Page 53 of Capturing Love

“I’m sorry, Josie. I—”

“Let’s just forget last weekend ever happened, okay?” I blurted, cutting him off. “It will be easier on everyone.”

“Josie…” He reached out and encircled my wrist. “I don’t want to forget.”

I drew in a shaky breath and spun around. “Well, I have to.” My eyes pleaded with his. “I need this job.”

His other hand reached for my shoulder as his eyes softened. “Your job is safe.”

“These people are my family. Are their jobs safe?”

His mouth parted and he paused before speaking. “We can’t keep everyone.”

My eyes welled as my anger surfaced and I brushed him off. “Just the ones sleeping with the boss, right?”

Grayson shook his head. “It’s not like that. That’s not why you’re keeping your job. Maude would be nothing without Capturing Love. You’re the reason for its success.”

“How many?” I asked, ignoring him. “How many people are losing their jobs?”

He looked away. “Ten by the end of the week. We’re introducing a digital team and we need the space.”

Pain radiated through my chest and I blinked back tears. “I need to go.”

“Josie…”

I threw up my hands as I continued up the stairs. “What?!”

“Can I grab my cell?”

The question threw me. “Oh. Yeah sure. Wait here.”

Mumbling obscenities as I trudged up the stairs with Luci by my side, I unlocked my apartment and went straight to the bedroom to yank Grayson’s phone off charge.

Consumed with anger, I made my way to the window and slid it open. Spying Grayson waiting patiently below, I poked out my head and held out the cell. “Head’s up!”

Grayson’s eyes grew large as he lifted his hands in desperation, anticipating my next move. “Josie, no!”

But instead of dropping it down to him, I threw it as far as I could, across the street. It exploded into a thousand pieces as it collided with the road underneath. I guess I was just taking the ‘lose my number’ speech to another level.

His shoulders slumped as he gazed out onto the street. “What the fuck, Josie?!”

“Whoops,” I said with a small shrug, before slamming the window shut.

***

11

The next morning, Linda was pacing the hallway on the verge of tears.

“Are you ok?” I asked, catching her elbow as I returned from the lunchroom with a coffee.

Her lower lip trembled as she shook her head, and I pulled her into my office.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m going to get fired,” she whimpered, lowering her gaze.

My eyes widened. “Have they announced—”