“You fucking what?” Lapoux exploded. “Kidnapped?” A thick purple vein bulged in the middle of his forehead. His scarred upper lip twitched.

I shifted in my seat, regretting my choice of pants. I’d picked a gray pair of slacks that were a size too small, and now they were digging into my crotch and giving me a wedgie. I tugged down my sweater, which did little to cover up the fact that my pants were too low around my hips. “I know how crazy it sounds. But I can promise you, it’s one-hundred percent true. It’ll probably be in the news by tonight or tomorrow.”

“Rose, if this job is too much for you…if you need to take some time off…” Lapoux began, looking over a few papers on his desk.

“It wasn’t because of stress! I’ve been doing this for fourteen years. I’m very good at my job.” I almost stood up and banged on the table for dramatic effect.

“You left set a day early to go home. No real reason. Just told your assistant to take over your responsibilities. He fucked up, Rose. Then you were MIA for almost two days.” Lapoux had laid down facts, but they sounded incriminating and harsh. I’d always had an excellent track record when it came to work. Never showed up late. Never missed meetings. Even when I had the flu, I still showed up, even if it meant I walked around wearing a mask. I lived for my job and put it before everything else. Now I was getting reprimanded for the first time and it did not sit well with me.

“I’ve been working for CBT for ten years, with you almost eight, Lapoux. You know I wouldn’t ditch work unless there were extenuating circumstances.” I tried to be patient, keeping my voice soft and calm.

“You mean the man you brought to work?” Lapoux arched his brow. “Everyone was talking about your handsome new friend. And you left early with him. I understand this job requires frequent travel and long hours. That a woman your age might have changing priorities. I completely understand if—”

“You’re not listening to me. This isn’t about Theo. I mean, I was kidnapped because—never mind. I need some time off. It was a traumatic experience for me and I need some down time to recover.”

“Take all the time you need, Rose, but in the meantime, I’ll get Grayson to take point, okay?”

“Grayson? What’s that supposed to mean? You want to promote him?”

“He is a strong candidate, yes. And his performance—”

“The O’Connells has my blood, sweat, and tears all over it. Grayson is a latecomer; he’s only been here ten months, not ten years. I’ve been through eight seasons.”

“He produced Max and Miri before coming to our team. He isn’t green.”

“You and I both know I’ve been working my ass off for this promotion, Lapoux. Eighty-hour weeks for years.” He knew, and he was still driving a spear through my heart. I thought almost a decade of working together meant we shared some sort of camaraderie. Clearly, he was all business.

Lapoux stood up. He’d had enough. “Rose, I think you need some time to cool off and get some rest. Maybe go to a spa or something. Have you tried hot yoga—”

“I don’t need any fucking hot yoga classes!” I exploded. “I just want to know why I’m being passed over for a promotion again, when I’m more than qualified, and I work harder than everyone else. You’re retiring soon, and you know as well as I do that I’m the one you need to promote.”

Lapoux didn’t answer my question. Instead, he pointed to his door and said, “Go home, Rose. Take the month off.”

“I don’t need a month! I just need an answer.”

“Rose, watch your tone.”

“That’s not an answer, Lapoux.”

Lapoux pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned. “That’s enough, Rose. You’re suspended until further notice.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it!” I wanted to clear his desk and smash the framed photos of his children. Kick over his wastebasket. Torch that God-awful bulldog statue in the corner.

“Get out of my office before I have security escort you out!” Lapoux gestured to the door and I stormed out. Humiliation turned my body into a kiln. I felt dozens of eyes trained on me as I walked toward the elevator. I’m quite sure every one of them had overheard my outburst. They probably thought I was losing my shit.

Poor Rose, finally cracking under the pressure.

We saw that coming a mile away.

She was a bomb waiting to go off.

Which wasn’t exactly untrue. Meeting Theo had been one of the wildest things that’d ever happened to me and I didn’t think I could ever return to my old, peaceful life. But maybe a shock to my system was exactly what I needed to shake free of my predictable routine. Maybe this was really a wakeup call. I’d never gotten so much as a reprimand before from a superior in the last fourteen years. Always followed the rules. Always toed the line. Now I was suspended. I’d potentially get fired for my outburst. Oddly enough, I didn’t even feel distressed about it. Instead, I felt loose, remorseless, something akin to relief. Was I relieved that I’d finally have some time to myself for the first time in years? That I no longer had to choose between work, family, friends, and play?

* * *

“It’s all my fault,” Theo said, eyes downcast. “I destroyed your career.”

“Getting suspended hardly means destruction. I’ll be back to work in no time. They need me.” I tried to remain positive, but the truth was I didn’t know what would happen. If my replacement, Grayson, did a better job than me, there was a very real possibility they’d never let me return to work. After all, Lapoux only needed one person to fill his seat. “I see this as taking a long overdue vacation.”

“I won’t be a burden to you, I promise,” Theo said. “I’ve already talked to the guys and I’ll be starting work at Mahoney’s West tomorrow. They’ve got a gig lined up for me from seven to eight. I’ve also been looking for an apartment.”

I gave Theo a squeeze on the shoulder. “That’s great! I guess you guys bonded over the rescue operation.”

“I’ve never had friends before, Rose. I know I told you I don’t do friends, but I have a feeling that’s about to change,” Theo admitted. “I don’t deserve your kindness, or theirs, but I’m going to make damn sure to repay it.” For the first time since I met him, he actually looked optimistic.

“Let me know if you need more help. I’m happy to lend a hand, especially now that my schedule has opened up,” I offered.

Theo thought for a moment, then shot me a grin. “How do you feel about being a magician’s assistant?”

I burst out laughing. “Me? Seriously? I don’t know the first thing about magic.”

“I can teach you,” Theo said, “that is, if you’re game.”

“You mean you want me to help you tomorrow night? I’m a fast learner, but I don’t think I’m that fast.”

“It’s just one or two big tricks. The rest I can do alone.”

I thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure. Why the hell not? It could be fun.” Learning a bit of magic was preferable to moping about my career going down the shitter.

Theo grinned. “In that case, let me grab my props.” He returned a few minutes later with the bag of props he’d purchased for my parent’s retirement party. He pulled out a large velvet cloth. “Hold this.”

I held it open and he hid behind it. He nodded to me. “Okay, so here’s what I’m thinking…”

We spent the rest of the day rehearsing the routine. I had no sleight of hand skills to speak of, but thankfully, I’d be there mostly for show. ‘A sexy distraction’, in Theo’s words. I didn’t have to do much, mostly just walk around the stage and cover certain things with the velvet drape. After we mastered the routine, I went dress shopping at Castille’s. Theo pulled out a short, sparkly, ultra-sexy emerald green dress that made my eyes and hair pop. “Try this one, Rose. I have a good feeling about this one.”

I grabbed the skimpy outfit and disappeared into the changing room. The material was surprisingly soft against my skin, and showcased all my best assets, namely my breasts. I felt like a million bucks. The dress was an attention grabber for sure. I stepped out of the room and did a twirl. “What do you think?”

“Anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are?” Theo asked, eyeing me up and down.

“You just did? I think?” I replied, peeking grimly at the price tag. $350. Ouch. Now that I was suspended from work, I wasn’t sure I should go around buying something so expensive.

Theo snuck up behind me and pulled back my hair. My nape prickled. He pulled up the rest of the zipper until the fabric felt like a second skin. “You’ll be so distracting on stage, Rose. I bet I’ll be able to get away with anything.” Theo winked, and my stomach somersaulted.

I winked back. “That is the plan, isn’t it?” I took the dress up to the register and smiled at the cashier. “I’ll take it.”