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Hearing her name brings back memories of the day before. I had planned to visit her first thing in the morning, but fuck, she might have already seen the email.
“IT just now removed all t-t-the unopened copies-s-s of the email from our s-s-servers. But if Marr already read…” Zane doesn’t finish.
I know he’s done all he could. “It’s okay. But how did you manage to remove footage?” I ask warily. I don’t want him to get involved in such stuff.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t do anyt-t-thing. I called Luke. He had-d-d a talk with the hotel manager,” Zane explains, but I have a good idea what he means by talk.
Of course, it’s Lukas Spencer, Zane’s closest friend, to the rescue. As always, my jaw tightens hearing his name. Knowing that Zane sought him out to clean up my mess gives an immeasurable boost to my headache. I try to hold on to the fact that at least my brother wasn’t directly involved in all the talking, so that’s a relief.
“What’s next?” It looks like they have everything under control, and I’m grateful for that, as my fucking head is useless this morning.
Zach hands me my phone. “Call Beast and then Marr.”
17
ROSE
When I get up this morning, I have a big smile on my face. I don’t remember the dream, but it was about Zander and his sensual voice from last night. As I brush my teeth, I remember his words: fucking cute and adorably sexy. As much as the words scare me, they also give me a sparky, warm feeling.
His late-night words took away the sting of the previous incidences. Vanessa’s outburst and me sharing the most shunned part of my life.
Before his phone call, I googled Vanessa and Zander’s name together but came up empty-handed. It quieted my insecurities, especially the voice in my head that repeatedly questions me. What is Zander doing with me?
Lost in my thoughts of the pivotal night, I have no idea when Kristy entered my room. She stares at my reflection, and when I meet her gaze in the mirror, I see the weirdo she sees. Toothpaste foam drools from one side of my mouth.
Crab.
She smiles, but a moment later, her smile falters. “Rosie, as much as I want you to carry on with the hallmark movie running in your brain, there’s something we need to see. I just received a text from Oscar about some updated company policies. Let’s see what’s happening in the actual world, lover girl.”
Lover girl!
I wash my face in record time and meet Kristy in our open space kitchen. She logs in to the office server while I prepare coffee. Adding sugar, I take a whiff of the warm smell when she curses. “Fuck.”
I peer toward her laptop screen, and my eyes widen at the subject of the opened email. Non-Fraternization Policy.
The spoon slips from my fingers and falls onto the wooden counter, leaving coffee splatters on the surface.
“Rose, calm down. Take deep breaths.” Kristy holds my hand, and that’s when I notice my fingers are shaking like dry leaves in the wind.
I’m jolted from my seat at the ringing of my cell phone. Zander’s face appears on the screen. Weeks back, I downloaded one of his pictures from the internet and added it to his number on my phone.
“Hell-Hello.” With all the trembling, I have a hard time forming words.
“Marr. Are you okay?” Hearing his silvery voice, my breathing starts to pacify.
“Y-Yes.”
“I guess you’ve already seen the email.” He releases a deep sigh. “I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful.”
“Will I lose my job?” I ask.
Kristy cleans the counter with the kitchen rag next to me. The swiping motion distracts me, lulling my anxiety.
“Hell no. I’ll never let that happen.”
“Okay. We haven’t read the entire email yet.”
“Then don’t read it. Can I come over?” he asks hesitantly, and then adds, “This is not how I’d planned this morning. But I really need to see you and tell you everything that’s happening in person.” I can feel the frustration in his voice.
