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Jareth waved a hand. “I’ll stop you right there. Don’t placate me. Ever. Understood?”
I reluctantly nodded.
“You know as well as I do that he needs more help than you can give him.”
Each word he spoke sliced like a thousand papercuts against my skin.
Wendy sat in the seat Peter vacated. “I’m here to workwithyou, Trissa. I want Peter to succeed as much as you do. I know the two of you go way back, and maybe that familiarity is what’s not helping.”
I snapped my head up, my shoulders tightening.
Wendy waved her hand, and for the first time, a crack in her façade showed. “I’m saying this all wrong. I’m not blamingyou. It’s just that I think Peter needs a heavier hand, and he might deal with that better if it’s not coming from you, since he’s comfortable with you.”
She wasn’t wrong, but I still hated that she’d be working so closely with Peter on this.
“Let me be the bad guy, Trissa.” Even hearing her say it didn’t make me feel any better about my diminished role.
As Wendy detailed what working with me would look like, I could only think about how easily she had captured Peter’s attention. Even through his anger, he responded to her in a way that heneverhad with me. My chest tightened in jealousy and fear at the very thought.
“I’m willing to work with you, Wendy.” I finally forced the words out. “Peter’s behavior hasn’t proven it lately, but he loves music. I know eventually he’ll understand this is for the best, and will be more open to your suggestions.”
Wendy gave me a strained smile, one that proved she wasn’t convinced of Peter’s acquiescence just yet.
Jareth addressed me. “Trissa, send Wendy any necessary documents today and meet with her by Monday to get the ball rolling and begin discussing strategy.”
I knew to keep Jareth happy. The sooner Peter and I met with Wendy the better.
“I’m sure I can move my schedule around to accommodate a meeting tomorrow.” I inwardly groaned, already rearranging my internal calendar.
“Monday will be just fine, Trissa,” Wendy tapped away at her tablet. “That will give me the next few days to review the documents you send to me and to research Peter’s recent behavior more thoroughly.”
I nodded, the muscles in my neck tensing one-by-one by what I knew she’d find online. I made a mental note to let herknow about the situations we’d smoothed over to ensure the press didn’t find out.
I stood and gathered my purse. As I turned to leave, Jareth called my name.
“Yes?”
“You’re integral to Peter’s success.” He steepled his hands, and regarded me over the tips of his fingers.
“Thank you, Jareth?—”
“I wasn’t finished. If Peter’s job is at risk, yours is, too. It’s in your best interest to make sure he starts to cooperate.”
“Yes, sir.” I forced the words past trembling lips. Jareth could destroy my career if he wanted too. And if I wasn’t Peter’s assistant, then who was I? I had a degree in music production that I hadn’t used in years. And I didn’t want to work with anyone else.
Panic lanced through my sternum making it hard to breathe. I needed to get out of here. I swallowed hard and tried to ignore the look of pity that flashed across Wendy’s face.
“You may leave now.” Jareth dismissed me.
I forced myself to walk slowly from his office when I wanted to bolt out of there.
With each step, my determination to make Peter see the error of his recent behavior and find a way into his heart strengthened my purpose. Wendy Darling might be a PR expert, and she might have caught Peter’s eye, but I had something she didn’t: a deep understanding of who Peterreallywas. And if I could get Killian on my side, I was sure I could help Peter see he needed to change.
And that I was the love of his life.
Wendy Darling would not win—not Peter’s career, and certainly not his heart.
I took a detour to say goodbye to Hazel and convince her to give me Killian’s home address. It might have only been twelvehours since we spoke, but I was determined to convince him to help me.