Page 97 of Feel It in the Air

“We’ll conduct our review. Figure out if there was any kind of wrongdoing, conflict of interests, favoritism, etc., and if discovered, take the necessary action,” Percy says.

Take the necessary action…

My stomach flips, pulse kicking into high gear. How I’ve kept my heart rate under control until now I have no idea, but those four words set it loose like the starting gun at the Olympics. Because they can only mean one thing.

Termination.

Conflict of interest is hard to prove in situations like this. Especially on the receiving end. What isn’t going to take much is the violation of the fraternization policy. Even if we try to claim that it started prior to his overseeing the legal department, we weren’t official or public, nor had it been declared—three conditions that I’m sure are required. Conditions I’d require if I were the one drawing up the contract. And Hayes has much better lawyers than me.

“Understood.” I bite out the answer, the single word leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

Still, there’s a chance this could all blow over. That they decide there was no wrongdoing. A decision they would be well within their right to come to. We went to great lengths to keep our relationship out of the office.

Other than that one night on my desk.

I suppose the trip to Savannah was technically a Hayes-sponsored trip. But neither of those events affected the others in the department. And when it came to the others, everyone was treated fairly. Mabel even said so the other day.

“Until then, we’re placing you on administrative leave.”

Or not.

“You’re suspending me?”

I lurch forward so fast my chair almost rolls out from under me. Steadying myself, I try to regain control, over my emotions and my body, but it’s hard. The underlying numbness still thrums through me, and paired with the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride of emotions and the fire crackling through my veins, each new hit has me reeling.

“Administrative leave,” Percy repeats. As if somehow calling it that makes it better. Softens the blow. Three days ago he was putting me in charge of a new project, and today he’s removing me from the building. “Paid, of course. It’s standard practice. Just until we can figure this out.”

A soft ping resounds in the back of mind, my whole world shattering around me. Everything I’ve worked for, my entire career crumbling underneath me.

I’m going to lose everything.

“We know this isn’t ideal,” Carl states. “But we want you to know that⁠—”

“Thank you for your time,” I cut him off, each word more terse and clipped than the one before.

Pushing to my feet, I tighten the knot around the string that is precariously keeping me stitched together. My temper flares under my skin, but I don’t let it show. Instead, I force it down deep, letting it turn into lava that can boil and bubble, spreading through me. Seep into every crack and space there is. That’s the only way I’m going to get through the rest of this.

I can fall apart later. Once I’m behind closed doors and I can fully be alone with myself and the consequences of my actions. Of the risk I took.

I nod, silently thanking my bosses for their time, unable to say anything else. What else is there to say?

Plenty actually, but none of it is going to solve anything.

None of the counterarguments I could present about Teresa and her actions or attitude toward me since I arrived matter. I’ve kept them to myself, trying not to cause drama, so there isn’t documentation backing them up. All they would be now is she said-she said. A thin grasping at straws as a last-ditch effort.

No, I took a risk and it came back to bite me in the ass. Time to woman up and own it.

“I promise that we’ll make this as swift as we can,” Percy says as I reach for the door handle.

“I trust that you will,” I reply, my voice warbling. And I mean it. If there is anything that I know in my gut, it’s that they won’t try and drag this out.

Making my way to my desk, I keep my head down, gathering the personal effects that I can fit in my purse. Thankfully, no one seems to be around this afternoon, so I can do this without an audience. I have no idea if this is by design, but I’m grateful either way.

“Margeaux.”

I look up, Auggie’s deep voice catching me off guard. His face is somber, his brown eyes as soulful as each one of his sons’. Must be where they all get it from.

He looks around, checking there is no one around us. “This is not how I wanted our first meeting to go.”

I force a small smile, appreciating his sentiment. Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I turn to go, but then stop, looking back at him. “That makes two of us.”

I don’t wait for a response, heading straight for the door. I need time and space to think. To figure out what comes next. How I could have been so stupid.

My career has always been the most important thing. My number one focus. I let that slip—for a relationship.

The buzz in my purse stops me, my already on-edge self wondering what now. What else could happen. After that meeting, there doesn’t really seem like there’s another shoe to drop. Then again, I thought we were in the clear in the first place, so maybe I need to not get ahead of myself in thinking that nothing worse can happen.

I do a double take at the name on my screen, having to read the message a couple of times before it sinks in. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.

Dexter Wynn

M, heard things at Hayes are getting a shake-up. We should talk…