Chatter from nearby diners filled the empty space between the three of them. Mercy finally said, “Ian’s right.”
“Of course he is.” Liz swallowed a rambling, almost incoherent thought about them being hypocrites. “Fine, then. I’ll handle this however you tell me to. You know best.” She pushed back her chair.
Mercy reached for her, but stopped before grabbing her hand. “Liz, it was a bad idea when I did it, and I’m lucky it worked out. For a lot reasons. You’re talking about a couple. It’s not the same thing. There’s no working things out or happy ending with all three of you together. From here forward, it’s always going to be awkward with them, regardless of the context.”
“At the risk of sounding childish—because apparently that’s how you see me—I’m done listening. The conversation is over. You win. I was wrong. Even though I didn’t walk into this hookup with any idea it would become a stumbling block, while the two of you did when you got together, we’ll do things your way. I need to go. I have real work to do.”
“I’ll ask someone else to work with Rinslet.” Mercy’s words held a sharp edge.
“Great.” Liz let the sarcasm leak into her retort. It wasn’t because Mercy yielded, but for the hoops Liz had to jump through to get there. “I’m glad we’re on the same page. Email me if you need me. I’m working from home the rest of the day.” She stalked to her car. With any luck, the thirty-minute drive down the canyon would help clear her head.
The view was pretty. It was cool enough in the higher altitudes that the landscape was still green. When she pulled into her parking garage, confusion lingered with her at the misplaced hurt over losing two people she barely knew, and the scalding hypocrisy of those she thought she knew better than anyone.
As she approached her condo and saw a familiar figure pacing outside the door, the chaos inside grew. She pasted on the most neutral expression she could manage. “How did you find my address?” She slid the key in the lock, not looking at Chloe.
“I... may have placed a couple of calls and used the images contract as an excuse.”
Wonderful. Liz should have had the I’m not working with Rinslet anymore conversation with Mercy a day earlier, minus Ian’s company and the painful details. “Do you want to come in?” Even when she was annoyed, Liz couldn’t hide the polite hostess inside.
“I can’t stay. I have a meeting at the top of the hour. I wanted to do this in person, partly because you’d probably ignore my texts—and you’d be right to—but it won’t take long.” Chloe drummed her fingers on her leg.
Liz pursed her lips and stared back, waiting. She didn’t trust herself to speak, had no idea what she was thinking, and was terrified about what might come out if she opened her mouth.
“Right, then.” Chloe’s laugh was nervous. “I’m sorry about last night. That’s not right—I’m sorry it seemed like we used you. That wasn’t our intent, and this doesn’t make it better, but even though we held some things back, we never faked the connection and closeness the three of us have. We don’t have to do the sex stuff anymore—I won’t mention it ever again if you’d prefer me not to—but I consider you a friend, and I don’t have as many of those as I could, and... I’m sorry. Have lunch with us this weekend like we planned. We’ll go somewhere public. No pressure.”
Liz didn’t have the headspace to deal with this now, especially with the flutter in her gut begging her to say yes. “I have to get some work done. I’m going to let you do the same,” she said.
“That’s fair.” Chloe stepped back, gaze downcast. Then she looked up again. “Wait. I can’t leave things at that. You wanted boundaries, let’s set them, or call this quits. Leaving things at we’ll see is part of the problem.”
It was true. If Liz knew the limit was just friends she could stop pretending she saw potential for more around every corner. She enjoyed their company, even without the intimacy. She wanted them in her life, and friendship wasn’t settling. “All right. First one is easy. No more sex.”
“I think that’s fair.” Chloe nodded.
“I’m not the only one who has hang-ups. You want something, too.”
“Yes and no. I don’t want you to feel like you’re limited because one or the other of us gone,” Chloe said. “Partly because Jordan will do what Jordan wants, like what happened the other day. But also because I want to be able to hang out with you. Just us. I don’t really have any girlfriends, and I know you have Mercy, but you’ve got room for me too, don’t you?”
It was such a simple request, it tugged at Liz’s heart. She could do this. She’d have to step way back until she found a new comfort zone, but it would be worth it. “I absolutely do. Especially if there are more early morning talks on the balcony in our future.”
Chloe grinned. “Deal. And I do have to get back to work, but call us. Please?”
“Absolutely.” Liz watched her walk down the hallway and vanish into the elevator.
Liz entered her condo and leaned against the door, to close it. That felt good. She could live with those kinds of terms. She made herself comfortable in front of her work laptop and logged in. For every project she tried to work on, her eyes glazed over before she figured out what she was looking at, and she ended up closing it moments later.
After going the motions several times, she had to admit she couldn’t focus. She opened a web browser. One of the headlines on her landing page caught her attention. She wasn’t going to read it. She’d go screw around on social media, dazed and not absorbing anything but the kitty pictures.
Her finger had other ideas, and clicked the headline “Digital Media Courts New Director of Art.”
She skipped the fluff and dove straight to the quote from DM’s Chief Technology Officer.
We understand there’s a lot of negative buzz directed at Jordan Iverson at the moment. It’s unfortunate to see a talent like his go to waste, when he’s come from a less-than-nurturing environment. Mentored the right way, someone like him could be polished from a rough piece of coal, to a sparkling diamond. We feel he’s a great fit for our organization and hope he reaches the same conclusion, in the interest of his career.
Liz laughed at the condescension dripping from the words on screen. She might not be familiar with the company, but she’d bet a lot of money Jordan would be miserable at a place like that. The thought tickled something else. A memory from... She reached for it, and it flitted away before she could grab it.
This was important. What was it? The artists who make money at this are merchandising. That takes start-up capital. There it was. Not that she could invest in him—talk about conflict of interest. She knew someone who could, though. She tapped a nail on her cell phone, but hesitated. If she placed this call, she was overstepping her boundaries. Jordan might not want it. It might piss Chloe off. They didn’t have to accept the offer, though, and Liz didn’t want to give them false hope by telling them about it first. She’d also owe something in return—at least the time it took to hear Jonathan out.
She pulled Jonathan’s second business card from her purse and dialed.
CHLOE SCOWLED AT HER phone and the quote from DM that Jordan sent her. Arrogant assholes. Of course they were going to be petty about this. The other three companies rescinded their offers by this morning, but DM held tight. Now it appeared it was only for the sake of an eight-year-old grudge. Who did that on a professional level?
She stepped from the elevator, glanced up long enough to make sure she wouldn’t run into anyone, then sent Jordan a quick reply. Fuck them.
His reply came quickly. They’re not worth the lube.
The conversation with Liz still taunted Chloe, and this article added to her stress, but his note drew a smile. She reached her office, and jumped when she realized someone was already there.
“Didn’t mean to scare you.” Scott had made himself comfortable in one of the seats across from her desk.
She closed the door, set her phone and purse down, and took a seat. “It’s all
good. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Am I late?” She was five minutes early, but propriety insisted she say the appropriate lines.
“Nope. I finished up before I expected and thought I’d see if you were back from lunch yet.” Scott leaned back in his seat, one ankle over the other knee, looking as if nothing in the world could faze him. “I’m sorry about what happened with Jordan. I asked Zach to think a little longer before making his decision...” His implication was bullshit.
“Things would have gone down the same way.”
“Yeah, but I put up a good fight on Jordan’s behalf. He drew the short straw, and I wish it could have been different.”
The sentiment was kind, but it wouldn’t change anything. “It’s done, and he’s moving on. I didn’t get an agenda for this meeting, so I didn’t prepare.”
“I’m surprised you have time in your schedule to prepare for anything.”
“I don’t.” She gave him a quick smile, hoping to convey teasing. “But I have a brilliant administrative assistant.”
“And that’s what this meeting is about.” He pulled a folder from the briefcase next to his chair and held onto it. “Not your assistant, but your schedule.”
“Okay?” A million and one possibilities spilled through her thoughts. Did they find a replacement for Jordan? She hated the idea of working with someone else in that role. Was that why they didn’t loop her in on the interviews? Or maybe she was being presumptuous. Just because the jobs were more or less custom built for Jordan and her, it didn’t mean she had a say in his successor.
“You’ve really come through, this past couple of weeks. The situation was harsh, and it’s one none of us wanted. You could have gone a lot of different ways. Walking out when he was fired. Refusing to take on his tasks. Sabotaging something. I would have understood any of those responses. Not forgiven them, but understood them.”
“I’d never do anything like that.”
He picked at the edge of the folder. “But you could have. The thing is, you stepped up instead. I’m impressed, and I’m not the only one. I’ve talked to Zach about this, and we’d rather not replace Jordan.”
You shouldn’t have fired him, then. She swallowed the retort. “I don’t understand.”
“If you’re interested, we want to reorganize all those groups to report to you.” He slid her the folder. “That’s our offer. You’re already doing the work. We’ve pre-approved the budget for you to hire two new managers, so you can delegate. It comes with a title change and a raise. But only if you’re interested.”
She didn’t dare look at the paperwork. Shock froze her hand in place. “The old title is already long and awkward. I don’t think a business card will hold more letters.”
“We’re simplifying it. You’ll be Senior Vice President of Creative.”
His meaning finally sank in. They wanted to promote her. Give her more money and power, because she earned it. Excitement churned inside. What was stopping her from saying yes?
“I get why you’re hesitating.” He nudged the paperwork closer to her. “This is a huge decision, and the job won’t get any easier. Don’t answer unless you’re certain. Take a couple of days to think about it.” He stood.
“Thank you.” She rose and shook his hand. “I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.”
“I look forward to it.” Scott gave her one last smile, before he walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.
She needed to call Jordan. Share the amazing news. Make sure accepting was the right choice. She unlocked her phone, and his last note greeted her. They’re not worth the lube.
Shit. That was the fulcrum of her hesitation. The pinpoint forming a sick pit in her gut. He’d gotten screwed—again—by this situation, and she had to tell him she’d been offered his old job. Damn it.
Chapter Seventeen
The door snicked open, and Jordan grinned. He pushed back from his desk and strolled out to meet Chloe. It took restraint not to send his news over text or email, but this was something best delivered in person, both to share the excitement and to soften the blow, in case she didn’t take it well. Not that he was too worried about the latter. Chloe said she’d be more open when something bothered her, and he trusted her to do that.
When he saw her, frowning and fidgeting with whatever she touched as she set down her purse and took off her shoes, he hesitated. Did she already know?
He met her in the middle of the room, wrapped an arm around her waist, and gave her a deep kiss. “Welcome home.”
“Thanks.” She tensed against his grip, not pulling away, but not leaning into him either.
“Sit down. Relax.” He pointed her toward the couch. “I have probably-good news.”
Her smile wavered, and then vanished again. “Me too. Or rather, I hope it is. You may not like it.” She dropped onto the sofa, and he settled next to her.
“You go first,” he said.
“They found your replacement at work.”
A vise gripped his lungs. Of course they were looking, but it stung to hear he could be replaced in less than two weeks. He held an executive position. “Anyone I know?”
Chloe gave a nervous laugh and waved.
“Meaning?”
“They want to merge the two departments and have them both report to me.” As she spoke, her shoulders slumped, as if the tension was draining away. “They offered me your job, combined with mine. New title. A little more money.” She watched her fingers as she intertwined and then untangled them. “I didn’t ask for this, but...”
He expected the hurt to worsen. Instead, it lifted. He was happy it was her. No one else was familiar with the team or the work the way she was. “That’s fantastic.”
“Yeah?” She looked at him from under her lashes. Despite the sheepishness, her smile threatened to stay.
A bitter taste still sat at the back of his throat over being fired, but the longer he thought about it, the more he wondered if it was for the best. How long had he treaded water in that position, rather than climbing to the next level? “If you want it, if you’re sure you’re up for that much extra work, you should take it.”
“That sounds like you’re trying to talk me out of it.”
He rested a hand on her cheek, holding her face and gaze. “I’m not. I swear. You have to think about it—what’s involved. All the extra work. But if you’re okay with that, I support you. I’d rather see you doing it than anyone else, and you’ve earned it.”
She grinned and turned to kiss his palm. “It means a lot of late nights, at least until I get help trained.”
“I figured. We’ve always had those, though.”
“True. So tell me your news.”
It should be a bit easier, with her in a good mood. Since Liz called earlier, Jordan had practiced this conversation over and over in his mind. How would he open? What was the best way to introduce this news in a good light? The best bit first made the most sense. “I have a chance to pitch to an angel investor. Someone who will consider backing me if I want to build a business around my art.”
“Like selling prints and T-shirts? Stuff like that?”
“That and so much more. Figurines. A tie-in web series.”
“Wow. Just... Wow.” She widened her eyes. “That’s huge. You mentioned it would be fun, but I didn’t realize you were pursuing it.”
“I wasn’t.”
“So these angel-investor people called you out of the blue?” Her expression shifted to hesitant.
That did sound a bit suspicious. It would have been a better truth, because it was the next bit that had him worried about how she’d react. “No. Liz hooked me up.”
“Okay...?”
“We were talking about it the other day.” He was digging himself into a hole. He had to be. There was no better way to explain, though. “She knows a guy and got me a meeting with him.”
“That’s awesome.” Despite the words, Chloe’s enthusiasm had faded. Her smile looked genuine, though.
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely.” This time she sounded more sincere.
“There’s a catch.”
She gave a light laugh. “There always is when money’s involved.”
“I have to present him with a full business proposal. Profit and loss projections. Marketing plan. All the things that prove he’ll make his investment back.”
“You don’t have experience in that.”
“No.” There was no going back now. “Liz offered to help. She’s familiar with advertising, markets budgets, and finance.”
“How convenient.”
“And if you’re going to be working longer hours, I’ll be the only one spending the time with her.” He braced himself for the fallout. Would it be pouting? A stoic fine? Something else?
Her chest rose and fell, and she focused on him, eyes bright. “I’m good with that. I mean, there’s a part of me that’s still going to be jealous, but I trust you. I trust her. And this is a fantastic opportunity.”
“There’s one other catch.” Might as well put all the potentially negative stuff on the table at once.
“Long list of exceptions for such good news.” She grasped his fingers and rested both hands on his knee.
“This means I’m turning down the DM job.”
“You were going to do that anyway. You don’t want to be there.”
It was true. Last-resort offer, no matter how much he tried to tell himself otherwise. “There’s no guarantee this will work out. I could spend the next two weeks doing nothing but prepping for this instead of job hunting, and it may get me nowhere. The thing is, the more I think about it, the more I don’t want any of these positions. I miss being in the trenches. Creating, rather than telling someone else what to create. If I’m in an executive position, I want to be the one calling the shots, and I want to spend my time doing, not delegating.”
“Which means a pay cut,” Chloe said.
“A serious one. At least at first.”
“My new position comes with a raise.”
The Geeks and the Socialite Page 15
