"That was a nice little speech," I growled, doing a quick golf clap that was meant to annoy her. “You almost convinced me with that one. Now let me see Victoria."
Christine's face hardened into stone. "Victoria is busy, Mr. Locklin. Besides, you'd be better off focusing on helping your father's company maintain its portfolio rather than wasting your time on Victoria. Now please, I’m going to need you to leave my building.”
Ignoring the last bit, I said “You’re not accomplishing anything. You can't keep me from seeing her."
Christine produced a cellphone out of the side of her dress in one quick, elegant flourish, brandishing it in front of my face as if it were a weapon. “Of course I can’t. But I can have you escorted out of the building. Which I'll be forced to do if you don't leave within ten seconds." She stared at me with challenge. I could see in her eyes that she wanted me to defy her.
I stood there for a second, wondering if I should call her bluff.
"Fine," I said, hating myself for giving up, but not wanting to give the condescending woman the pleasure of having me removed from her building. "I'm leaving.”
Victoria
I let out a sigh, sweat beading my forehead. When I'd gotten the message from April that Tyler was here, I almost lost my will, tempted to go down to talk to him. Right when I was about to go down, Christine intervened, saying that she'd handle it and if I wanted to see him, I’d have to do it on my own time.
While there was the normal bossiness in her voice, it almost sounded like she said it as I got your back. I was shocked, but at the same time, I was probably just imagining it. Christine never did anything for anyone, though she had seemed to lighten up a little over the last couple of months.
"What did he say?" I asked with trepidation, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.
Ignoring him was the hardest thing I'd ever done, but I’d managed. All I had to do was think of what I’d seen, and it gave me the will and the resolve to hold steady.
Today was the first time that the image didn't produce the strength needed to resist the urge to give him a chance to explain.
"He was determined to see you," Christine replied. "I told him that you were busy, which you are. Victoria, I don’t need this kind of thing happening here. I know you can’t control him, but I need you to try to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
I was taken back, almost speechless. “Um, thank you, Mrs. Finnerman,” I told her, unsure exactly what to say. “And it won’t happen again. I promise.”
Christine walked over. “Good. Now get back to work. You’re a good assistant with a bright future ahead of you, but trust me with this one: there’s a thousand girls out there who’d kill for your job, and I won’t tolerate disruptions.”
My jaw almost needed to be picked up from my desk. Did Christine just compliment me? What was the world coming to?
"Close your mouth, Victoria, or you might catch a fly,” Christine advised, knowing that she’d just rendered me speechless.
I snapped my mouth shut as my boss walked away. “And don't let my praise go to that silly little head of yours, Victoria. You have a long way to go before you can walk a step in my shoes."
And then she was gone.
Chapter 23
Tyler
"You don't have to worry about me embarrassing you anymore," I said to my father as I sat directly across from him in his office. "My relationship with Victoria is over."
My father regarded me wearily. "Is that why you suddenly started drinking?"
I nodded. Normally I didn't reveal private things that involved emotion with him, but I felt like I needed to, so that we'd be able to at least function on speaking terms for the betterment of Armex.
“Yes. We haven’t seen each other for a few months now, actually.”
“I suppose that explains a lot,” Dad muttered. He stared at me. "I'm sorry, son. How are you doing?”
I shrugged. "I'm over it."
"Don't try to act all nonchalant with me, Tyler." Dad sat back in his seat. "For a while I didn't believe you cared about Victoria one way or the other. I believed you were just using her to get back at me because I wanted you to have a perfect relationship. In reality, I should have been happy you finally found someone who could rein you in. Lord knows you’ve picked some real keepers. Like . . .”
"Don't even mention her name,” I growled.
He cleared his throat. "Anyway, after I thought about it, I realized standing in your way was just going to make matters worse."
Gee, Dad, I thought wryly. Now you want to come to this conclusion when our relationship is over. How convenient.