The Fixed Trilogy: Found in You(74)

Still, I couldn’t help feeling anxious for David’s response.

He shrugged, and it felt as equal of a show of calm as the one I was giving. “He said he’s transferring the Party Planners deal to Fierce. Something about a conflict of interest.”

The knot in my stomach loosened, if only slightly. Of course. Hudson had to deal with Paul.

“He took all the copies of the contract.” David eyed me, searching for my reaction. “But he said you already knew all that.”

“Yeah, I did.” Boy, did I.

“Sorry you lost your deal.”

I sensed David was testing me, making sure Hudson wasn’t jerking around with my business just because he could. It was sweet, actually.

Also, totally unnecessary. “Nah, it’s fine. The more I got to know about the company, the more I realized it wasn’t a good fit after all.”

David’s shoulders should have relaxed, if I was reading him right, but they didn’t.

“And that’s all you and Hudson talked about?” I studied his expression carefully. “There’s more, I can tell from your face.” The ball of dread returned.

David came over to the couch and sat on the arm, facing me, with one foot on a cushion. “Well, I’m not supposed to tell you this until you get back from Japan, but I don’t feel good keeping a secret from you. Plus, I’m really excited and have to tell someone.”

“What is it?” My voice was barely a whisper, my hands white as I wrung them in my lap.

“He offered me a promotion.” His eyes twinkled, his excitement evident. “General Manager at Adora, his club in Atlantic City.”

My vision went black for half a second, and I had to lean back into the couch for support. “What did you tell him?” There was no way he couldn’t see me shaking, couldn’t hear it in my voice.

“I said, hell yes. Adora? That place is world famous.”

Or maybe he actually was oblivious to my devastation. And I was oh, so devastated. Not just because the thought of losing David was terrible, but because of what Hudson had done, when he’d specifically told me nothing had been decided yet. I wanted to throw up.

I focused on the more immediate situation at hand—convincing David to stay. “But we’re only getting started here. The Sky Launch could be the next Adora. With you and me—”

“I’m sure it will be the next Adora. Bigger even, with Pierce’s money and your ideas. But I’m not a guy who builds things. I’m a guy who runs things someone else has built. Adora is the biggest career move I could ever hope for.” He looked down at me sheepishly. “I’m supposed to start in two weeks.”

“That’s so soon. And you’ll have to move to Atlantic City.” My throat clogged with tears.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re going to miss me.” His tone was hopeful.

“Of course I’ll miss you, you dope.” I had enough control of myself to tack on a platonic addendum. “You’ve been such a great manager. It was really you who inspired me to want to stay in the nightclub business.”

“Really? I had no idea.” He moved to sit beside me. “I’ll miss you, Laynie. And not just because I have a big crush on you, but because you’re a good friend.”

His unabashed flirtation made sense now. He was laying everything on the line. Why not? He would be gone soon. Gone because of Hudson.

God, my head hurt. I sighed and threw a glance at David. “You don’t have a big crush on me.”

“You’re right. I’m totally in love with you.”

The wind left my lungs. I had to stand up and walk away, putting distance between us. The man I’d moved in with hadn’t even told me he loved me. And he’d gone and betrayed me so deeply. What was I even doing with Hudson? Was I crazy? Should I be running away with David?

The answer was, of course, no. No matter how much David felt for me, it didn’t make up for how much I felt for Hudson. Even after what he’d done.

Thank god, I didn’t have to say it out loud.

“I get it,” David said. “I just really needed you to know how I feel before I go.”

I turned back to face him.

“And now you realize that I really have to do this. I can’t stay here with you. And Adora…”

I nodded. I got it, too.

“But I’m only a phone call away. You can dial me up anytime you need anything. Like, if you have questions about The Sky Launch, or if you want to hear my voice.”

I leaned against the desk, my hands gripping the edging. “Did he tell you who was taking your place?”

“He hinted. We both know it’s you.” He leveled his stare at me. “Come on, we knew it was coming the minute you started seeing him.”

“No, I didn’t know it was coming. I really didn’t.” My relationship with Hudson had been complicated from the beginning, surprising at every turn. Still, in my wildest dreams, I had never imagined his intention was to put the club in my hands. I would have been far less shocked if he’d wanted me stowed away in his penthouse, barefoot and pregnant. And that was a pretty shocking idea in itself.

“I’m not saying it’s unwarranted. You deserve to run the club. Truly.”

David’s sincerity was touching. It also made me all the more pissed at Hudson. Even though David was happy about the promotion, even though it probably was for the best that he moved on elsewhere, away from me—it still wasn’t right how the situation had been handled. I’d been lied to and misled.