I jerked back. That was low. ‘I want to believe the best in people – why is that such a problem for you?’
He shook his head. ‘Because your unquestioning belief in Marcie might hurt Jess.That’smy problem.’ I wanted to ask him why he seemed more concerned with Jess than with me, but he wasn’t done speaking. ‘And don’t pretend this is all some altruistic act to help Marcie heal. You’re doing this for your own career.’
That blow landed, too. But this one I wasn’t going to take lying down. ‘You’re damn right I am. I’ve worked for ten years to get here, and if the magazine fails it’s not just my career that goes down in flames, it’s the jobs and livelihoods of all the people who work with me. But maybe that doesn’t mean anything in your industry, where it’s every trader for himself.’
I was breathing hard, trying to contain my feelings.
Simon nodded slowly and stood up. ‘Well, thanks for putting me in my place.’
He walked out and I was too dazed to stop him.
How the fuck had this conversation spiralled out of control? Alice had been so sure Simon would understand.
He was wrong about Marcie having ulterior motives. I knew it in my bones. And I’d been right to stand up for her. It wasn’t because I was some obsessed fan defending the saintly image of Marcie Tyler.
But my feelings had run higher for another reason: Simon had been so quick to side with Jess instead of hearing me out. His blind loyalty to her clawed at me. It wasn’t something I wanted to dwell on.
I stood up and downed the last of my coffee. I was fed up of going round in circles. I may have said a couple of things he didn’t deserve, but Simon had given as good as he’d got.
