Page 27 of Scandalous Whispers (Alpha Billionaire #28)

HALEY

W hen I pulled into Dad’s driveway, I noticed the porchlight was on, but so was the light in the front room.

I parked and shut my car off. I hadn’t packed a thing, but I knew I had a few outfits here just in case I slept over after dinner one night.

It made Dad’s house feel more like home than my own place because I knew I wasn’t alone when I walked in that door.

I didn’t want to be alone tonight, not only because I was hurting but also because I feared that whoever vandalized my car knew where I lived.

I locked my car and ambled up the walk to the front door. As I stooped to get the key from under the mat, the door swung open and Dad stepped out. “Haley, I couldn’t sleep.” He waited for me to straighten and then pulled me into his arms. His warm hugs always made me feel better.

“What is it, honey? What’s wrong?” He gripped my face with both hands and offered a look of concern.

“My car…” I mumbled. He loosened his grasp as I turned and looked at the thing, smeared with paint.

The insurance adjuster knew I was out in the suburbs and would come tomorrow to have a look.

Since they hadn’t gotten anything on my windshield, the police officer had said it was okay to drive it.

The report was filed, and they were going to investigate, but the damage was done.

Dad gasped, holding me tightly against his side in an awkward side-hug. “Who did that?”

“I actually don’t know for sure, but I think it has something to do with some coworkers who are angry that I got the promotion and the bonus.” I felt tears welling up again and blinked them back. I’d cried enough while I was driving. I didn’t need to break down again.

“What on earth? Why would anyone be so jealous over a promotion that they would pour paint on a brand-new vehicle?” Dad scowled and started out toward my car, but I caught his hand and stopped him.

“Please, Dad, let’s just go inside. Okay? It’s late. We can look at it when the sun is up.” I pulled him back, and he shook his head. He scowled, but he followed me, locking up after we were safely inside.

“I just don’t understand what this world is coming to. I sure hope the police find who did this and make them pay.” Dad sat next to me on the couch and pulled me into his chest. I lay there across him feeling like a pile of dirty laundry. My heart was broken and I just wanted to curl up and sleep.

“Daddy, why does everything have to be so difficult? I mean, I work so hard to do the right things, but it seems like everything I try just fails.” I kicked my shoes off and curled up, pulling my knees to my chest, and grabbed the front of his night robe.

“Well, Haley, life is really difficult. There are some really amazing things in this life if you are patient and keep your eyes open. But I can see how there are days when it feels like nothing goes right. When your mother died, I felt the way you’re describing now.

I felt hopeless, like I would never have anything good again. But things changed slowly.”

Thinking about Mom only made me remember that even when you do everything right and you’re in control of things, there are certain things you can’t control.

She didn’t wake up one day and decide to have cancer and die.

It just happened. I knew I was just feeling sorry for myself, but my heart hurt.

If I couldn't even stay emotionally stable when circumstances within my control happened, how would I function if something like that happened to me? And this felt like one of those circumstances. I was bearing the brunt of someone’s hatred toward me and Parker when he didn’t even want me anymore.

“What else is wrong, baby? I know there is something more. Did you not get that job? Is that it? You’re disappointed?

” He was going to pry until I opened up to him.

It was the way he worked. I didn’t want to bring it up because I didn’t want to hear him say, “I told you so,” but my heart was heavy.

I just wanted someone to listen to me and care.

“It’s not the job. I haven’t heard from them.” I sighed. “I think Parker heard from them. I think he’s seriously angry with me about it.”

“I don’t see why that should matter, Haley. He’s just an employer. He will find a new writer to fill your spot within thirty days of your leaving. You can’t judge your future based on how people in your past will feel.” His words would have been comforting if not for my relationship with Parker.

“It’s complicated, though.”

“How is it complicated…?” His words lingered as if he were thinking about things for a moment. I felt him tense. “Oh, Haley.” The disappointment was palpable. He was putting the pieces together, and I felt shame clawing at my skin. Dad remained silent for a moment, and I sat up and faced him.

“You don’t have to worry about it, okay?

It’s over.” The tears that had been gnawing at me finally let loose, and I couldn’t stop them.

“He is so angry, he’ll just never treat me the same way.

I have to take that job if they offer it.

I can’t stay here. My coworkers hate me, and Parker hasn’t spoken to me civilly in more than a week. ”

Dad grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Honey, I’m here. I’m not going to say a word, okay? I just want you to know whatever you decide to do, I support you and I love you.”

I sat and cried for a few more minutes. I didn’t want to talk anymore.

I felt my phone in my pocket vibrating but I ignored it.

It was either Rachel, who finally sobered up and felt bad for nearly passing out on the way back to her place, or it was Parker.

I didn’t want to talk to either of them. My night had been bad enough.

“If it’s okay, I just want to go to bed.”

“Yeah, honey. It’s okay. I’ll have breakfast at eight, if you want to join me.” Dad stood and kissed my forehead, then he shuffled off to his room, calling, “Goodnight,” over his shoulder.

I sat for a few minutes and almost reached for my phone to call Parker again but chose not to.

He would only push me away again. He hadn’t even answered when I called earlier, and when I pulled my phone out and saw the missed call was from him, I was hurt that it had taken him more than an hour at this time of night on a Friday.

It made me wonder if he was with someone else.

Instead of sitting there letting my thoughts consume me, I went to my old room and turned the bed down, but before climbing into bed, I called Dr. James. It was late and I thought I’d be leaving a message, so when she answered, I almost broke down again.

“Haley? Lord, girl, what time is it? What’s wrong?” Her voice didn’t sound at all drowsy, though based on her response, I felt like I had woken her up.

“I’m sorry. I thought you’d have your phone on silent. I was going to leave you a message to call me.” I gingerly sat on the edge of the bed and braced myself for her response.

“Nonsense. It’s Friday. I am up grading papers. Now tell me what has you upset. I can hear it in your voice.”

“Well, I think Danvers learned about the job opportunity. He’s been pretty upset with me, but he hasn’t outright said anything.

I know Global called The Vine . They talked with my direct supervisor.

He gave them a positive reference for me, and I had an interview too.

I just haven’t heard whether they will offer me the job.

” I chewed on a fingernail, not sure what else to say.

I couldn’t talk to her about how I slept with my boss or the drama in the office.

She didn’t need to know all of that to help coach me in my career.

“It sounds like all you have to do is wait. Why are you so upset?” I heard papers rustling in the background on her end of the line and knew I was likely just interrupting her time.

I didn’t know why I’d even called her. I realized that I was more upset about Parker than I was about the car or the job.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just wrestling with whether it’s a right fit for me.

I mean, I’d have to uproot my whole life and start over in a huge city where I know no one.

How do I do that? And is a career worth all of that?

” This was killing me—the fake consolation for concerns I’d already put to bed.

I was so desperate to hear how I wasn’t a failure, I’d reached out to the only person who could tell me the truth.

That I needed this job and I needed to let go of my present to make way for my future.

“Well, I think you should just take a few days away from work to make sure it’s what you want. This is a long weekend. Just take a few paid days off this week and put some space between you and the job. It will give you time to think things through.”

“Yeah, sure. Thanks, Dr. James.” I yawned, a wave of fatigue creeping up on me.

“Now get some sleep. You sound tired.” Her mothering was welcomed. I wished now more than ever that my mother were still here. She would know exactly what to say to comfort me.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Haley.”

The line went dead, and I stared at my phone as the screen flashed from the call to the phone app.

I saw the list of recently missed calls, Parker’s name at the very top.

Why did things have to fall apart like they had?

I had only hidden the job from him because I didn’t even know if I’d take the position.

There was no point in worrying him when I wasn’t even certain I wanted it.

Now, I felt like he’d made the decision for me.

My gut told me he knew and that because of the fear of losing me to Global, he acted out.

I could forgive him for all of it if he just talked to me.

I didn’t want to lose him. Not right when I’d decided that he was the thing I wanted more than anything else.

He was what I dreamed of, not some job all the way across the country.

Yes, I still wanted that Pulitzer, but it didn’t matter which paper I wrote for.

I could still get the prize for my hard work and talent.

I pulled up his contact info and looked at the image automatically populated by my phone when I created the contact in my phone.

Parker stood with a golf club rested over his shoulders, smiling.

It was a recent photo too, one that he’d updated in his profile and his phone automatically shared with me.

I felt like crying again, only this time, I locked my phone and laid it on the nightstand.

I didn’t even bother shedding my clothes.

I was grieving the loss of a relationship that had only just started, and it was tearing my heart out.