Page 97 of Written By a Woman

Beyond losing my job at Sun Steer.

Beyond potentially losing my book deal.

No, what was upsetting me the most out of all of this, was losing Zaid.

ChapterTwenty-Two

ZAID

Me: HR found out about Signe’s book.

Raina: Oh no, how?

Me: I don’t know.

Salma: Did Signe get fired?

Me: No.

I pacedmy office back and forth, blatantly ignoring the person on the other end of the call monologuing into my earbud. I couldn’t focus anymore today. I checked my watch and saw that it was six-thirty.

This was ridiculous.

I tapped my phone and saw that Signe hadn’t ever responded to the message I texted her this morning, asking if we were still on for continuing our Marvel marathon tomorrow. Her idea, not mine.

Nothing.

Sure, she probably had work to do. I didn’t expect her to respond right away, but she hadn’t takenthislong to respond before. Not since our relationship went from friends to more. Not since she’s seen my bedroom.

Not since I learned what her lips tasted like.

I finally heard words that sounded like the end of the discussion, and I forced myself to tune back into my call to make sure that it would end soon. As soon as we all agreed everyone was on the same page, I ripped my earpiece out and shoved my phone into my pocket.

I grabbed my coat off of the back of my chair, shoved my laptop in my bag, and stepped around my desk to leave right when there was a knock on my office door.

Jacqueline let herself in, her hand still on the handle, “Do you have time to talk now?”

“What?” I asked, glancing at the time on my phone again.

Fuck, why hadn’t Signe responded?

“About Signe,” Jacqueline asked, stepping in and leaving the door open a few inches, “Everyone else has gone home, but I stayed because you said we needed to talk about this later. When you were done with your meetings,” she stared pointedly at my bag and coat, “It looks like you’re done now.”

“Damnit,” I squeezed my eyes shut and demanded the headache I felt starting to pulse behind my eyes to hold off, “Can’t we talk about this another time?”

“I guess,” Jacqueline shrugged, “Though I’m going to be busy trying to find someone to replace her.”

I froze, shooting Jacqueline a look that made her eyes widen a little in shock and stop whatever tapping she was doing on her iPad, “Whose replacement?”

“…Signe’s,” Jacqueline was nervous at first, but I saw her straighten her spine as she confirmed my fear, “I need to fill her position.”

“Jacqueline,” my voice did not sound kind, but I only felt a little bad about it when Jacqueline winced at the tone, “Did you fire Signe? After I specifically told you not to mention any of this to her?”

“No,” Jacqueline glared at me, “Signe quit, told me herself that she’d send me her resignation letter later,” I felt my heart sink at the words, “Because she heard me talking to you about what she did.”

No.

She did?