Chapter Twenty-One
EMILY DIDN’T CARE IFshe ran into Cynthia or Paul. As she stormed back into the apartment, she itched for a confrontation. A face to take her frustration out on, since she’d held back in Grant’s office.
As with earlier in the morning, the other doors were closed. The silence in the familiar space helped Emily bring her racing thoughts under control. Maybe it was better this way. She didn’t need to pick a fight in this frame of mind; she needed to go somewhere she could calm down. Find her center enough to listen to Justin’s and Antonio’s messages. Figure out what came next.
She didn’t know why, but she grabbed a couple changes of clothes and threw them in a duffle bag. Almost a month of spending half her nights someplace else, and she hadn’t had an overnight bag before now.
“Didn’t expect to see you home in the middle of the day.” Cynthia’s voice behind her startled her. “Are you going somewhere?”
Emily zipped her bag and turned to the doorway. “I don’t have a job anymore. I suppose I can be anywhere I want in the middle of the day.”
“I didn’t think your contract was up yet.”
“It wasn’t.” Emily let her irritation creep into her voice. “They let me go because someone told them I was sleeping with the boss.”
“I’m sorry.” Cynthia was geniune. “But... you were.”
The reaction sank into the churning pit that was Emily’s gut, stirring the discomfort. She didn’t expect the sympathy to come with a qualifier. “I know that. And obviously it wasn’t the smartest thing I could have done. I’d rather have dealt with it myself, than have one of you tell my employer.”
Cynthia crossed her arms. “It sucks. I agree. But what makes you think it was one of us?”
“Because no one else knew.” Emily wasn’t in the mood to go on the defensive. She knew what she had and hadn’t done, and didn’t need it throw back in her face. Compassion would be good.
“Besides the man you were screwing.”
“Mistake. I get it.” A chanting in the back of Emily’s skull wasn’t so sure, and that bothered her. “But I didn’t expect either of you—people I trust—to sell me out.” As she spoke the words, she realized that was why this hurt as much as it did. Yes, she’d made a bad decision, but going over her head and telling her boss violated her trust, and she didn’t understand why. “I wasn’t using the opportunity to get any special privileges. It wasn’t impacting my judgment in the office.”
“It was impacting other things,” Cynthia said. “But I don’t think anyone meant to hurt you. I’m guessing Paul did this for you.”
“In that case, it’s all fine. What should I do next?” Emily let anger bleed into her questeion. “Go to Paul? Thank him profusely for possibly destroying my career? Beg him to take me, love me, make sure I was his happy little homemaker? Be content with a man I don’t feel that way about?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Cynthia spoke through clenched teeth.
“No. You’re sticking up for your brother, because he’s family. Because you care that much about him that you’re blind to his flaws. I understand that. I’d do the same for you. Defend you until the ends of the earth, even if you made a mistake, which we all do. I’d stand by your side. Once upon a time, I thought you’d do the same for me. Paul cornered me in the kitchen and tried to feel me up against my will, because he’s got a crush on me. Your response?Imisunderstood. I needed you to keep a tiny secret. One that didn’t impact you at all, and you couldn’t do that. And I’m the one who’s wrong for being upset?”
The guest bedroom door creaked open, and Paul stepped into the hallway, stretching. “Why are you two yelling?”
“Just a minor misunderstanding.” Cynthia spoke through clenched teeth.
The implication that this wasn’t important... The lack of sympathy... Paul staring at her breasts, despite the heated situation...
Something snapped inside Emily. “I’m done here. I don’t mean today, but overall. Find someone else to share the rent with.” This was rash. She had nowhere to go and couldn’t afford a place on her own. Especially without a job.
She didn’t care.