Just One Night, Part 3_ Binding Agreement(12)

“We had to let Tom Love go,” he says. “But you know that.”

I nod, swallow hard, and stare at my lap.

“Tom was an asset,” Mr. Costin continues. “All of his departments were performing well, including yours.”

Again I nod. What was once confidence is now anxiety. I can feel my heart pounding against my chest. It’s so loud, I wonder if Mr. Costin can hear it.

“The business world is a brutal one,” he continues. “Survival of the fittest and all that. And the fittest isn’t necessarily the strongest. There are many incredibly strong animals who have fallen victim to extinction while the weaker monarch remains protected by her colors, beautiful and toxic. Funny how that works, isn’t it?”

I consider challenging him but when I look up and meet his eyes I think better of it. I shrug awkwardly, suddenly ashamed of my brighter colors.

“You came up here expecting me to offer you Tom’s job. Am I right?”

Again I shrug and hope he doesn’t notice the flush creeping up my cheeks.

“For God’s sake, if you’re going to act like a shy kindergartner, I’m going to have to treat you like one. Use your words, Kasie.”

I clear my throat. “I have heard rumors . . .” but my voice trails off. I don’t have any idea how to proceed. I thought I knew what was coming, but I don’t.

“Now that’s an interesting way to put it,” Mr. Costin steeples his fingers and smiles. “I’ve been hearing a few rumors myself. Shall we compare notes? Do tell, Kasie. What have you been hearing?”

I squirm slightly. “I heard that you might be about to offer me a promotion,” I say. My voice is as thin as a monarch’s wings.

“As rumors go that’s probably one of the more innocent ones I’ve heard in a while,” he notes. “Most of the rumors circulating around this company lately are more . . . salacious.”

Now I know he can see my blush. I straighten my posture. I have to hold my own here. I need to look like a woman who deserves a promotion, not, as Mr. Costin just implied, like a scared little girl. “Are you considering me for the job, Mr. Costin?” I manage to sound a little more composed this time.

But my composure is tenuous, more so when Mr. Costin takes his time answering me, studying me with those cold eyes. “Maned Wolf has business relations with many of our clients and Robert Dade is a personal shareholder in the rest. He has more pull and influence in the business world than any other man in LA. I had to let go of Tom because keeping him could have cost us all of our accounts. I wasn’t given a choice. I don’t like it when people take away my choices, Kasie. Do you understand that?”

I nod.

“Your words!”

“Yes, Mr. Costin,” I say quickly. So much for being powerful and in control. This roller coaster of emotion is too extreme for me. I want to get off the ride.

“I also like Dylan Freeland, the cofounder of this company. He may no longer be that involved in the day-to-day operations here but he is still a key player in all our major decisions. Do you know what it was like for him? Being cornered? Feeling like he has to make decisions to elevate someone who caused pain to those he loves while ruining a man who has always served his company—the company he built—with honor?”

Honor. Tom Love doesn’t deserve to have the word associated with him. And yet I hadn’t felt comfortable with his firing, either. It hadn’t been based on his sexual harassment of me; it had been based on lies. I have no defense against Mr. Costin’s attacks.

I force myself to hold his gaze. I can see there’s more he wants to say. Insults and accusations that he’s working hard to hold back. He’s yet to accuse me of sleeping my way to the top even though that’s clearly what he thinks I’m doing. He hasn’t told me that I fucked around on Mr. Freeland’s godson only to then get rewarded for opening my legs to a client. Does he want to call me a bitch? A slut? What would he do to me if he wasn’t afraid of repercussions?

And that’s when it dawns on me, he is afraid of repercussions. His anger has no teeth. I lift my chin. Sticks and stones. I can bear this. I have to bear this. It’s no less than what I deserve and, honestly, it can’t hurt me.

“If Mr. Freeland is upset, I’m truly sorry about that. I’m sorry you’re upset, too,” I add, “but that was never my intention. I’ve worked here for six years and none of my clients have ever had a complaint.”

“I wonder why,” Mr. Costin says dryly.

Again I squirm. He says so much without saying anything at all. Still I push forward. “I just led a team on a major project for the first time. While I realize that most people who are moved into a supervisory position such as Tom’s—”