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But the executives had made up their minds already.
“I think this is perfect,” said Jim. “So, Miss Chambers is willing to model to promote the hotel? Do you have an established reputation back in the US?”
“I … uh … I’ve done a couple of catalogs and the odd magazine. Nothing unusual.”
“An early-career model!” enthused Karen. “How edgy! Howmodern. It’ll certainly play well with our younger demographic. I can see these on billboards and subway stations all over the US.”
“Well, congratulations, Miss Chambers,” grinned Aidan, my Head of Marketing. “You’re the new mascot for Honolulu Hotels Ltd? How do you feel?”
“There’s been a huge misunderstanding,” said Lena. “I didn’t mean for these photos to be here …”
“Well, of course, we could go with someone else for the campaign,” said Jim. “But I rather like your image, ma’am. I think we’d be lucky to have her on board, don’t you, Alex?”
“I’m sure we would.” I could feel my blood boiling. “Lena, I think that’s all we need you for. The rest of us can talk things over. Let me show you out.”
Inthecorridor,Iturned back and looked through the glass walls of the boardroom.
“Is this some kind of sick joke!” I said.
“No, Alex, I can explain,” said Lena. She looked genuinely embarrassed at what had happened. But I felt sure she’d planned this: by now the rift between us had grown to the point where I didn’t even trust the words coming out of her mouth.
“You don’t have to explain!” I snapped. “You decided to sabotage my meeting to try and further your career. What am I supposed to do now? Go back in there and tell the executives of my company that I can’t read!? The envelope saidbriefing documentson it.”
“Please, you have to believe me. It was a mistake. I knew I’d be gone by the end of the week so I was sending out the shots and profiles of myself to an agency. Erin Carter, they’re on Paani Street. You can call them up.”
“I’m not interested,” I said. “I need to go back in there to patch this up. In the meantime, if you want to go to war with me,Miss Chambers, then we can go to war. Just watch me.”
“Why won’t you believe me?”
“From the first instance, you’ve been untrustworthy. I realize now that I haven’t been able to believe a single word that’s come out of your mouth since you started working for me.”
Lena said nothing. Every muscle in her body seemed tense.
And then, to my shock, she burst into tears.
“You’re such a bastard,” she said. “Why are you always like this? It’s so cruel. What happened to make you want to treat someone this way?”
I stepped back, shocked at the reaction I’d raised in her. Suddenly, I wasn’t looking at an evil mastermind anymore. I was looking at a beautiful woman, who seemed genuinely apologetic.
Was I really such a monster?
I stood stock still. And by the time I opened my mouth again to speak, Lena had run off and was fleeing down the long corridor of the office.
I realized that she was leaving. That I’d never see her again.
And suddenly, that seemed like the worst thing in the world. I need her back. I messed up this time.
Chapter Seven
Lena
Ilefttheofficeand went straight back to my apartment. I didn’t even bother to collect any of my things at my desk. I felt embarrassed and humiliated, and Alex’s reaction hadn’t made it any better.
He had every right to be angry. I knew that. Not only had my carelessness wrecked his plans for the meeting, but now his executives seemed to have the idea that I was going to be the face of the new advertising campaign for the Kauai Continental.
I couldn’t deny that it was the dream of a lifetime. But I couldn’t even feel optimistic about the kind of things they’d said, the way the executives had looked over my photos.
All I could think about was Alex, his fiery eyes, and the way he’d dismissed my excuses and made me feel like a selfish and vengeful person.
