Page 92 of Miss Manage

No, a man wouldn’t have to deal with a predator like Julian.

“After that, I told them they could keep their offer.” Gabriel’s voice was flat and devoid of emotion. “That I wouldn’t work for men like them for another minute. They told me I’d be finished at Arrow if I walked out. So I told them I quit and would be happy to testify when you sued them for discrimination. They of course called security to escort me out.”

I stayed quiet.

“Rosie had my phone, and by the time I got a new one and went to your house, you’d already heard their version.”

I swallowed hard, my chest tight. “They said you blew up after they told you the CEO position wasn’t going to be yours. That you were angry enough about me still being considered to throw out San Francisco as one of the many reasons I wasn’t qualified.”

His voice broke on the next words. “And you believed them because they used the one thing I’d promised to never reveal.”

My throat tightened. “It was a trigger for me, and I couldn’t listen to anything else you had to say that night. But you were right. They didn’t offer me the job. They indicated they needed more time. It didn’t make sense, and on Friday my headhunter friend called to tell me they’re bringing back a candidate they’d already passed over for an interview on Tuesday. Which only reaffirms your entire story.”

“I’m so sorry. For everything. I never meant to betray your trust and hurt you.” He paused, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “I’d never use you like that. Not for a title. Not for anything.”

The sincerity in his voice pulled at me, loosening something I’d been clutching tight. “I can’t help but feel like if we weren’t involved, you wouldn’t have asked the questions you did, and you would be the CEO right now.”

His eyes narrowed. “Then I would’ve blindly worked for two misogynist pricks who’d exploit anyone for a dollar.”

“Like I did for how many years? And all of it was for nothing. No matter what I did, how I did it, they were never going to turn over the reins to a woman.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

I sighed. “There were signs. I chalked them up to business decisions. I thought I was there to insert the human element for the company. Never did I imagine how manipulative and awful they truly were.”

He studied me. “What’s your plan? What’s next?”

The question landed heavy between us.

But it wasn’t the one that mattered.

Not anymore.