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“It truly wasn’t . . . until recently.”
His posture stiffens, and my hand darts out to land on his chest. “Nothing has happened between us, and it wouldn’t as far as I’m concerned. I don’t have feelings for him like that. He’s like my brother. Our other best friend, Lily, is in love with him. Has been for a long time.”
“Why do I get the feeling that his affections for you are entirely different?”
“My mom and Lily have been saying for some time that they thought Asher’s feelings had shifted. I’ve been avoiding it because the thought of that nearly destroyed me. It would ruin everything.”
“It appears it’s too late for that. The man looked utterly gutted.”
I wince, closing my eyes. “I know.”
I sigh. “The last thing I want to do is upset you more, but I must ask, what date was he referring to?”
My stomach drops. This is the one thing I did not want Charles to find out. I messed up when I told Asher about the account. It’s my fault we lost Summer. But I can’t lie to him. I need to own up to it.
“It wasn’t a date. Something recently happened, and he took me to dinner as an apology.”
“What happened?”
I chew my bottom lip, looking down at my lap. “I told him about the Diosa account and how we were bringing Summer on board.”
His back straightens, and his eyes harden into slits. I rush on with my explanation.
“We’ve always talked about everything. I didn’t think about the ramifications.”
“He works for Bauer,” he practically growls, and I slink backward in response to his anger.
He has every right to be mad. This is enough to get me fired, and I wouldn’t blame him if he did. I signed confidentiality paperwork, and I broke it.
“He told his upper management.” It’s not a question. Charles is speaking out loud, putting all the pieces together.
“Yes.”
His eyes close, and his jaw ticks.
“I don’t think I need to tell you how bad this is, Raven.”
I nod, gulping.
“I take full responsibility for losing Summer.”
“Why didn’t you tell me immediately? Were you trying to lose the account for us?”
My head jerks back, his tone and words together catching me so off guard. I expected him to be angry, but this is something much worse. He actually thinks I’d purposely sabotage Cavendish?
“You can’t be serious, Charles. I’d never.”
He jumps up from the couch, pacing the room.
“I don’t know what to think. Here I am, opening up to you, going off to Italy for the project, getting closer, and you’ve been having clandestine meetings with the competition. Giving confidential information away to your arsehole of a mate.”
“Clandestine meetings?” I say, standing up and crossing my arms over my chest. “Are you serious? He’s my best friend. Someone I’ve met up with regularly for far longer than I’ve worked for you.” I spit the words, growing more angry by the second.
How dare he accuse me of such a thing? I’ve worked my ass off for this account, and he actually thinks I would do that to hand it over to the competition? Fuck that.
Charles’s hand sweeps back through his hair, pulling at the roots. He looks more frustrated than angry at the moment.
“Charles,” I say, taking a step toward him, and he takes a step away from me.
