Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“Gee, what a prize for me.”
I smiled. “Good luck, Texas.”
***
Later in the day, Jonas knocked on my open office door. “Got a minute?”
I tossed my pencil on the desk, glad for the distraction. My concentration had been shit all afternoon. “Come on in.”
He closed the door behind him—not something Jonas did often. Taking a seat in the chair on the other side of my desk, he let out a big sigh.
“How long have we known each other now? Ten years?”
I shrugged. “About that.”
“In all that time, I’ve never seen you as stressed as you’ve been the last week or two.”
He was right about that. My damn neck ached from tension, even when I woke up in the morning.
“There’s a lot at stake.” Way more than this competition was ever supposed to be about.
Jonas nodded. “That’s why I’m telling you this in confidence today. I owe it to you to put you out of your misery as soon as possible, after how hard you’ve worked for me all these years.”
What was he getting at? “Okay…”
He smiled half-heartedly. “I spoke to the team at Star before they left a little while ago. They’re going with your campaign. It was the unanimous choice of the entire team.”
I should’ve felt like high fiving and celebrating, but instead the victory felt hollow. I forced a happy smile. “That’s great.”
“That’s not the only good news. Billings Media has also unofficially told me they plan to run with your pitch. They also reached out to our CEO and let him know they’d been impressed with your work over the years. I didn’t ask them to do that, either. They did it on their own because you work hard.”
“Wow. Okay.”
“I don’t think I need to tell you what this means. The board is going to formally vote on all of the senior management staffing restructures and terminations, but it’s just a formality at this point. You’ve won two out of three, so the third isn’t even necessary. You’re staying put, Bennett.” Jonas slapped his knee and used it as balance to get up. “Annalise will be transferred to the Dallas office. But we’ll wait until after the Pet Supplies presentations to break the news.”
I rubbed the knot at the back of my neck. “Thanks for letting me know, Jonas.”
He left the door open behind him on the way out.
I’d won.
Everything I’d wanted two months ago was mine for the keeping. Yet I couldn’t have felt more damn miserable. It made me question whether I ever really knew what I wanted to begin with. Because now I couldn’t imagine wanting anything that took Annalise a thousand miles away.
An hour later, I was still staring off into space when Annalise came by with her jacket on. “Thank you for the dry run this afternoon. It made my presentation come off smoother.”
I nodded. “No problem. Glad it went well.”
Her lips curved in a dubious smile. “Sure you are. Anyway, I’m heading out to meet Madison at some Nepali restaurant—whatever that is. Are we still on for dinner tomorrow night?”
I’d completely forgotten she was supposed to make me dinner at her place.
“Sure. Sounds good.” It might be one of the last nights we have.
Annalise dug her keys from her purse and tilted her head. “You okay?”
“Fine. Just tired.”
“Well, get some rest tonight.” She smirked. “Because you won’t be getting any at my place tomorrow.”
Chapter 41
* * *
April 1st
Dear Me,
It’s time.
These last few months since Lucas and I moved in with Bennett, I’ve been happier than I’ve been in my entire life. But this morning, watching Bennett laugh and play with Lucas finally made up my mind. We were already like a family in so many ways. Maybe he could love me back the way I love him?
He just got a promotion at his new job—after only a year of working there. He’s more settled now.
I have to at least try. Tell him how I’ve felt for so long now.
What harm could it do?
I can’t remember the last time I was this excited. Hopefully when I write next month, something life changing will have happened between Bennett and me.
This poem is dedicated to Bennett.
Two vines growing tall
one wraps around the other tight
Entwined or strangled
This letter will self-destruct in ten minutes.
Anonymously,
Sophie
Chapter 42
* * *
Bennett
I couldn’t sleep again.
Do you remember “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe? You probably read it in high school. No? Well, let me give you the short version. A dude kills another dude and stuffs his body under his floorboards. He keeps hearing the dead guy’s heartbeat from beneath the floor because of the guilt his conscience lays on him. Either that, or the guy is just nuts—I was never sure.
Anyway, that’s me—with a slight modification. I’m living “The Smell-Tail Heart” by Bennett Fox. I tossed and turned half of the damn night, the scent of Annalise so heavy on my pillow that after two hours of trying to fall asleep, I got up and stripped the bed. I also grabbed a spare pillow I’d had stuffed in the back of my closet—one Annalise had never laid a finger on—and tossed the offending linens into the hall.