Chapter 53

CHARLOTTE

“You look like crap.” Ember stares at me with disgust.

I ignore her because how I am feeling on the inside right now… is deadly. I haven’t seen any of the guys for a few days, only Tristan, since we are on the same floor.

Tristan makes up excuses why the other guys haven’t stopped by, and it hurts.

“Earth to Withers.” Ember sits at the corner edge of my desk. I slowly look up at her.

“What?” I really don’t have time for this crap.

“Are you upset about those guys?”

“Ember, I’m not in the mood to have a girl talk with you, of all people. So, tell me why you stopped by.”

“Touchy, touchy.” She stands, sucking her teeth. “I just wanted to thank you for letting me take that interview. Kole was a bit much, and it took a while for him to come along and do the interview, but it happened.” She smiles.

“No problem, you deserved it more than me,” I say.

“Thanks. So, I guess I can share a bit of gossip with you.” She looks around making sure no one is listening.

“Since your fiancée and friends are working underneath Rebecca Michaels, I thought you should know she is a very vicious woman. Rumor has it she is trying to get the board to vote Mr. Tucker out.”

“What?” I yell.

“Keep your voice down.” She hushes me.

“Why are you telling me? Why not tell Jasper or Mr. Tucker himself?” I eye her.

“You think I can go tell them that without proof? I would be out of a job before I could even finish my allegations.”

“But why me?”

“Withers, you have inside men. They can go snooping and uncover the truth before the next board meeting, in January,” she says in a duh tone. Like I am supposed to know any of this, I am an intern for crying out loud.

“Why are you so hell-bent on uncovering the truth? Didn’t take you as a person who wants to do good,” I honestly admit to her, because she doesn’t.

Ember tosses her hair over her shoulder. “I’m not. I had an affair with her husband back when I was in college—at the time I didn’t know that he was married. Not like he would have broadcast it.

“So, when I got the job here, I was thrilled to work for Rebecca, since she was the one who sought me out, only to find out that she did all of that to let me know who she was and how she will destroy me.

“I had to bust my ass every day here until one morning I bumped into Jasper, and he offered me a better position with the company. So, I took it.”

“I’m lost. You still work for her because you work for the company, right?”

“Wrong. I work for Evan Tucker. They both own the entire company fifty-fifty. However, they have 100 percent control over a certain subdivision of the company. So, I am safe from Rebecca here, but…”

“If she gets Mr. Tucker voted out, she has full control.”

“Yeah. I tried to convince Jasper to tell his father he wants to take over one day. That way there will be a backup Tucker.

“He just doesn’t want to do it, and your fiancée made it clear when he was in high school, he wanted nothing to do with this company.”

“You’re scared she is going to fire you?”

“Duh, Withers. Pay attention. Now, will you help me?”

“I can’t—”

“Ugh. I don’t know why I bothered.” She begins to walk away and I stop her.

“I can’t help, but I will inform the guys so they can see what they can do. No promises though.”

She squeals, pulling me out of my seat into a hug. This is awkward. I lift my arms, patting her back.

“You are a lifesaver. Thank you, Withers.” She smiles and walks off.

~Did this really just happen?~

***

~From: Matthew Garcia~

~To: Ember Cunningham~

~Subject: I Spy a Friendship Blooming?~

~Date: November 16, 2016, 14:35~

~I was dropping some papers off to Gilda and saw you hugging the new girl. What’s with that? Don’t tell me you had a change of heart about ruining her life here?~

~Matthew~

~Beauty Editor Assistant, Paperlove~

~***~

~From: Ember Cunningham~

~To: Matthew Garcia~

~Subject: RE: I Spy a Friendship Blooming?~

~Date: November 16, 2016, 14:52~

~Matt,~

~The Kole Bellinger interview was perfect and I wanted to thank her for giving me back my interview. I don’t think I will be ruining her life here after all. BUT we aren’t besties. Her fashion sense is still so very awful.~

~Ember~

~PR Assistant, Paperlove~

***

For the last three hours, I sat at my desk, trying to keep busy. Jasper already stopped by to tell me I shouldn’t have gone behind his back and gave the interview to Ember, but she nailed it, so he isn’t that mad at me.

I was hoping he would want to talk about everything that happened last weekend, yet he never mentioned it.

“Thank you for calling Mr. Tucker’s office, Charlotte speaking,” I greet.

“Hey Charles,” I instantly smile hearing his voice. I never knew how much I missed Chase’s voice until now.

“Hi.”

“Are you busy?” he asks, and I can hear whispers in the background.

“Not at the moment.”

There is a long pause before he speaks again. “Would you like to come over to my place for dinner tonight?”

I can easily tell them about Rebecca, but part of me just wants to be alone with Chase.

“Actually, would you like to come to my place? I can cook us some steak.” I look up to see Xavier walking towards me. Not now.

“Oh no. I was thinking we can have dinner with the guys,” he says, and I can hear groans in the background. I screw up my face and try to listen to the background. I think I hear Austin or it could be Miguel.

“Hello,” Xavier smiles, taking the phone out of my hand hanging up.

“Excuse me?! What the hell are you doing? That was an important phone call.” I stare at him in shock. “Are you insane?”

“No, but I am smitten by you,” he flirts, and I want to puke.

“Xavier, I could lose my job for what you just did. You just can’t come into my cubicle and do that. What do you want?”

“Dinner.” He winks.

“With?”

“You and I. I can make reservations at a nice restaurant a few blocks from here.”

“Do you have something in your eye? You keep blinking like a madman.” I know he is winking, but I want him to know I am immune to his flirting and want no parts of anything about him.

He doesn’t have a chance to answer, because now he is thrown against the wall. Tristan has a death grip on his collar and my eyes widen.

“You are really starting to piss me off and that says a lot.” He slams him against the wall again and now people are staring, some even calling security.

“I thought we made it clear to you. Do you really think we are fucking jokes?”

Xavier shakes his head no; he is probably scared straight now.

“Come near her again, and I will break your fucking jaw.” He tosses him to the side, and Xavier falls to the ground. He doesn’t say anything and walks off. Tristan looks at me. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah. Are you?” I ask and he laughs.

“I did the damage, not receive it, Charles. I should get going before security comes and tries to throw me out.” He shakes his head. “If that punk comes back, I will break his face.” He walks off and everyone stares at him.

My phone rings and I quickly pick it up. “Chase?”

“No, Jasper. I hope you aren’t using the company’s phone for personal calls?”

“Of course not. How can I help you, Jasper?”

“My office.”

“Right away.”