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He holds up a consolatory hand. “I didn’t tell him anything other than I would speak with you. What you told me was in confidence, and I don’t make a habit of betraying my employees’ trust to someone I don’t know. Though I didn’t know Katy’s pregnant.”
Well, that’s a huge relief. And it doesn’t seem as though Cayden used those pictures with him, which means the woman in the pictures doesn’t work here. He was trying to get me fired for being with Katy.
“I appreciate that, Evan. Katy is only seven weeks along,” I explain. “We weren’t planning on announcing it until after her first trimester.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve known Katy for a long time, as you know. I’ve only ever wanted the best for her. I know she’s had some health issues, so I’m happy to hear that so far she’s doing well. I understand your wanting to keep that bit of information to yourselves and frankly, that’s personal between the two of you. And since you had already spoken with me about your relationship with her, there is no misconduct.”
“And his position here?”
“His allegations made me suspicious. What sort of man calls himself close to someone and then tries to get them fired? After he left, I called around. His former supervisor told me he had been let go, though he could not tell me the reason why. Now I know. Regardless, we will be withdrawing our invitation for an interview, and he will never be a surgeon in this hospital.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m very relieved to hear that.”
“Bennett, I also want you to know, though I haven’t spoken with the board yet, in light of everything I’ve learned about Cayden and everything you’ve told me today, I hope you know we value you and your work very highly. You’ve shown to be a man of honor and respect, and I, for one, am very grateful you’re with us.”
I’m stunned into a heavy, awed silence as gratitude shoots up through me like a geyser.
Before I can form any semblance of a reply, he takes a step forward and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Be careful with him, Bennett. He has a plan where you’re concerned.”
“You’re the second person today who has warned me about him. Believe me, I intend to take care of it.”
The moment I step out of the OR, I call Katy, and after two rings, it goes to voicemail. I try again, and the same thing happens. Is she ignoring my calls and sending me to voicemail?
I shoot her a text.
Me: When you get this, please call. I need to talk to you ASAP.
Only as the minutes tick by, I never hear back from her. And instinctively, I know something is very wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
With my headphones on and music blasting through my ears, I feel like a prizefighter ready to get into the ring. Or in this case, the pool. My awesome uncle Greyson has an Olympic-size indoor swimming pool, and because he loves me, he lets me come here whenever I want to do laps. One of the most important things for my pregnancy is staying fit, and since swimming is the jam to my toast, I’ve been upping my laps game by about three each session.
Channeling the mental game of Katie Ledecky—we have the same name even if it’s spelled differently!—and Michael Phelps, I sing at the top of my lungs as I drop my old-school matching track pants and jacket poolside. My cap is clinging to my head, holding my wild locks at bay as I stare at the water, ready to make it my bitch and swim myself to pretend gold.
I never tried out for the Olympic team, nor did I swim competitively on that level. It was an extracurricular in high school, a full ride to college, and a passion that still holds my heart. But that doesn’t mean I don’t fantasize about that large gold coin or championship the way every athlete does, and I won’t lie and say that I haven’t begged Mason’s mom—who won gold for figure skating—to let me wear her medal a time or fifty.
I roll my neck until it pops, swinging my elbows behind me to try and loosen up my shoulders, back, and arms. Then I remove my headphones and scream at the top of my freaking lungs when a shadowy figure moves straight in front of me. My fist comes up to strike, but Cayden’s hands fly up in surrender, warding me off.
“Whoa. Slow your punch there, Ali. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. You didn’t hear me call out to you.”
“A chronic problem of mine,” I manage, though I’m positive he can hear the wariness in my voice. “Then again, I’m supposed to be the only one here right now.”
After everything that happened with Cricket yesterday—oh, hell. I never told Bennett what Cricket said about him or the bag he had her bring to him. I started to. I tried. But then he distracted me and I… I didn’t think about it again for the rest of the night. And now he’s here. Clearly having followed me.
“How did you get in here?”
“I watched you punch in the code. You really should be more careful about that.”
My hands hit my hips, and my head twists in attitude. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s changed before I leave here today. What do you want, Cayden?”
“To show you these. My little Cricket didn’t do everything she was supposed to do last night.”
Hm. “And how do you know that?”
“I was watching, of course. As I’ve been doing for a while now.”
He slams a stack of paper into my chest, intentionally grazing my boobs, and I shove him back. But in doing so, the papers fall to the ground like snowflakes. And as they do, I catch glimpses of each one. Bennett on top of a woman. Bennett’s hands interlocked with a woman’s, her arms above her head. Bennett’s head pulled back in the throes of passion and ecstasy.
