Page 118 of Spring Break Fling

Clarke stood behind his desk, hands raised in a placating gesture. “Stephen, calm down. We can discuss this⁠—”

But Stephen wasn’t listening. Two security guards rushed in, trying to wrestle the chair from his grip. I could hear the distant wail of sirens approaching.

I stood paralyzed, watching the meltdown. This was not how I had imagined my dramatic resignation would go. Security managed to get the chair out of Stephen’s hands and restrained him. I stepped out of the way just as Stephen laid eyes on me.

He glared at me, his face contorted with rage. “You!” Stephen spat, pointing at me. “This is all your fault!”

I took an instinctive step back, my heart racing. The security guards were still wrestling with Stephen, but his eyes were locked on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

“Suck an egg, dipshit,” I told him, glad I had that locked and loaded. The guy was scaring me but I wasn’t about to show it. Of course, looking brave was easier when armed guards were holding him back.

Clarke, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “Call the police and get him the hell out of here,” he told the guards. “Hannah, I need to see you. Now.”

Stephen was struggling against the guards, but they dragged him away like he weighed nothing. His voice carried from down the hall. “You set me up, you pig fucker!”

I wondered if he meant me or my boss.

“Hannah!” Clarke said again with more urgency.

I stepped into his office and got a better glimpse of the chaos and destruction. Papers were strewn about like confetti. A potted plant looked like it had been thrown against the wall, shattering and getting dark potting soil everywhere. Clarke looked frazzled.

“Productive meeting?” I asked.

“He’s fired,” Clarke replied humorlessly. “Walk with me. I need a new cup of coffee. Stephen spit in this one.”

I followed him out of the office and down the hall. “What was his problem?” I asked.

Clarke shook his head. “I never should have given him the New York job. He couldn’t hack it. The clients were pissed at how he spoke to them. I swear, the man has the finesse of a monkey with a machine gun. And when I called him out on his crap, he lied and blamed the clients for being too sensitive. I fired him and he had the audacity to tell me I couldn’t.” He stopped in the breakroom and looked at me. “I need you there.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What? Where?”

“I need you in New York. You’re the right candidate. You have been right from the jump.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He thought I was the right candidate? Pride washed over me. I was finally getting my chance. This was my moment. I can’t believe I’m going to get my shot!

“Can I count on you, Hannah?” Clarke asked.

I was already nodding. “Yes, absolutely you can, I just⁠—”

Nikko.

I was supposed to be up here quitting my job and moving to Miami to be with him. We had a dinner booked for this weekend to tell my friends. It would be a hard conversation, we agreed, but Miami isn’t that far, and I would still see them as much as possible. But this? Nikko wouldn’t want to go to New York. There was just no way.

But he’ll want me to take my shot, right?

“Hannah, I need an answer. We’re on the clock. Are you going to take the job?”

How could I turn it down? I was going to quit because I didn’t get the job and now I had it.

“Yes,” I heard myself say.

“Good. You’ll need to be in New York by the start of next week.”

My mouth dropped open. “Five days?”

“Stephen screwed this up,” he hissed. “I don’t have time for cold feet or second thoughts. Are you going to make it work or not?”

“I’ll make it work,” I said. “But, uh, I need to go. I can’t be in the office. I have things to take care of.”