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But my anger at Reed bubbled up into my throat. I let go of her hand. My fists clenched. I dug my nails into my palms until I drew blood. I had to release that rage before I could step up and be what Laura needed me to be.
I jumped to my feet and walked away from her car. Looking up at the sky, I bellowed a war cry filled with fury.
Some truckers, a few parking spots away, eyed me suspiciously. One of them approached Laura, probably worried that she needed help. She spoke to him briefly, and he walked away.
I forced myself to calm down. When my anger subsided, I was hit with the realization of what Laura had done. What she had sacrificed. For me.
She had risked her career to protect me. Her job was the most important thing in the world, and she had quit for my sake.
She didn’t leave me because she didn’t have feelings for me. She left because she loved me. She had never said it, but she didn’t have to.
She loved me.
I walked back to Laura and got into the passenger seat of her car. She was sobbing, her face buried in her hands.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her to me. “It’s ok,” I said, caressing the back of her head. “Shhh. I’ll handle it. I’ll fix it. I’ll protect you and your career.” I kissed her forehead.
“You can’t protect my career without destroying your own. You have more to lose than I do. I’m just starting out. I’ll come back in six months or a year once things have settled and find a job somewhere else.”
She was right. It was too dangerous for us to keep working together. Even if I dealt with Reed, there were probably already rumors about us.
And there would definitely be rumors flying around today. Too many people had seen Laura and Reed fight. And too many people had seen me punch Reed. Someone was bound to find out about our relationship, and it would ruin both our careers and reputations.
But I wouldn’t let her sacrifice herself for me. She was built for this business, and this internship was her golden ticket. I knew exactly what I had to do.
I gently pulled her hands away from her face and looked into her eyes. “I will fix this. Neither of us has to make any sacrifices. I promise. We can still be together, Laura.”
“How?” she asked, blinking the tears away.
“Come back to the city. I want to celebrate New Year’s Eve with my girlfriend. I’ll tell you my plan over supper.”
She shook her head. “It’s no use. We—”
I put my finger to her lips. “I don’t want to hear it. Not until you hear me out first. I’ll tell you everything over supper. Please, Laura. Trust me.
Trust in us.”
Hours later, we stepped into the hotel elevator. More like I wobbled like a gnome while he stalked like a lion.
Damn heels.I clutched his arm for support.
But I wasn’t going to complain. And I would push all the fear, sadness, and anxiety about our jobs and our relationship away for a few hours.
I had promised Steven one more night. So, I would enjoy this evening as we rang in the New Year together.
I smoothed out my dress, my fingers snagging on the sequins.
After making a mad dash through every plus-size boutique within a five-block radius on my lunch break, I had finally found a red sequin dress that hugged all my curves in the most flattering way. The saleswoman had told me I looked like a goddess.
Obviously, I was doubtful. She had just wanted to make a sale. Her comment had embarrassed me. Steven ogled my breasts. The dress revealed a tad too much cleavage for my comfort, but he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the plunging neckline. “Good God, Laura, you are a goddess.”
My body was reacting very differently now than it had when the saleswoman had said it. Every one of my cells seemed to vibrate at a higher intensity. I stood to my full height. Head held high. Shoulders back. Tits out. I was embodying the goddess within me. The four-inch heels didn’t hurt either.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off you until after midnight.” His hands cupped my butt as he pressed himself against me.
“Down, boy! The doors are about to open.” He was droolworthy in his black Valentino tuxedo.
The elevator chimed, and the doors opened onto the sixty-third floor of the hotel. We walked out into the reception area of Logaro’s, the five-star fine cuisine restaurant.
