10
Elisa
I hold back my tears until I get out of the elevator.
It was all lies. Everything I told Robert.
I sit down on the closest bench and bury my head in my hands. How could I have let things go this far?
Hearing Robert say he was falling for me was amazing, and then I had to go and ruin it by telling him I felt nothing for him. Why, oh why did I do that? Of course, I have feelings for him! I’ve never adored anyone this much.
Because it’s true. In my short life, I’ve had a couple relationships, but they were nothing. I never had sex with those boys, and those past entanglements were more along the lines of puppy love than anything else. By contrast, this was completely different. Being with Robert was like standing in the eye of a hurricane. I could only see him as my thoughts swirled and emotions flew. He had command over my body, brain, and heart … and now I’ve fucked it all up.
Because my ambition got crossed with love. After working so hard for so many years, I didn’t want to come this far to lose my chance at being a published author. All I had to do was keep my hormones in check, but look how that’s turned out. I’m absolutely miserable and about to collapse from heartbreak and stress.
With trembling hands, I pull out my phone and dial Darla’s number.
“Hello?” she chirps.
“Darla,” I say between sobs.
“Elisa?” she says, alarm clear in her voice. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
I take a shaky breath. “I messed up, Darla. Can we meet?”
“Of course,” she says immediately. “Come to my office right now. I’ll tell the guards to let you up.”
I thank her and blow my nose noisily. Darla’s office is only a few blocks away, so I walk there as quickly as I can, fighting back tears the entire time.
When I get to her office, I knock on the door, feeling more composed. But as soon as she answers, the tears come flooding back.
The petite redhead ushers me inside. “Elisa, talk to me. What’s going on?”
I don’t even try to mince words.
“I slept with Robert.”
Darla looks confused. “Robert? Who’s that?”
“Robert Cameron,” I say pitifully. “I slept with the CEO of the company that’s supposed to publish my book.”
Surprise and disbelief flitters across her face. “Oh, Elisa. When did this happen?”
I bite my lip. “That first meeting we had. And then again when I brought the contract. And almost today.”
“Elisa!” Darla gasps. “You didn’t!”
I shake my head sorrowfully.
“I did. It’s a major screw-up.”
Darla takes a deep breath.
“Okay. Well. What’s next, then? Did he say what this means about your book?”
I shrug miserably. “I don’t know. Cameron Publishing has a strict interoffice dating policy. They might drop me.” I cry harder.
Darla rubs my back calmly. “Okay, just breathe. I’m going to give Pattie a call and see what’s going to happen next. You just keep breathing and try to calm down. You’re not their employee, so maybe the dating policy doesn’t apply to you. Besides, he’s the boss. So maybe this isn’t such a big deal?”
It just makes me cry harder, hunching over like a broken woman. Resolutely, Darla pulls her phone out and begins dialing. I hear a few “okays” and then she hangs up.
Darla sits back down next to me on the couch in her office. “All right. It’s not as bad as you think, Elisa.”
I latch onto that. “Yeah?”
“They’re meeting with the board in two weeks to talk about the book, but they’re still going to work with you until then. Pattie thinks she’ll be able to convince them to let you stay on.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “That’s a good sign, right?”
Darla smiles. “It’s a good sign. Pattie is optimistic, and she’s also a senior editor there, so her word carries significant weight. But she also said something curious.”
I blink, my eyes watery.
“What?”
“She said you broke Robert’s heart.”
I sigh heavily. “I didn’t break anything except his ego.”
Darla tucks her flaming red hair behind her ears, shrugging. “Well, Pattie says he’s broken up about it. What did you say when you left?” she asks curiously.
“Um,” I mutter, gnawing on my lip. A sudden surge of guilt assaults me. “I basically told him he didn’t mean anything to me.”
“Oh, shit.” Darla looks like she’s trying not to laugh. “You and I both know that was a lie.”
I frown. “What? What are you talking about?”
Darla laughs dryly.
“Please, sweetheart. You’re like an open book. I can see it all over your face. You like him.” I try to school my features, which only makes Darla laugh more. “Oh, sweetie. You’ve got it bad. Take it from an old lady like me – I know it when I see it.”
I briefly consider banging my head against her desk. “Okay, but I don’t think Robert noticed. He basically told me he was falling in love with me, and I blew him off.”