“Oh . . .” He studied me, glanced at Nick, and then got his eyes back on me. “Were you leaving?”
This time I decided to lie. “No, just going out to the car to get something.”
He nodded, looking skeptical. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Of course.” I turned to Nick. “Excuse us for just a minute.”
“Not a problem.” Nick pointed to the set of chairs over by the front door in the lobby. “I’ll wait for you over there.”
“Sounds good.”
Gary waited for Nick to leave before speaking. “I wanted to give you the rundown on what was happening tomorrow. Remember I mentioned in the board meeting that we needed to come up with some fresh ideas on new revenue streams for the company?”
I nodded. “I remember.”
“Well,thatis our number one priority moving forward and that’s why we’re having an emergency staff meeting tomorrow. Nobody is satisfied with income predictions for the next two quarters. We really need to dig deep and come up with new ideas that are going to wow them. I admit it feels a little odd to even think of growing the company when I’m about to retire, but I’ll still be a shareholder. And I have a fiduciary responsibility to the other shareholders and investors. I’m counting onyouto grab the bull by the horns and take the lead. I need something huge.”
“Okay . . .”
“And you havetonightto come up with it. You can present it at the meeting tomorrow morning.” He pointed toward the lobby. “I know you said you weren’t leaving, but you may actually want to head home now since you’ll most likely be pulling an all-nighter.” He patted me on the shoulder. “No rest for the weary, but this is your time to shine and show everyone why you’re going to be the new managing partner. See you in the morning.”
“You got it.”
I walked toward the lobby, hating myself for what I was about to do.
I had no other choice, and I already knew how Nick would react.
He wasn’t going to like it one bit.
And how could I blame him?
Nick stood and stepped toward me, rubbing the side of my arm. “Is everything okay?”
I nodded, even though it wasn’t.
How was I going to tell Nick?
I avoided eye contact, trying to come up with the right words.
“Ruth. Talk to me.”
I sighed and looked him in the eyes. “I’m going to have to take a raincheck this evening.”
Nick’s jaw and shoulders stiffened. He glanced down the hallway, even though Gary was probably already back in the Courtyard Terrace.
“I have to work,” I added, even though I was sure Nick already was aware of that.
“I’d better get you home then,” Nick said coldly.
He walked past me and—
“Wait,” I said, grabbing his arm. “I just want you to know how sorry I am about this. I was looking forward to the rest of the evening.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything.
I swallowed, not enjoying the big lump that had just formed in my throat. “It’s just . . . we have an emergency staff meeting in the morning and I have to work all night.”
“That’s what you do, Ruth. You work and work and work.”
