The Right Swipe (Modern Love, #1)(82)

“I’ll give you a week.” Annabelle’s smile wasn’t so friendly now. She might not be her older sister, but there was a businesswoman underneath all those eccentricities. A shark of a businesswoman. “There’s also some terms in Peter’s proposal that I liked that weren’t in yours. I’ll send you a list tomorrow, but those would also be included in the counter.”

Annabelle’s tone was stern and dismissive, something Rhi never heard before from her. “We can consider some additional terms, but again, I have to speak to my partner.”

“Perfectly acceptable.” Annabelle stood. “Well, that’s that, I suppose. Congratulations, Rhiannon. I look forward to hopefully doing business with you.”

Rhiannon rose to exit the office, but a tiny itch between her shoulder blades stopped her from leaving. “Was there any part of my proposal that you liked more than Peter’s?”

“Oh yes.” Annabelle peered at her over her glasses. “I liked the words you spoke from your heart.”

“But the actual proposal?”

“Well, Peter offered more money. And 100 percent employee retention.”

Rhiannon wasn’t sure she could guarantee employee retention, especially if everyone at Matchmaker was as snotty to her as William was. She definitely couldn’t imagine retaining and working with William. “That is an extravagant promise,” she said cautiously.

“Oh, I know. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“If you don’t mind me asking then . . . why didn’t you take Peter’s offer? If it was so good it could hardly be true?”

“Personality and heart matter in all aspects of life, business included.”

A suspicion bloomed. “I didn’t think you disliked Peter.”

“Appearances can be deceiving.” Annabelle’s smile was fake. “Are we done? I’m sure you have to get on the road.”

Rhiannon hesitated. Her stomach was a mess of knots. “Annabelle . . . this isn’t because of what William said about me being involved with Samson, is it? Because I would hate to think that influenced your decision making.”

Annabelle reared back. “Of course not. I don’t make business decisions based on who my nephew likes.”

That sounded genuine. “Okay.”

Annabelle shrugged. “I didn’t care for some of the things I heard about Peter’s past, that’s all.”

Instead of easing it, the sinking sensation in Rhiannon’s stomach intensified. Why are you looking a gift horse in the mouth? She’s willing to bargain with you, not Peter. Still, she persisted. “Do those things in his past have to do with me?”

Rhiannon knew she was on the right track when Annabelle looked away. “Of course not.”

Bingo. Rhiannon swallowed the lump in her throat. It tasted like bitterness and defeat. “Thank you for your counter. But I have to regretfully decline.”

She made it to the door before Annabelle found her voice. “You’re refusing the company? Why?”

Rhiannon shook her head, unable to fully explain. How could she tell Annabelle that the sale would feel forever tainted and handed to her out of pity and default? How could she verbalize this complex ball of emotions? “I don’t believe I need a reason. Thank you for your time and your consideration.” She left the room before Annabelle could speak further.

She was thankfully already packed. Instead of summoning the housekeeper or butler, she grabbed her bag herself from her room. She hadn’t cried in forever, but as she jogged back downstairs, her sinuses grew dangerously clogged. All she could pray was that she didn’t run into Annabelle or Samson.

The strap of her duffel caught on the door handle of the library as she passed it, and she tugged it free. She froze, gaze on the floor, when Samson called her name from down the hall.

The anger she’d expected, but not the hurt. She deliberately ignored him and continued walking to the front door.

“Rhi? What happened? Rhi!”

God, her name on his lips. It hurt to hear it. It made her angry to hurt when she heard it. Peter had tainted her full name, and now Samson had tainted her nickname? Would she have any name left?

“Rhi!” He grabbed her arm and she shoved him away so violently she dropped her bag.

“Don’t touch me,” she said coldly and got madder at the hurt in his face. He had no right to be hurt. She was the one who had dared to hope and had that hope smashed to smithereens.

He held up his hands. “Okay, okay,” he soothed. “I won’t touch you. What’s wrong? Did Annabelle refuse your offer?”

Ugh, like he could take care of things, if Annabelle had refused her. He couldn’t take care of anything for her. “No, she refused Peter. She countered me.”

He appeared mystified. “But that’s great news?”

“She refused Peter,” she repeated, enunciating each world carefully, in case the fool didn’t get it. “Because you told her what I told you about me and Peter, didn’t you? After I said not to say anything?”

“No. I didn’t. She—”

“She said she learned something about Peter she didn’t like, and I could tell the thing she learned was about me. How did she know anything about me and Peter? You were the only other one here who knew.” Her voice was getting dangerously loud. Too loud, too much, too emotional.