Chapter Fourteen
I pressed the frozen bag of peas against my cheek and opened my laptop. All I wanted to do was collapse for a week and forget what happened, but if Harrison’s threat was real, I needed to hurry.
I set down my peas and drafted an email.
[Mr. Sterling,
I feel it is my duty to clarify some rumors you may or may not be hearing in the near future. I believe you’ve met my former partner, Harrison Warren. Though I’d like to keep you out of my personal life as much as possible, unfortunately, that’s not possible.
Harrison got it in his mind that Colton Nash, the bareback bronc rider, and I had formed a relationship without his knowledge. I want to specify that Colton Nash and I are not in a relationship, nor have we been anything other than professional.
Feelings were hurt, and Harrison informed me he would report this to you as soon as possible. I apologize for the late email; I thought it was best I tell you firsthand.
If you have any questions, I’d love to chat anytime and get everything cleared up. I will be back in Chicago in a few days and look forward to reviewing the material for this project.
I am working on my next impression report to send, and it should be ready by Tuesday.
Thank you,
Allegra Ford.]
Tears were streaming down my face by the time I hit send. I felt like I was signing a resignation letter. I had worked so hard for that job, and to have it all thrown away by a misunderstanding felt unfair.
I thought about calling Martha; she always eased my fears and made me feel better, but it was late, and I didn’t have the energy. I would in the morning.
My phone did ring, though it wasn’t Martha’s telepathy like I hoped. It was my mom.
I took a breath, thinking about letting it go to voicemail, but I wanted any company I could get at this point.
“Hi, Mom,” I answered.
“Did you deposit money?” She demanded.
I glanced at the calendar with red rocks hanging on the wall. Tomorrow was the twentieth. “Yes, Mom, there’s enough money in the account.”
“I didn’t want you to screw up like last time. I’ve got people waiting for this money, Allegra.”
I picked up the frozen peas, crawled into bed, and lay down with them resting on my face. “I promise it’s there, Mom.” I sniffed hard. “Can I tell you something?”
She sighed hard on the other end, even her breath having a strong Texas accent. “Right now?” She asked impatiently.
“Please, Mom?” I begged, wishing I’d just called Martha. “I could use some advice.”
Again, she sighed. “Can you talk fast?”
“What could be so important that you can’t listen to your daughter?” I demanded, my sudden anger surprising me.
She was quiet for a moment. “What is the matter with you, Allegra? What would your father say with an attitude like that? How dare you disrespect your mother like that?”
I put my hand on my chest and clutched my shirt, pulling at it anxiously. “Mom, I just-”
“I don’t have to be ridiculed like this by my own daughter! After all I’ve done for you, Allegra. The money better go through in the morning or-”
“It’ll be there,” I said harshly before hanging up.
I resisted the urge to throw my phone as hard as I could at the wall, wanting to watch it shatter into a million pieces.
~~~
I held tight to the to-go cup in my hand as the elevator soared upward. For the first time in almost a month, I felt like myself again.
My morning run, the twenty-minute shower, the precisely applied shade of lipstick, each step a testament to my principle of control. I felt a quiet satisfaction as the elevator doors opened on the 27th floor, at exactly 7:45.
Martha was sitting at her desk, chewing a pencil and talking loudly on the phone. She spun around and waved erratically when she saw me. “I gotta call you back,” she said to the phone before slamming it back into its cradle.
I set my armful of folders on my spotless desk and rushed into her open arms. She held me tight, rocking back and forth.
“Oh, Allegra! It feels like it’s been ages!”
I breathed in her familiar scent of laundry detergent and hairspray.
She leaned back first and held on tight to my shoulders. “Now, let me see that cheek, my goodness. You could’ve pressed charges, honey!”
I absentmindedly touched my cheek. The swelling was minimal thanks to the frozen peas, and unless you knew it was there, the concealer was doing its job to cover up the worsening bruise.
My eye, on the other hand, had been persistently bloodshot ever since.
“It would’ve caused more harm than good,” I waved away her worry and sat at my desk.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” Martha took her own seat and chuckled to herself. “I swear, I would’ve done anything to see those boys drag Harrison out of there. I bet you were wanting to pee your pants!”
I couldn’t help but smile at the image of Harrison, red-faced and demanding to be let go. “It was quite the sight. I’m sure that little Utah town will be telling the story for years.”
The office was bustling, and everyone had a purpose.
I drank in the busy feeling, missing the pace.
The mix of the clicking of keys and the low hum of a crisp air conditioner fell together in perfect harmony.
I smeared creamy lotion on my palms and let it absorb into my skin.
“It feels so good to be home,” I muttered to myself.
I slid my lunch tote into the minifridge below my desk, excited to eat the boring food I had packed.
“When do you head to Oklahoma?”
“Next week,” I said with a breath of relief. “I’m exhausted and so tired of planes. Having my apartment for a few days is going to be heavenly.”
She leaned forward, resting her head on her palm. “By the way, Craig has been bragging about your videos for days. He’s made sure we all watched them, so I can officially say I’ve seen how hot that boy is.”
I felt one of my cheeks go pink. “Oh, Martha!”
“Do you miss him?”
I could feel his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “I don’t even know him!”
“If I were you, I’d miss just looking at him!”
“Miss Ford!”
My heart stopped as Mr. Sterling suddenly appeared beside our desks. I straightened myself and gave him my best smile. “Mr. Sterling, good morning!”
“How was your weekend, Craig?” Martha asked, giving me a second to gather myself.
He smiled at her, wearing a navy pinstripe suit and red tie. “It was good, Martha. The wife and I went to the vineyards. How about you?”
“Fun! Jeff and I need to get down there sometime. We were lazy and boring.”
“And you, Miss Ford?” He directed his attention to me.
I was gathered, thanks to Martha. “It was wonderfully relaxing,” I lied.
“Could we talk in my office, Miss Ford?” He asked, holding out his hand.
I gathered my armful of files and nodded.
I could feel everyone’s gaze on my back as we passed by, no one daring to utter a syllable. It was torturously silent, the only sounds being Mr. Sterling’s heavy steps and the sharp click of my four-inch heels.
He turned the corner and opened his thick oak door for me. I thanked him and walked in.
I took a seat across from his black stone desk, opening my binder and holding my pen at the ready. He shook his head and gestured to the couches beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Miss Ford. Please relax.”
I walked to the couch and sat, feeling my posture once again disappear into the deep cushions.
He sat across from me, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back. “Miss Ford, I got your email, and I have to say, it was troubling.”
I gripped my files, hoping my sweat wasn’t ruining the paper. “Yes, I would like to apologize. I had some…personal drama arise in the midst of my travels and-”
He held up his hand and poured a glass of water from a crystal pitcher. “Miss Ford, let’s drop the formalities, shall we?”
I cocked my head as if to ask, “What do you mean?”
He gave me a grandfatherly smile. “Can I call you Allegra?”
I nodded, my legs tightly crossed and my posture perfect.
“Good, and call me Craig. Listen, I really like you, kid,” he started, and I felt my heart drop to my stomach. He was going to fire me, I knew it. “You’re incredibly professional, and you’ve never made a single mistake as long as you’ve been here.”
I ignored the ringing in my left ear. “Thank you, sir.”
“Craig,” he reminded with another small smile. “But, I sent you on this project to see if we could break open your shell and find more from you.”
I swallowed hard, not sure how to respond.
“How do I word this?” He muttered to himself. He thought for a moment. “Allegra, you don’t seem to have progressed since our last conversation in this office. Am I wrong?”
I forced myself to release the files. “Yes, sir, you are wrong,” I said quietly.
He leaned back in surprise and motioned for me to go on.
I took a long breath. “Sir, I’ll-” I shook my head, “Craig, I’ll admit, this project was definitely out of my comfort zone.
I am used to a routine, I like the way things are, and I have no desire to change anything.
But, as time went on, I was able to spend more time alone, get to know myself again, and make some wonderful friends along the way.
That, unfortunately, is what caused the ‘drama’ to unfold in Utah.
Though it is really nice to be home, to get caught up on my paperwork, showcase my presentations, and do some much-needed laundry, I am truly excited to get back out there and work even harder on these next rodeos. ”
He was grinning, the happiest I’d ever seen him. “That is the best news I’ve heard this quarter, Allegra.”
I smiled back. “I’d like to thank you for forcing me out of my comfort zone…Craig.”
“I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.”
~~~
That night, I got take-out from the restaurant I’d always wanted to try but was scared of the calories. I watched a movie while I folded laundry, took a long bath, and was lying down by nine.
I opened my phone and scrolled for a while, not wanting to try to fall asleep yet.
One video on social media caught my eye, and I clicked on it. The caption made my heart skip a beat.
Crazy showdown in Parowan
It was a low-quality video, shaky and far away, but I knew exactly what it was.
Harrison was shoving Colton, who stood in front of me. Colton barely took a step, and I realized he had caught himself before he bumped into me. Colton told Harrison to go home, and I saw rage take over Harrison’s face.
He turned, wound up his fist, and threw it clumsily. Colton ducked, and I watched myself get punched. I fell lamely onto my butt, and Colton dropped beside me.
I watched the video a few more times, addicted.
I forwarded it to Martha and saved it for evidence in my camera roll in case Harrison did end up coming after my job.
After my conversation with Mr. Sterling, however, I was fairly confident he would be on my side.
Using my phone to calm my brain was a bad idea. I was more restless than ever. I pushed back my covers and threw open my closet.
The dusty cardboard box stared back at me.
A few silent moments went by while I debated whether or not to open that can of worms. If I did, there was no way I’d be sleeping tonight. If I didn’t, I’d probably toss and turn thinking about it for a few hours.
I crouched beside it in my silk pajamas. My hands were shaking as I pulled open the tabs.
On top was the picture I had placed there the last time I had been brave enough to open it.
Nine-year-old Allegra proudly smiled with her tooth gap and freckles. Her hair was in double braids, and she was wearing a denim dress and white-
I closed my eyes, already fighting back tears.
There she stood, leaning against the fence. Her dad was kneeling beside her, smiling wide under his worn cowboy hat. Their cheeks were pressed together. They had the same eyes and freckles, but his hair was as dark as night while her platinum blonde braids practically glowed under the sun.
I grabbed the picture out of the box. “I could really use some advice, Dad. Tell me what to do.”
Dad smiled back at me.
My phone dinged. I wiped away my stray tears and grabbed it, assuming Martha was replying to my video.
It was an address link and text from an unknown number.
Hey there, Allegra! Dennis Nash here! We can’t wait to see you in our hometown. Jo has insisted you stay with us while you’re in Oklahoma. If you don’t want to, I will warn you she’s very hard to say no to. Let us know when you make it, and we’ll have dinner ready.
I felt my breath hitch in my throat and looked back at the picture. I could practically see my dad winking back at me.
I closed the box.
This could be the most interesting rodeo yet.