Elastic Hearts (Hearts #3)(82)

“Does she know?”

I swallowed, nodding, and then shook my head. “Not . . . no. I don’t know. She should know. It’s obvious.”

At this, his mouth twitched. “Obvious to whom?”

“Everyone, apparently,” I said, shrugging.

He put a finger up as if telling me to hold on, and pressed the intercom button on the office phone. “Corinne, will you come to my office?”

I frowned. Maybe he would tell her to pack up my shit for me. At least then I wouldn’t have to do all the work. That may be a good idea. But then she wouldn’t know where to put what and she’d probably mix up my boxes and I’d have to work double. Fuck.

“Yes, sir,” she said behind me. I didn’t even turn around to acknowledge her.

She probably still had the mustard stain on her ivory top anyway, and my eyes would get glued to that and she’d think I was staring at her tits and get the wrong impression.

“Come here for a second,” he said, signaling for her to come in. I finally looked up at her when she stood beside me, and sure enough, the mustard stain was still there. “Have you heard anybody say that Victor is acting a little . . . off lately?”

I examined the side of her face. Her cheeks flushed. She shot me an embarrassed look before looking at Will again. “You mean, more off than usual?”

My mouth dropped. “What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?”

She shrugged, cringing. “Just . . . you’ve been in a bad mood.”

“Says who?” I asked.

“Everyone,” William answered. “Everybody here has made mention about your mood, and it started the day after your promotion went through.” He looked at Corinne. “Thank you. You may go now.”

She scurried off. I narrowed my eyes at the betrayer as she left the room.

“That’s bullshit,” I argued.

“It’s not, and now you come in here telling me that you may have feelings for my daughter,” he said, raising an eyebrow as if to say what the hell am I supposed to think?

“I don’t think I have feelings for her, William. I f*cking know it. If I didn’t know it, I wouldn’t be sitting here telling you, and if I wasn’t absolutely certain I was in love with her, I wouldn’t risk my job.”

I decided that if I was going to get fired or demoted, I was going to go out with a f*cking bang.

And that’s pretty much how my two-hour meeting, later known as The Big Debate with William started . . .





“AND YOU JUST let him go?” I whispered, my heart and head pounding simultaneously.

“I had no choice,” my dad said.

I closed my eyes, sagging down to my living room floor. Bonnie climbed on my lap and nuzzled herself between my legs.

“He was okay with that?” I asked, running my fingers through Bonnie’s soft hair.

“He had no choice.”

Sadly, no choice seemed to be the only choice we had.

“Okay, Dad. I have to go. I’ll see you soon.”

“I’m sorry, pumpkin. I love you.”

“Yeah. Love you too.”

I hung up and tossed the phone on the couch behind me. I felt sick to my stomach. He’d acknowledged us? To my dad. Why would he do that? Why would he even . . . I didn’t understand it. Clearly he hadn’t told my dad because he wanted me. He’d told him because he wanted to come clean about having supposed feelings about me. Because he couldn’t live with himself, knowing it was something that was against the company policy and not telling my dad about it. But it wasn’t for me. It wasn’t because he wanted me.

I twisted and picked up my phone again, texting Estelle to thank her for inviting me to her party, but sending her my regrets for not being able to attend. Victor had sent me a text message while I was in Argentina. Three simple words that set my soul aflame.

I miss you.

I hadn’t responded because I was shocked he’d do that, especially with his paranoia of having things traced. I hadn’t called because what I wanted to say to him couldn’t be said over the phone.

My phone rang a few seconds after I’d tossed it.

Estelle.

I almost didn’t answer, but then figured it wouldn’t be fair to her. She seemed like a planner and probably had something specific for the attendees.

“Why aren’t you coming?” she asked.

“I just . . .” I sighed. I could lie, or I could just come out with it, and because I was a shit liar, I came out with it. “I think it will be awkward to see your brother. I need to see him, but I don’t think your party is the right setting.”

“Who cares about him? I invited you, not you and him together. You. Please come. I already made you a heart.”

I closed my eyes, feeling impending tears form behind my lids. “You made a kaleidoscope heart for me?”

She made me a heart, made of broken glass that represents broken hearts and pain and how beautiful the brokenness we carry inside makes us. Why did she have to be so nice? How could she have known how badly I needed something like that right now?

“Of course. You said you liked them,” she said.

I swallowed. “Okay. I’ll just pass by.”

“Yay. See you tomorrow. And remember, pirate.”