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She lifted her chin and glared at Heather. “I don’t need an appointment to see Nick. Where is he?”
She barked out a laugh. “You consider renting his cottage to be a personal relationship? Hardly. If it were so personal, you would have known that he wasn’t in the office and wouldn’t show up like a desperate teenager in the throes of puppy love.”
For a moment she was stunned into silence, then anger simmered through her. Was Heather kidding with this?
“Wow, your professionalism knows no bounds, does it? First answering Nick’s cell phone and failing to give him a message from me and now talking to me this way? From where I’m standing, you’re the employee so you should act like it.” Her hands were trembling but damn if she’d let Heather see that. She turned to leave before her bravado fled.
“Oh, you’re going to run crying to Nick again? Just remember he needs me. I could make one phone call, and he’d be out of contention for the Pritzker. My job is secure.”
Sophie’s fingers curled into fists. “Have a nice day.” She turned on her heel and strode to the exit, determined not to allow this woman to see how upset she was.
Heather called out, “You are aware of his nickname, right? You’re just one more bimbo in a long line for him. He’ll be bored of you soon, and I’ll be the one waiting.”
The door slammed. Sophie sucked in an unsteady breath, pressing her hand to her churning stomach, and hurried to her car. Despite maintaining her composure in front of Heather, she was shaken. And her barbs hit home.
Nick did have a reputation as the Player of Laguna. He’d admitted he’d never been in a serious relationship. She’d hopped into bed with Nick before she knew his middle name. Still didn’t know his middle name, come to think of it.
Sure he said he loved her, but it had only been a matter of weeks. Doug had been wonderful in the beginning too. And look how that had turned out. Maybe Heather was the Universe’s way of reminding her to slow down. Just like Doug’s betrayal had been a sign to change her life.
Bile rose in her throat as she flicked on her car’s engine. The light faded from the once vivid afternoon. The confrontation with Heather plunged her back into the space from a few months ago when she’d questioned everything about her judgment.
She gripped the steering wheel and blinked the moisture gathering in her eyes.
No way could she survive going down this road again. Time to retreat.
CHAPTER19
Sophie poured her second glass of Cristal with Zack snuggled in her lap. The most expensive champagne she’d ever bought worked to drown her sorrows just as well as to celebrate. Maybe she was on the fast track to becoming the Crazy Old Cat Lady––the Crazy Old Champagne Drinking Cat Lady––and so what if she was?
After a lengthy phone monologue bringing her best friend up to date, she was ready to listen. She switched her phone to speaker mode and Kelly’s voice filled the living room.
“Okay, I wish I was there to share that champagne with you. I think you should ignore Heather––she’s clearly trying to sabotage you. I’m proud of you for turning down the job, I’m sorry about the stats on landing an agent, but I’m thrilled about you and Nick. The chemistry between you two was crackling and he really seems like a good guy.”
Sophie’s shoulders relaxed and her lips curved up. “Thanks, Kel. That means a lot coming from you.”
“I’m always right, remember? Nick’s a big boy and can handle his career dreams just fine. Heather couldn’t be that petty as to mess up such a major business deal.”
“Hmm…” Her gut wasn’t so sure about Heather’s intentions.
“Okay, as your best friend, there are a few things I need to say. Is that cool?”
“Of course. You can tell me anything.” She tipped a little more bubbly into her champagne flute—liquid courage.
“Well, here goes. I think this huge life change has been percolating since you were a little girl—way back to when your dad bailed. Your mom’s done the best she can, but I think she’s bitter, and I think her efforts to protect you went too far.
“You’ve always put on a brave face like everything is fine, but I know you. And I remember. The external milestones your mom valued above all else are bullshit. You don’t need to publish a book or look a certain way or always be on your best behavior to deserve love. What happened with Doug is his fault, not yours. You don’t have to prove to anyone that you are good enough. Know that you simply are.”
Sophie’s eyes filled. “I appreciate your honesty. My mom even said something similar when I saw her—not in a nice way—that becoming a published author wouldn’t make Doug love me or my dad return. I know that. All those years of therapy have helped with my abandonment issues from my dad. Mostly.”
In the last few months, she’d realized she’d stayed with Doug because of her abandonment issues from her father’s desertion and her mom’s conditional love. As if she’d been the perfect woman, Doug would have loved her forever. Not so much.
“I’m serious. You. Are. Good. Enough. Exactly. As. You. Are.” Kelly punctuated each word.
Sophie gazed out the picture window. “Okay, okay. But this book means so much to me. It’s symbolic. I need to prove to myself I’m brave enough to follow my dreams, despite what anybody thinks.”
“You are following your dreams. You are doing it, as we speak. I have faith in you, and it sounds like Nick does too.”
“But it’s all so new. He just seems too good to be true. You know?” That was the question, was he?
