Page 81 of Wicked Takeover
“Why not?” She lifted her chin. “She can’t do human resources here? You, Van Gogh, and I aren’t human?”
“You and I are. Now Van Gogh?”
Jasmina punched his arm lightly. “I’m serious.” Her cell phone rang. “I gotta go.”
She’d sprinted down the street to the fast-food joint where her boyfriend worked.
At least she knew where he was. Dante couldn’t figure out the same for Lauren.
He returned to his station and checked the time again. She couldn’t have started work already for that other company. What job required that on the same day as the interview? He should go home, get his pickup, and drive to the building where she’d gone to see if her car was still in the lot. If it was, he’d take off. She’d never have to know he’d been there. If it wasn’t…
He’d worry about that later.
He shut down everything in his station, hurried to the front, and flinched.
Lauren stood just inside the door. She’d taken off her suit jacket and looked beyond wilted. Her eyes were red and puffy, mascara smudged beneath them.
They’d turned her down. Fucking a-holes. “It’s okay.” He gathered Lauren in his arms and rubbed her back. “There’ll be other opportunities. Better ones. They must have been nuts not to have—”
“I got the job. All I have to do is say yes.”
He frowned, not understanding, and eased back to see her face. New tears glistened in her eyes. “It wasn’t what you wanted? It’s a lesser position?”
“It’s in Pensacola. Six hundred miles away.”
Everything stilled, then reality slammed into him, leaving him stunned. That much distance meant he couldn’t see her on even a semi-regular basis. At least not in the physical sense. There could always be computer or phone chats, but who did that for any length of time? Once she left, she’d really be gone.
Nausea rolled over him.
He wanted to tell her to stay but couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right. It’d be beyond selfish. He’d been that way before with his fucking cases and the plaintiffs he’d hurt. He couldn’t do it again, especially not to her.
She stared. “Didn’t you hear me?”
“Yeah, of course.” His gut ached. “Isn’t it a good opportunity for you?” Was that why she’d been crying?
She covered her eyes. “It’d be a good opportunity for anyone. A great title. More money than I’ve ever seen. A chance to move up in the company.”
He didn’t want to hear any more but wouldn’t turn away. She deserved his support. He forced himself to sound enthused, delighted even, when what he really wanted was to get drunk and pass out. “Then you did the right thing by accepting.”
Lauren dropped her hand. “Haven’t you been listening? I have until Tuesday to give them my decision. They told me to run their offer by my attorney. Other than the guy who handled Frank’s affairs, you’re the only other lawyer I know.”
He stepped back. “You want me to look over the paperwork?” She wanted his help to get her out of his life? No goddamn way could he do that.
She threw her purse on the nearest sofa. “I’m sure Mike wouldn’t think that was such a good idea. Of course, Mike doesn’t know you’re a lawyer.”
“Mike?”
“The guy who wants to buy the parlor.”
This was getting worse by the minute. “You sold the place, too?” All this in one pissing day?
She breathed hard. “He wants my attorney to look over his papers. He loves Van Gogh. Wants to give him a raise.”
Dante could barely follow what she said. His heart hurt too much. “Ah…good. Van Gogh deserves it.”
Lauren frowned. “You do, too.”
He made a face. “I don’t care about money.”
