AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His mouth said, “You’re right. That’s a smart idea.” But his muddled brain wasn’t so sure.
* * *
As Rylie predicted,she’d been ousted immediately when she gave her notice. The email that followed was curt and formal, as if she hadn’t slaved for the company for over five years, putting in countless hours of overtime, and she was duly warned about the legal consequences of stealing clients. Only after she was officially jobless did she question whether she would be able to perform the job Jarrett had hired her for.
It was a compliment that he’d thought of her as the top student in his class. There had certainly been others she would’ve named to that position. Yet she was suddenly nervous that she’d bitten off more than she could chew. It was too late to turn back, though. She was scheduled for orientation at Phantom Enterprises at noon the next day.
She hummed as she stuck a frozen pizza in the oven and surveyed her sparsely furnished home. If her pay was even slightly better, she could start adding some nice, comfortable chairs in the family room. With a pang, it occurred to her a huge family room was silly when she would likely never have a family. Singleness seemed to be her destiny. But she loved kids, so she was counting on Carlie and Jarrett to make her an aunt. Gabe would be her first nephew.
Carlie didn’t make it home until almost six o’clock, her arms filled with shopping bags, which she plopped on the table where Rylie was finishing her pizza.
“I had the best day,” Carlie said. “I wish you could’ve come. The massage was fantastic, and then I got a mani-pedi and a facial.”
Rylie curled her fingers, hiding her ragged nails. “I’m glad you had a good time. Looks like you bought out most of the Denver Mall.”
“I didn’t go to the mall.” Wrinkles formed on top of her nose. “I can’t really take a chance on showing up at a function wearing the same dress as someone else.”
“I’ve always shopped at malls, and I’ve never had that happen to me,” Rylie said,
“That’s because no one else would ever go to a function wearing anything in your closet,” Carlie said.
“Or because I’m never invited anywhere.”
“You’ll have to go to some of those functions now.” Carlie beamed. “Since you’ll be working at Phantom Enterprises.”
The smugness in Carlie’s tone made Rylie feel uneasy. “You know about that?”
“Of course, I do. That’s why I bought some new clothes. I’m going to give you all my old ones. And you have to wear them. We made that deal, remember?” Carlie’s chin lifted as she pointed both thumbs back toward her chest. “And I’m the one who suggested Jarrett should hire you.”
Thunk. Rylie’s heart tumbled to the bottom of her abdomen. “You told him to hire me? You shouldn’t have done that, Carlie. It’s like nepotism or something.”
“No, it’s not.” Carlie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. She must’ve thought Rylie would be pleased.
“It’s like he gave me a job as a favor to you, just because you’re getting married. I asked him about that, and he swore that wasn’t the reason. Now I wish I hadn’t accepted.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Carlie cringe.
“I’m sure that wasn’t the only reason he offered you the job.” Carlie blinked rapidly, her lower lip quivering. “He wouldn’t hire you if you weren’t qualified.”
“Don’t you get it? How would you feel if you found out you got that part in the movie because someone called in a favor, instead of because someone thought you were talented?” Rylie carried her dishes to the sink, setting them down with more force than necessary.
“Thatishow I got the part.” Carlie’s cheeks went crimson. “That’s how things work in show business. It’s all about networking and making connections. When you’re starting out, you have to find a way to get your foot in the door.”
“Oh.” Rylie kicked herself internally. “I didn’t mean it as an insult. But that’s not how things work in business and technology.”
“I disagree.” Carlie mimicked the chin-jutted-forward expression Rylie wore so often. “In every profession, smart deserving people get passed over because someone else had connections. It was your turn to get lucky, and I’m not going to apologize for suggesting it to Jarrett.”
Rylie rounded up her emotions and tucked them safely inside where they belonged. What on earth had made her lose control?
“I’m sorry I snapped at you.” She stood and opened her arms, and Carlie embraced her, sniffing her indignation.
“It’s like I can’t do anything right,” Carlie said. “I was only trying to help.”
“I guess my pride was stung, because I thought Jarrett had thought of it on his own.”
She should’ve known. Once Jarrett met Carlie, all his thoughts had centered on her. All these years later, nothing had changed. And it never would.
Carlie’s face softened. “I bet he would’ve, if I’d given him the chance. He knows how smart you are.”
“It’s okay, sis. I know you meant well. I love you.”
