Chapter 25 #2
“I had that Women in Tech panel earlier this week,” she said. “You know, the usual. Inspiration. Mentorship. ‘How do you do it all.’”
“But,” Ally prompted gently.
“But in the middle of it, one of the other panelists congratulated me on being a ‘potential acquisition target.’” Avery felt her jaw tighten. “Not a merger. Not a partnership. An acquisition. Like Halo had already bought us. Like it was a done deal.”
Ally swore softly. “They said that onstage?”
“Into a microphone,” Avery said. “In front of a room full of founders and investors who now think I sold out.”
She twisted the ring on her finger, the metal cool against her skin. “And I have no idea where that came from. I don’t know if it’s random industry gossip, if Quinn said something to someone casually, or if people just decided that was the narrative and ran with it.”
There was a small pause. “You talked to her.”
Avery exhaled slowly. “Yeah. That night.”
“And?” Ally asked.
“It turned into a fight.” She pressed her thumb into her temple. “I asked if she’d framed this as an acquisition anywhere. If she’d positioned it like Halo was scooping us up. She got defensive. I got defensive. It spiraled into this whole thing about trust.”
She swallowed. “She said she thought we were past questioning each other’s intentions.”
Ally’s voice softened. “And are you?”
Avery stared at the reflection of her own face in the glass. “I thought we were. But I also don’t want to be the idiot who doesn’t ask the hard question and then finds out later she was the only one who didn’t know what game was being played.”
“You think she’s playing you?” Ally asked carefully.
“I don’t know,” Avery admitted. “That’s the problem.”
She shifted in her chair. “I’ve worked too hard to build Lilith. And I let her in. Into the company. Into my apartment. Into… everything.” Her voice dipped. “And suddenly it felt like maybe I handed her every lever she’d ever need.”
“And part of you is scared she’ll pull them,” Ally said quietly.
Avery closed her eyes. “Yeah.”
Silence hummed between them for a moment.
“Okay,” Ally said finally. “If no one had said acquisition into a microphone that day, would you be questioning her like this?”
Avery didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she saw flashes. Quinn half-asleep on her couch.
Quinn in her kitchen in the mornings, making coffee like she belonged there.
Quinn on FaceTime late at night from L.A.
, tired but refusing to hang up. Quinn sitting across from her in that conference room saying, I want this to be fair.
Quinn showing up when she said she would.
“No,” Avery said quietly. “I wouldn’t.”
“Then this isn’t really about Quinn,” Ally said. “It’s about optics. It’s about power. It’s about people talking about your life like it’s a headline.”
Avery let out a breath. “I hate that you’re right.”
“I’m always right,” Ally said lightly.
Avery huffed a small laugh.
“But you do have to talk to her,” Ally continued. “Not just accuse-and-defend. Actually talk. Tell her what it made you feel. If she’s who you think she is, she can handle that.”
Avery stared down at her desk. “I’ve been avoiding her calls.”
“I figured.” Ally said as if she already knew.
“She’s reached out,” Avery said. “Texted. Called. I just… haven’t been ready.”
“Because you’re still hurt,” Ally said.
“Because I care,” Avery corrected quietly. “This isn’t casual anymore. It hasn’t been for a while. And if I’m wrong about her, I don’t just lose a deal. I lose… her. And I don’t know if I can do that again.”
“Brittany messed you up,” Ally said gently. “But Quinn isn’t Brittany. She hasn’t once tried to make you smaller. From everything you’ve told me, she pushes you to be bigger.”
Avery felt her throat tighten.
“So listen to both parts of yourself,” Ally said. “The scared part. And the part that knows she sees you. Then give her the chance to answer to both.”
Avery leaned her head back again. “When did you get so wise?”
“I’ve always been wise,” Ally replied. “You were just too dramatic to notice.”
Avery let out a watery laugh.
“Also,” Ally added, her tone shifting, “while we’re on the subject of taking risks… I have news.”
Avery straightened slightly. “Good news?”
“Daisy and I are going out again this weekend,” Ally said. “We’ve been seeing each other. No labels yet, but it feels good.”
Avery felt some of the tightness in her chest ease. “I love that for you.”
“We got tickets to see Frankie Monroe in Boston on Friday,” Ally said. “Daisy somehow found them.”
Avery smiled. “Of course she did.”
“The point,” Ally said, “is that I’m scared too. But I’m doing it anyway because it feels right. And from where I’m standing? Quinn looks right for you.”
Avery exhaled slowly.
“So your professional recommendation as my little sister is…?” she asked.
“Talk to her,” Ally said. “If she shuts you down or makes you feel small, I will personally fly to L.A. and egg her penthouse. But if she meets you where you are? Then maybe you let yourself believe it.”
Avery was quiet for a long moment.
“I hate that you make so much sense,” she said finally.
“I know,” Ally replied. “It’s a burden.”
Avery smiled faintly. “Thank you.”
“Always,” Ally said. “Call me after you talk to her.”
“I will.” Quinn sighed.
“I love you.” Ally said.
“I love you too,” Avery said.
When the call ended, the office didn’t feel quite as sharp around the edges. The ache was still there. The uncertainty hadn’t disappeared.
But it no longer felt like something cracking. It felt like something waiting to be handled.
* * *