I will take one of the other offers for a job and move across the country if I have to. I’m not going to stay working for Slade Outdoors, not as long as Owen is around. He had his shot, and he blew it.
???
“Good morning, Harper.” I turn around to see Owen standing behind me as I pour the coffee room service just sent up.
“Owen,” I say, taking a sip of the bitter black brew in my cup. It tastes just like I feel this morning.
“About last night…” he starts, and I hold up a hand.
“Last night was a drunken mistake. We don’t need to mention it again.”
“Antonio called and would like to take me on a tour of the factory to show me how the canvas is made. I agreed. You have the meeting with the board I remember. Your notes are on the table. Don’t wait up.” I give him a sunny smile and walk to the elevator punching the button hard.
The doors slide open, and I slip in, turning around to see him staring sightlessly after me.
He looks wounded and scared. All I want to do is jump off this elevator and run into his arms. To reassure him that I love him and that this is real, that I won’t hurt him like she did.
The doors slowly close and he stares at me without saying a word.
I close my eyes and hold back the tears. Now is not the time to cry. I’m going to deliver this account to Slade and then I’m going to take the offer from Fisherman’s World. They need a new CFO and they handed me the job on a silver platter. They wouldn’t take no for an answer and gave me a month to decide. That month isn’t over yet. I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
I love working for Slade, but there is no longer room in the company for Owen and me.
He is the son of the founder, so it is up to me to find another position.
I walk off the elevator my smile firmly in place. Antonio is standing at the door waiting for me.
His eyes light up as I walk toward him, but I feel nothing. He is handsome, rich, Italian and a smart businessman, everything I should want in a man, but when I look at him all I see is a means to an end. Get the deal done, go back home and give my notice, then let Jeff Feldman know that he has a new CFO.
“Harper, is it okay that I call you that?” Antonio asks, as we reach the town car.
Smiling brightly, I nod, “Of course.”
“I was informed this morning that our CFO has decided to leave us for a rival. I could think of no one who would fit that role better than you.”
My eyes go wide, “Really, you want me to move to Rome and be your CFO?” I squeak out.
He grins and gives me a hug before stepping back, “Yes, I would very much like to welcome you into the family.” His words I know have a double meaning.
“It is a big decision,” I hedge, my mind whirling.
He puts his hand on my arm, “Please think about it.”
I just nod and look up as I slide into the seat. Owen is just stepping away from the window.
I’m sure he is making all kinds of assumptions in that small brain of his about what he saw but I can’t find it in me to care.
Chapter 8
Owen
“Imessed up. Like apocalypse kind of messed up.” It is the first thing I say when Ryker answers the phone.
“So I hear. You might want to think twice about family dinner for the next few months. Your sister-in-law has blood in her eye for you,” Ryker says in a flat tone.
“I said I messed up, didn’t I?”
“You slept with her and then rolled off of her like she was a one night stand you met at the bar Owen? This is Harper we are talking about.”