Page 25 of Unbound Boxset

CHAPTER TEN

Ariel laughed at her team members as they hummed Sinatra’s “Chicago” around the conference table. She looked down at the farewell cake with a Rosebud garter belt discreetly tattooed around the edge. “Funny, guys, real funny. At least you remembered to make it chocolate.”

She cut large pieces of the sugary treat and passed them around. Conversation revolved around work accounts, football season, and raunchy jokes. Tim handed her a glass of champagne from a cheap plastic flute. “Drink up, boss. You won’t get much free time once you hit Chicago.”

“Hmm, I’m already burning the hours on Zoom to get a leg up.”

“How’s yoga guy?”

She shot him a glare. “Good.”

“Hmmm.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Tim threw up his hands in defense. “Nothing, just wondering. Are you guys gonna do the long-distance thing?”

The wound throbbed but she forked up a piece of cake and soothed

it. “Nope. We’re making a clean break.”

Tim brightened. “I think that’s for the best.”

She stared at him with suspicion. “You’ve never been so interested in my love life before, Tim. What’s up?”

He shrugged. “I was worried about you. Sanders picked you for one reason. I didn’t want you to make the wrong decision.”

Unease settled low in her gut. Ariel didn’t want to ask the question, but like a train wreck unfolding before her gaze, she stepped on the track. “What are you talking about? What reason?”

“Come on, Ariel, it’s no secret you practically live, eat, and breathe this job. You’ve slept on the conference room couch to meet a deadline. Sanders had a few people to pick from, but they all had families or girlfriends. No one had the killer instinct to give everything over to the job. But you did.”

The truth sunk in slowly but steadily, just like the Titanic. “He picked me because I had no other commitments? That was the deciding factor?”

Tim laughed, obviously not aware of her distress. “Crap, Ariel, it was your work, too. You’ve got the talent. But Sanders needs someone with drive who will make G&B their life. You fit the bill perfectly. That’s why I got nervous when you started spending so much time with yoga guy. Hell, a few nights during the week you actually left the office on time. The guy even came to visit the office. That never happened before, so I thought you could be thinking about doing something stupid.”

“Like?”

“Like giving up the promotion for him. But you’re as smart as I always knew you were. You kicked him to the curb and now the possibilities are endless. Sanders has his eye on you for partner. Just make sure you bring me with you—don’t forget me on the climb to the top.”

Someone shouted his name and he turned from her. Ariel watched the other team members eat cake and laugh and drink champagne. The truth struck hard and deep while she watched the bubbles lie flat in her glass.

Her talent wasn’t the only thing that got her this promotion.

Seems her lack of anything else in life was a primary factor to reach the pinnacle of success.

The knowledge killed something deep inside of her. She felt the shift, but refused to analyze it any further.

She raised her glass and drank.

* * *

Ariel walked into the studio. Sunlight streamed through the open windows and soaked the wood to a golden gleam. People mingled in groups along tables which held pens filled with dogs and cats. Both human and canine voices rang through the air in the early morning hours.

The Yoga for Rescue Animals Walkathon was in full swing.

Ariel made her way through the vast crowds to her assigned pet and spoke with the shelter’s representative. She leaned over to peek and her gaze clashed with a pair of brown soulful eyes surrounded by a mat of white fur. Those eyes spoke to Ariel immediately. They were eyes that held a rough past; eyes that gleamed with need and a tiny bit of despair. Eyes that didn’t want to give up.

She took a deep breath and reached out.