Chapter Seventeen

Maverick

“Good morning,” I say cheerfully to the man who shares the elevator ride up with me. He just nods and gets off on the second floor where an investment firm is located. If he were about to do what I’m about to do— tell my dad the truth about me and Beth and then win my girl back—he’d be in a pretty good mood too. Today is the day I put everything out there. No more sneaking around with work or Beth. The last two and a half months would have been a lot easier if I’d have done this from the beginning. It just took me a bit longer than most to put my priorities in order—starting with Beth. She wants honesty, well, I’m about to downpour it.

“Good morning,” I say, greeting Ann as I pass her desk. “You should call my father. He misses you.” She gasps as I pass another desk, knocking on the top with my knuckles, and smile at the guy behind the computer.

“Good morning,” I say to him as well as I continue to make my way toward my office. I have no idea what his name is.

What I do know is that my father will be here in just under an hour and after that, life will be good. But first, I need to get rid of the leech standing at my office door.

“Well, what could possibly put my cousin in such a good mood?” Austin asks as I approach my door. He’s leaning against the frame with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face. He isn’t really interested in what he just asked me. He’s here for something and I have a pretty strong feeling I know what it is.

“Well, it isn’t you,” I say and his head jerks back. Damn, I should have tried this blunt thing a long time ago. “I have a long list of things to take care of today, Austin. So, please, get to the reason why you are here,” I say. His eyes narrow, but he gets right to it.

“I’m pitching a separate proposal to TACM, and if my schedule is correct, I’m doing it an entire hour before you and Beth will be presenting yours.”

Tomorrow is the day we present. Then the radio station has forty-eight hours to decide if they want to hire us. After that, MM chooses who—Austin, Beth, or me—they will hire. Two proposals to choose from has never been an option.

“That wasn’t part of the program. Yeah, you could work separately, but we pull our assignments together and pitch as one. You know that,” I remind him.

“My father was happily open to the idea of switching things up this year. He’s always been a competitive man, as you know, and he’s looking forward to hearing what we all have to offer.”

I take my seat behind my desk to absorb the pile of bullshit he just laid out. “By all means, please proceed with pitching to TACM before Beth and myself. With the research and hours Beth and I have devoted to them, I have no doubt TACM will accept our proposal.”

He huffs.

“Now if you don’t mind—”

Where did this envelope come from?

The issue with Austin is pushed to the back of my mind as I stare at the unfamiliar item on my desk. Not because its manila color makes the bold, black letters of my name stand out, but because it’s leaning up against a picture I have on my desk. A picture of me and Beth. A picture that was in my drawer and before now didn’t have a frame. I don’t think even Beth knows it was in here. But this envelope is good sign someone has seen it.

I grab the folder. Inside are more photos of me and Beth. Shots no one should have. Or have ever taken. I shake them back down to the bottom without even pulling them out but keep my grip on the letter included with the pictures.

“Everything okay?” Austin asks.

“Fine,” I say with a grunt and shove the folder in my top drawer, locking it once it’s closed.

“Are you sure? You’re looking a little pale. Is it because I mentioned the project?” he asks. Forget the presentation. Being as blunt as I’d like to be right now could get me fired.

“No,” I growl out. Austin stands straight and sticks his hands in his pockets.

“All right well …”

I don’t hear anything else he says. My focus in now on the crimson-haired beauty that just walked by my office. The one who has no idea how upside down this day just turned.

“So, yeah?” Austin asks. I remove my eyes from Beth and find him glancing in the same direction.

“Yeah what?”

He turns to me once again, slowly. “Things with Beth are working out all right even after the picnic where you told everyone you’d get the job and she wouldn’t.”

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

“I don’t think that is anything you need to worry about,” I tell him and enter my password, lighting up my computer screen.

“You’re not just saying that because you seem to have taken a liking to her more than other employees around here? The way you know your dad wouldn’t approve of—kind of like the last woman you fooled around with?”

I keep my eyes trained to the computer. My cousin has got to be the dumbest man I know.

“Nope, she’s good at her job. Simple as that,” I say, refusing to give him the reaction he is working toward.

“Well, I guess I should let the two of you get back to work. Big day coming up. Don’t want to mess it up.”

Once he’s completely left my office, I move to close my door and then I close the door that connects with Beth’s office. That door has only been closed once in the time she has been working here.

Knowing I’m closed off from everyone else, I pull the folder out of its drawer. Beth’s naked body and long legs are in every photo. I’m not much more clothed myself. I’d prefer it be the person who took these photos, but my fist slams down on the desk, hard. Some sick bastard has been following us to get these photos, but what concerns me the most is who they’ve shown them to or who they plan on showing them to.

Dropping the photos with a flick of my wrist, I lean my chair back and rub my palms into my eyes. I don’t even want to guess what is in this letter. It can’t be anything good. I couldn’t care less about what it says about me or if they are threatening my job; it’s Beth I’m worried about. She’s worked so hard, only to get caught up with me and have all of it ripped out from underneath her.

I sit forward and unfold the white piece of paper.

Sleeping your way to the top is not how business it done, and she’s about to learn firsthand. Unless, of course, you finally do the right thing. End it. Now. I’ll know when you’ve agreed and only then can I promise that these photos won’t be revealed to anyone else. Which is more important: your future or hers?

Fuck.