I took a deep breath, steeling myself. I needed to do this—for the soldiers, but also for myself. Why was I so afraid to share my ideas? Seth clearly liked them—at least, when they were coming from Nicole. Why was this any different?
“Yes. I have an idea for a program that would garner a wider audience for our books and—”
His phone rang. He pressed the button to connect the call and held it to his ear, as if I hadn’t just been talking.
“Seth Chambers.” He covered the speaker with his hand as he stood. “I have to take this.”
I deflated, sensing his relief at the interruption. Would he have felt the same if it wereNicolepitching the idea?
Just when I thought he was gone, he stuck his head back in the opening. “Oh, and I hope you’ll consider signing up for Nicole’s latest genius marketing project. That girl is on fire.”
My stomach clenched, his statement making me realize just how right Alyssa had been. My boss really had no idea I was the one behind any of the brilliant ideas he loved. And I hadn’t realized just how sick of it I was until now.
“Actually—”
He shook his head and mouthed “We’ll talk later” before returning to his phone conversation.
I folded my arms on my desk and rested my head on them with a heavy sigh. I was tired of being ignored. I was tired of being overlooked. I was tired of everyone seeing me as the daughter of Harrison Hayes or Camille Howard. For once, I just wanted to be appreciated for who I was and what I had to offer.
“Uh oh.” Alyssa’s voice interrupted my mini internal rant. “That bad, huh?”
My response was muffled by arms. “If you came to gloat, don’t bother.”
Her cubicle was nearby, and I wondered if she—like the rest of my coworkers—had overheard most of my conversation with Seth. Which only made it that much worse.
The cushion of the chair hissed, and I glanced up. “You were right.”
“About…?”
“Everything.” I slumped in my chair and gave her a quick recap of the conversation. She winced when I mentioned the part about “Nicole’s” brilliant new initiative.
“That’s it.” She stood, ready to defend me. But that was the problem; I always let everyone else do the talking for me.
I grabbed her wrist. “Sit back down.”
“No.” She shook her head. “This is wrong. Seth,everyone, deserves to know that it was your idea.”
I slumped. “It doesn’t matter now. And if I try to take credit for the idea, I’ll look pathetic.”
“Then focus on your pitch for Spines for Soldiers. Make it so amazing, he won’t be able to refuse.” She gave me an encouraging smile.
I nodded, knowing she was right. But still…I hesitated.
“If you can not only jump out of a plane, but convince me to do it, you can do this.”
In many ways, jumping out of a plane seemed so much easier. All you had to do was fall, fly. But putting my ideas, myself, out there felt like an even bigger risk.
But then I remembered why I was doing it. I remembered my grandfather and Chloe and all the men and women who served our country. If they could put their lives on the line day in and day out, I could pitch a simple book idea that might somehow benefit soldiers like them. If they could fight for my freedom, I could stand up for myself and my ideas.
Chapter Two
Connor
“Cujo.”
I stopped midstride—more like mid-hobble—at the sound of Mark’s voice. He ran the Virginia office of Cole Security Forces. He was a formidable man and a well-respected one. I liked him, was proud to work with him. But his more formal tone gave me pause, considering he was usually more of a clown.
“My office.”
