Chapter Eighteen

Beth

“Good morning, everyone,” I greet the management team of TACM with a smile. I’m a bit shocked at how comfortable I feel leading this presentation. More so since Maverick has yet to show up. I’m blunt, yeah, and I work at a bar, so speaking in front of a bunch of people shouldn’t faze me, but I honestly thought that I would be more nervous about this. This is, after all, the presentation that will ultimately decide how my career plays out from this moment forward.

I have no idea how Austin’s presentation went this morning. I just hope mine and Maverick’s will be better. Him showing up, … well, that would be a start. Did he not hear a word I said the other night? Actions speak louder than words. And right now, I’m feeling like I just got a big fuck you from him.

I receive a nod from each of the eight people sitting in front of me, six of who are from the radio station. The other two are Bart Mitchell and his assistant, Gail. Mr. Mitchell nods his head once more, pointing to the white canvas behind me that will display the presentation.

“Ms. Moyer here and Maverick, who is running late, have been working day and night on a package for you. If the rumors around the office are true, you will all be quite impressed,” he says.

Hopefully, I hid my wide-eyed panicked response at the word rumors. I instantly assumed he was going to talk about me and Maverick and the relationship we shouldn’t be having as coworkers. I give myself a moment to let my racing heart regain its normal pace, all while maintaining a reassuring smile that I can do this.

“When TACM originally contacted Mitchell Marketing, you spoke of wanting to regain your followers. Build your following back by reminding people what kind of station you are,” I pause, for effect, of course. “While that idea is the perfect goal, reminding people of who your station once was is not.”

A few faces trade annoyed glances, but I don’t let it distract me.

“Times are changing, along with the people in this town. No one wants to be stuck in the past, they want the new and hip and fresh voices. They want to hear a station that’s going to pump them up. A station that brings excitement to their day before eight in the morning. A radio station that stands for something.”

This time, there are a few squinted eyes as they keep listening.

“Over that last couple of months, I’ve done research to find out what the people want. You know what your station wants, now it’s time to see how we can combine the two.”

I lean forward, waking the screen of my laptop, and then double-click on the drive with the presentation. The file opens and nothing is there. The folder is empty. Blank. Not a single file where there should be many.

I glance up and force a smile.

Holy fucking shit, where is our presentation?

“Just one second,” I say as I remove the drive. I flip it over to see the station’s initials I scribbled on it with Sharpie. It’s the right USB. Maybe my laptop just didn’t read it.

I plug it back in and repeat the steps.

Still nothing.

I let out a slow breath and hope it didn’t release as loudly as the screams going off inside my head right now. This file has everything I need. My head starts to spin. I don’t have a backup. Now my leg is bouncing. Why hasn’t Maverick showed up? Did he save a backup? Surely he did, right?

“Ms. Moyer.” My head snaps up only to catch the scowl on Mr. Mitchell’s face. “Is there a problem?”

“Well, I—”

“Beth,” Maverick says, rushing into the room. His quick steps slow when he takes in all the eyes watching him from around the table. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Maverick, Beth is in the middle of a pitch. A pitch you are late for. Whatever you two need to discuss can wait. Now, since you were not able to show up on time, please let her finish.”

Maverick’s eyes flash wide between me and his uncle.

“Of course. I just have something for her.” With his head down as he approaches me, he looks up to make eye contact. Then I see his lips move. He mouths to me, “It’s gone.”

I twist, pretending to have a scratch, and mouth back one word: “What?”

He pauses when his eyes recognize my glare. Then, before I can think, he is standing next to me, hunched over the computer like I was moments ago. I mimic his stance.

“What do you mean, it’s gone?” I whisper.

“It’s been deleted.”

“By who?”

“Let’s talk about this later. Now we need to—”

“Who?” I ask in a harsher whisper. “Did you do this on purpose? To ruin my chances?”

“Beth, no.” He sighs and shakes his head. “We need to figure out what we are going to say without the slides.”

“That’s easy. I have it memorized.”

“Then—”

“I do apologize for this.” Mr. Mitchell scoots his chair back. “Please forgive me for asking for a moment with my employees.”

“Not a problem,” a man says. “This was starting to sound a bit too much like the last presentation we just sat through.”

This time, I know everyone can see my eyes widen. If it were possible, my eyeballs would fall right out of these sockets.

Austin presented our presentation. That’s why I was receiving those faces. Does Maverick know? Obviously, he does—he just told me it’s gone.

I lock eyes with too many concerned faces, but it’s Bart’s alone that could make my heart stop. I exchange a glance with Maverick before following him and his uncle out the door. Gail, head down and papers clenched to her chest, is right behind us.

The door barely latches closed before Mr. Mitchell’s hands are thrown in the air.

“This is a conversation for my office, but since the two of you have clearly put me in a position where I’m unable to do just that, right here must do.”

His phone pings—clearly our situation isn’t that dire because he checks it. His eyes widen and then he squints. He motions to Gail and sighs. “Please call security up here. This is the least favorite part of my job.”

“Security? This is all just a mix-up. The file somehow was erased. We’ll get it back, just give us some time,” Maverick pleads with his uncle. He moves to rest a hand on my lower back but I move away from his touch. I don’t know what going on with him, but I have good feeling whatever he’s done is the reason that file is gone and the reason I’m standing in the hall right now, not landing the contract that should earn me a job.

“Austin stole our presentation.” Maverick’s tone is clipped.

“I—”

“I believed he was responsible for the women at the event center, but this, this is not something he would do,” Bart defends his son.

“I think he would,” I join the conversation, my heart jumping up my throat when Bart slowly turns to face me.

Fuck, and I thought I gave some nasty scowls to people.

Mouth is shut.

Got it.

“You’ve had more than two months. And from what I’ve seen and heard, the two of you spent more time fooling around with each other than working on this project,” Bart continues.

“They what?” Maverick’s father’s voice from behind us startles us both.

That heart that just jumped my throat has now flopped to my stomach.

“Dad, you know that isn’t true. You’ve seen how hard we have both worked. Beth, especially.”

“Maverick, I don’t need you to defend me.”

“But I am because you didn’t do anything wrong.” His voice is louder and it only makes his father angrier.

“You’re right, son. She didn’t, but you did. All you had to do was commit to the job. Keep things … separate.” His last word is spoken slowly and with a long sigh.

“Dad—” Maverick’s voice is full of warning. “I did. We did. We were able to work together and spend time together outside the office. That’s a whole lot of commitment, if you ask me.”

I’m too shocked for words at this point. The conversation went from not being ready to present to commitment issues faster than I would ever imagine.

Two of the security men who regularly remain in the building lobby downstairs join us.

“Ms. Moyer here needs to be escorted off the premises,” Bart says, and I gasp.

“Me? Why?” A man grabs my arm and I jerk it back.

“Sending inappropriate photos of yourself and another coworker is not how we do business here.”

“What!” Maverick and I both shout at the same time.

“I never …”

“Please don’t make a scene,” Maverick’s father asks. Out of everyone here, he shows the most grief on his face.

“But I never sent any photos. I didn’t do what you’re accusing me of.”

“It was sent from your email account,” Bart says, motioning again for security to resume their job. “I’m sorry, Miss Moyer, we can’t employ you with MM.”

Bile forms in my mouth and I’m going to be sick, but I manage a nod. I need to be professional, and screaming my innocence right here isn’t going to make this situation better. “At least let me do it without security,” I say.

Mr. Mitchell begins to shake his head, but Maverick’s father, who is clearly older than Bart, holds up a hand. “That will be just fine,” he says.

“Beth,” Maverick starts to follow me, but his father stops him.

I’m done with this company, and I am done with Maverick.

Maverick

“Just give me a moment,” I say to my father. He sighs for what feels like the hundredth time in the least five minutes but nods.

“Beth, wait,” I call out. “Let me explain.”

Her steps don’t even hesitate as she continues to walk away from me.

“Please, I know this looks bad, but it—”

“Bad?” The word comes out in a growl as she flips around. I almost run into her. “Maverick, this is so much more than bad. This was my first real job. A job that means everything to me. Now no employer is going to see me as a serious worker. Because of you, everyone is now going to think I sleep my way to the top.”

“No one is going to think that.”

“Really? You’re going to say that me? You heard Bart just now. Someone sent pictures of me to everyone here. Where did they get the photos, Maverick? Huh? Can you answer me that? Is that what you need to explain?”

The last time I was caught with a woman at the office, I cared only about taking the heat off of me, protecting my reputation in the office. This time it’s different. I don’t give a shit what Bart or Austin or anyone else makes of our fight. I made wrong choices and I deserve this, but it’s different because I don’t want this to be the end. I don’t want her to leave me. I want what we have. I meant everything I’ve ever said to her. But right now, she isn’t going to believe me.

“Beth, I didn’t do this,” I say, reaching for her hand. The tips of our fingers brush before she jerks back. My head drops to me chest. I should give her some space, but I can’t. What if she needs more than space? I won’t be able to handle that.

“Do what exactly, Maverick? You didn’t delete our presentation? You don’t go making office relationships a habit? You didn’t take nude photos of me to sabotage my chances? Or you didn’t make me fall in love with you just so you could get everything you wanted, regardless of how it ended for others?” I catch the slight shake in her bottom lip as she glances away. “Tell me, which part didn’t you do on purpose?”

I pause before I say another word in the silent tension that fills the air. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I don’t know what happened to the file. I just know I went to view it on the shared drive before our presentation and it was gone. And the pictures … I was late to our meeting because I wanted to confront Austin about it, but he must have left the building after he spoke with the station, because I never saw him.

But after all that, all I can focus on is the part where she said she fell in love with me. I swallow, falling numb at the throbbing ache in my chest. I fell in love with her, too.

“Beth—”

Her hand comes up as she shakes her head. When I hear her faint sniffle, I step for her. Her small frame fits perfectly in my arms and I hold her tighter as I feel her shake. For a moment, I think we can get through this. For a moment, I think we’re just having another fight and everything is going to be fine, because there is no possible way things between us can grow worse, but then she shoves me away.

“You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to do anything anymore. I don’t want you to follow me another step. I don’t want you to call, or text, or show up at my apartment. I don’t want to see you, Maverick.”

This time when she leaves, I let her. And I listen to her. For now.