Page 80 of Behind the Scenes

I’d spent years working on my image. It was time to use that to my advantage too.

“I know you do,” I said with a sad smile. “And that’s why after you do those things, you’ll hand them off to Penelope. You’re fired.”

laura

. . .

You’re fired? You’re fired?

I’m offended. No, way more than fucking offended. Pissed off. Enraged.

I found my control slipping. The urge to destroy my office was insane. The only thing that promised any type of relief was the thought of throwing my computer through the window and shattering the glass. It took everything I had not to.

She fired me.

Not only did she fire me, she had me do all the work on her behalf only to hand it all off to her agency’s lawyers.

They too were fucking annoying, by the way. They were pissed at me, obviously blaming me for their client being in the situation. And they were like rabid dogs looking to take a bite out of Lenard—which wasn’t the worst thing, to be honest. That meant they were motivated.

The worst thing was sitting on my ass and doing nothing.

I knew deep down that Harley wasn’t pushing me away because she thought me incompetent or that I wasn’t able to do it.

I knew why she was doing it. And it made me even angrier.

She was pushing me away to save me. After yearsof building up her mask and hiding behind it, she was deciding to throw it all away. Just like that.

The same person who once thought it would be better for us to go down together was now giving herself up.For me.She was trying to save me.

No one had ever done that. And I knew I didn’t need it. I could save myself—and her—just fine. But she was still doing it. Giving me up in the process if things went downhill.

It’s not my fault.At least that’s what I tried to tell myself. But the guilt was eating away at me.

It’s Lenard’s fault. That fucking bastard.

I looked over the third email I was about to send her agency. It was the last of the files they would need if this turned into a criminal trial. After this, she would be essentially out of my hair.

And that’s when it all hit me.

Memories of her in my bed. Of the way she watched me when we were together. How she looked out for me. The feeling of wholeness whenever she was near. Safety. All of it rushed through me.

Love?

If I were sane, I would have just sent it. I would have been glad to hand her off. This would be the easiest way to cut ties. Every dirty lawyer’s dream. And Harley had been so willing to take the fall.

Fuck this.

I slammed my computer closed and stood.

With steady hands and a renewed fire in me, I put my hair up in my high ponytail, tightening it so hard it caused my head to ache.

I’m taking matters into my own hands.

“You even got a nice fancy room,” I said as I shut the door behind me. I made quick work of drawing the curtains.

Lenard was sitting up in his hospital bed, a cup of Jell-O in his hands. He looked far too healthy to have been stabbed as deeply as he said he’d been. Amping up the drama to his advantage for sure.

He gave me a shit-eating grin.