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“It worked, didn’t it?”
Oh yeah. It worked. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Richard. I didn’t want to see disappointment again. I hadn’t lied when he questioned me about whether Radleigh had ever done anything to me. I’d answered honestly, I’d just … left out a few details.
“Why did you want him fired?” I asked, trying to change the direction of the conversation.
“Look at him,” she said, jerking her head in his direction. “So fucking high and mighty. Even after I accused him, he didn't wipe that smug look off his face!”
I’d always thought Taylor to be an attractive girl, but with her face contorted in anger, her beauty was lost. She just looked bitter and nuts.
“Maybe that’s because he had nothing to worry about,” I said. “Clever as you were, you still got caught out. I think he’s allowed to be a l
ittle smug.”
He smirked at what I'd said but I ignored it. I may have been standing up for him, but I was still more than a little miffed about the way he’d been with me before the meeting began.
Richard had been watching the three of us closely, and I viewed the situation through his eyes. I’d abandoned all sense professionalism to defend McCoy. In light of what Richard knew about the weekend's events, I just knew he was thinking there was more between Radleigh and I than we’d told him. The truth of the matter was simple. Taylor was a scheming witch. I wouldn't have wished the way she treated him on anyone.
“I think we've established the facts now,” I said. “Taylor has made her confession, I am Radleigh's alibi and if you need any more proof, there are about two hundred people in Boston who saw him at the party with me.”
Slowly, Richard nodded. “Leah, Radleigh. You're free to go, but I'd like a word with you both outside first.”
As the three of is stood up, Richard looked down at Taylor. “Excuse me for a moment.”
Outside the restaurant, I waited nervously for whatever Richard had to say. Chancing a glance at Radleigh I saw he looked pretty much the same way.
“I don't know what is going on between the two of you,” Richard began, “but it stops right now. I want you to quit behaving like adolescents and do the jobs you’re paid to do. If you want to hang out together outside of work, that’s one thing, but if you’re in a relationship-”
“We're not,” I interrupted. “Nor will we ever be.”
Richard shook his head. “Well, whatever is – or isn't – going on,” he said, “I don’t want any more of your crap dragged in to work. I want you doing your jobs, not disrupting my team with your soap opera.”
McCoy and I both nodded, but it was further agony for me knowing I’d let him down so badly. I already missed the man who’d helped me settle in at Westberg, and taken the time every day during my first few weeks to ask me if there was anything he could do for me. No more would Richard and I share a joke while discussing our daily tasks. From now on, it would be strictly business.
“We'll keep out of trouble,” I assured him.
“I'm glad to hear it. Now, if you'll excuse me.”
He turned and re-entered the restaurant, leaving me feeling like a schoolgirl who’d just got a rollocking from the headmaster.
“Thanks,” Radleigh said. “Thanks for everything you said in there.”
“I didn’t really have any other choices.”
He shook his head, “Not true. What you did was way more than was necessary.”
I shrugged. “I don't like liars. And before you start getting all smug about how I said all that because I secretly have feelings for you, I don’t. I still think you’re a complete arse for the way you’ve treated me. So don't waste your breath.”
“If you say so.”
If we had been somewhere else, I would have yelled.
Glaring at him, I said, “Don't. We had sex, and now it's over. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. You’ve made my job impossible and ruined my relationship with Miguel, now I would appreciate it if you'd leave me alone.”
I turned on my heel and began to walk away, but Radleigh followed me. “You can blame me for ruining your relationship if it helps you. But you're the one who cheated. And even though you thought I'd forced myself on Taylor, you still slept with me. Just think about that before you start blaming me for everything.”
For once, I was pleased Freya wasn’t home when I got in. Most days, I loved talking to her after work, but that day, everything was still too raw to discuss.
Throwing myself down on my bed, I allowed myself to cry for a while, letting all of the day’s tension drain away.
