira, Tyler, and I arrive at Zach and Nessa’s house, and I see a ghost from my past standing on the other side of the room.
I stare at the tall, handsome guy, his hair darker and shorter than the last time I saw him—when he showed up on my doorstep to apologize.
He’s changed since then, but I recognize him. He’s someone I wouldn’t easily forget.
“Jaeger?” My voice comes out sounding choked.
Jaeger glances up and cuts off a gulp of beer. “Beth?”
He sets his beer on the counter, and a pretty girl with golden-red hair walks over and touches his arm. Jaeger tucks her close to his side and says something in her ear. She gives him a sad smile.
Mira lowers her voice. “Why did Jaeger call you Beth?”
Before I can answer, Jaeger walks over with the pretty girl I’m assuming is his girlfriend. “Cali, this is Beth—”
“Hayden,” I say. “I go by Hayden now. Elizabeth is my middle name.”
“Hayden,” Jaeger corrects, sounding somewhat surprised. “This is my girlfriend, Cali.” He peers at the others in the room, who all seem to be paying attention. “Hayden and I went to high school together.”
I say hello and shake his girlfriend’s hand, then glance at Mira and Nessa. “This is the Cali you’ve been talking about?” They both nod. “Wow.” I smile and shake my head. “I figured I might run into Jaeger when I returned to Lake Tahoe, but I never thought I’d be hanging out with his friends.”
Mira and Nessa have talked about Cali and her boyfriend, but they never mentioned his name.
Jaeger glances at Mira and Nessa’s questioning expressions. Even Zach and Tyler, whom I’ve known through their girlfriends and the casino, are staring. “Hayden and I dated for a short time,” he explains. “I was a dick to her.”
Cali squeezes Jaeger’s waist and he hugs her back. At least he’s with a nice girl now.
“The circumstances were crappy,” I say.
Jaeger isn’t a bad guy, and I don’t blame him for what happened. He played a part in everything that went down, but his part was minor, all things considered.
He shakes his head. “I had no idea you were back in town.”
“Blue hired me.”
“Oh Jesus,” Cali says, and throws up her hands, just as another couple enters behind us.
Mira, Tyler, and I step out of the way to let the new couple in.
“Why ‘oh Jesus’?” the tall brunette with beautiful greenish eyes who just entered asks. “Hi.” She smiles and holds out her hand to me. “I’m Gen. This is Lewis.” She gestures to the dark-haired guy behind her, who rivals Jaeger in height.
I shake her hand. “We were discussing my job at Blue Casino.”
“Ohhh. I’m sorry?”
Gen has more reason than anyone to be sympathetic to a woman who works at Blue.
Soon after I hired Mira, she explained how her friend Gen had been assaulted and nearly raped by a manager.
“I heard about your experience working at the casino. I’m really sorry.
I’m trying to make sure nothing like that ever happens again. ”
“Not sure how safe you’ll be working at Blue, but it sounds like it will be good for the employees that you’re there,” she says. “That place could use a few more people with a conscience.”
Nessa sees me shift my purse and reaches for it. “I’ll put this in one of the bedrooms.” She disappears down the hall. When she returns, she heads into the kitchen toward a giant blender, with what I’m assuming contains the infamous margarita mix. Which I wouldn’t mind a glass of right about now.
Running into Jaeger has always been a possibility. I just didn’t think it would happen among my new friends. I wasn’t expecting to confront my past tonight.
“Wait,” Mira says suddenly, as thought she’s finally put something together. “Most of us went to high school together. How come I never knew you then?”
Mira and I have gotten along since I hired her, but it’s only been recently that we’ve grown close. I’ve never told her about my sordid past in Lake Tahoe—have yet to mention it to any of my new friends.
After a rapid-fire exchange of ages, years attended at the local high school, and friendship affiliations, we determine why I wouldn’t have known them.
Mira was a couple of years younger than me, and Tyler and Zach spent most of their time with their sports teams. Not to mention, I only attended my first two years of high school in Lake Tahoe.
“We were ships passing in the night,” Mira says, and grins.
I laugh. “Something like that.”
We move into the dining area and Cali places some kind of contraption around Gen’s neck. She reaches for two more, and places them on Nessa and Mira as well. She turns to me.
“Mira mentioned her boss was coming,” she says, and shakes another neck thingy. “I made sure to bring extras.” Her voice is low, and a bit devilish.
The mischievous glint in Cali’s eyes, coupled with Jaeger’s head shake, has me worried. But I appreciate Cali making me feel welcome. Despite my past with her boyfriend, she isn’t holding it against me.
Playing along, I feign wariness and glance at Mira while Cali slides the stretchy neck gear over my head. She pours margarita mix into a giant wineglass, then slides the glass inside the neck thing that magically holds it without toppling my drink.
She plops a fat straw in the glass. “There, now you look like us.”