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“Andrew,” she gasped out.
“No.”Fuck.I jerked away and she slumped against the wall. Her heaving breaths matched my own and spots of red rode her cheekbones. My lips twisted. I wasn’t this person. In that moment, I had never hated myself more. “No.” I repeated the words to myself and stalked out.
* * *
An hourlater I was frustrated as hell and sitting in Gerald’s office while he paced. “They’re threatening to pull the plug.” Gerald sounded pissed, and rightfully so.
“You’re kidding, right? We’re most of the way done with the deal.”
The light in his office was dim and hazy, making everything look gilded and a little bit fake. Too bad work was a nightmare, not a dream, these days. Margo should have been at the table with us and every time I saw the empty chair I got a little angrier.
Gerald frowned. “This is going to come back to bite us. If the target backs out, Spencer is going to freak out. Which means none of us get paid.”
That was Gerald, focused on what mattered. But I heard the subtext, which was that no one was making partner if this deal fell through. Gerald levered his bulk out of the chair and opened the door.
“Fix it, Andrew.”
I stalked back to our office, a plan beginning to formulate. I had set events in motion a few days ago, and now I needed to reel Margo in. If I could just entice her, I could make her mine.
42
Margo
Andrew was focused, almost angry when he came back to the office from wherever he had been. His movements were sharp and his jaw set.Not my problem. It was hard enough sitting here, with the anger at him burning in my gut. During the best moments, I just felt numb. I turned back to my computer and tried to focus on the busywork that I was being delegated. From trusted advisor to dirt, all in a few days.
“The target is trying to pull the plug on the deal.”
I looked up and he was pacing the office. “What? We’re so close to signing. How is that possible?”
He speared a hand through his hair. “I have no details. All I was told was we have to fix it.”
“You mean you,” I said quietly. “You have to fix it. I’m no longer relevant.” I felt ill at the words and shut my eyes.
“Margo.”
The weight of his hands were on my thighs and I opened my eyes to see him kneeling before me. Mistake. He was looking at me with regret and I didn’t want to feel anything for this man. “Andrew, stop. Please, stop.” My voice was broken. I sounded like I was pleading with him and maybe I was.
“Ok, sweetheart.”
I made a pained sound and his eyes went soft. This was too much. I needed to leave. My heart beat wildly in my chest but his hands anchored me to the chair.
“Fix this, Margo. Find a way. Do you hear what I’m saying?” His stare bored in to mine. “Come find me when you do.”
* * *
“And then hetold me to fix it and find a way. What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I ground the palms of my hands against my eyes before looking up to see Cynthia with her head cocked.
“I think,” she said slowly. “I think it means that if you solve this, you’ll make partner.”
I scoffed, but a little bit of hope kindled inside me. “Why would he help me?”
“I’m not sure…but think about it. This type of thing is normally totally out of our control. If the other side pulls the plug, it’s a commercial decision, not legal. But somehow, if you could save this deal…you’d be a hero.”
“To Gerald’s pocketbook,” I muttered, but the wheels were turning. “The thing is, after the way Gerald turned on me, I’m not even sure I want to work here anymore, much less save this deal.” Gerald’s lack of faith in me had been almost as devastating as Andrew’s betrayal. Gerald had been my boss since my first day at the firm, had been a mentor to me.
“Well, I guess you could go out on top at least. If you win the deal, you’ll have a killer resume for your next firm.” Cynthia seemed resigned, despite her support.
“What?” I frowned at her. “What aren’t you saying?”
