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He held his hands up to quiet me. “Save your breath. You know, the craziest part about this whole thing is that I could have handled a fair competition. But for you to keep it from me, and go behind my back to make your little reports to Chuck?”
“I was going to tell you today. I know it looks bad and like I’m only coming clean now that you already know. But I promise I was going to tell you today.”
“Sure, you were. Right after you sent your report in to Chuck.”
“No. This morning. I was going to tell you this morning. Please let me explain.”
He took a few steps backward toward the door and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t have time. There’s an emergency meeting at work I have to get to. It seems the new Goliath in town is gunning for all the little Davids on the island. Aloha, Miss Ferguson.”
“I don’t want to hurt your family’s business.” I took a few hurried steps after him. “Let me help you.”
He laughed and the sound stopped me in my tracks. My blood ran cold. It wasn’t the warm and buttery music of his usual laughter. It was bitter and sounded like it hurt as it came out of his mouth. “I think we’ll pass. The last thing we need is a spy in our ranks. But thanks. Next time I’m looking to tank the business, I’ll be sure to give you a call.”
My head swam with words that sounded hollow as I watched Kai walk out of the hotel and out of my life.
Every part of me wanted to call out after him—or grab him and make him listen to me. But it would have been useless. I’d wounded him too deeply.
I’d seen it in his eyes.
My own eyes filled with tears I couldn’t afford to shed. If there was a way to fight my way out of this mess, it wouldn’t be found by collapsing on the floor in a puddle of hot tears.
“Wow,” Rachel said, “That was unexpected.”
“Was it?” I sniffed, thankful for my recent sneeze-fest to disguise the true reason for my sniffles.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know I needed to keep the job a secret. We were just talking and…”
My shoulders drooped as the last tinge of resentment I’d held against the woman drained away. “Don’t be sorry. None of this is your fault.”
Another text rang through on my phone. Ever hear of the saying, when it rains, it pours? Yeah, the text was from Chuck Peters. I tapped on the message, bracing myself for more lovely news.
Chuck Peters: Got your message. Blue Pacific will pay for one more night in the hotel for you since it’s already past check-out time. After that, all expenses will be your responsibility. We don’t pay to put non-employees up in hotels.
So, I was fired. I couldn’t say I was surprised about that.
I sighed from the deepest part of my being and looked over at Rachel. “Why don’t you take the day off?”
Her eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yeah, I can handle things myself today.” From the look on her face, I was a shoe-in for the Best Non-Boss of the Year award.
After one last longing look at the door, I headed back to my room. In the past twelve hours, I’d been a one-woman wrecking crew. I’d wrecked my relationship with the best man I’d ever known, right along with my chances of ever working in the travel industry again.
But I didn’t have time to focus on that. I had one ace up my sleeve.
That report.
I hadn’t written it yet, but I had to write it whether I was fired or not. It was the key to fixing everything that mattered to me.
At least I hoped it was.
