Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
“This isn’t funny, dickhead. A lawsuit will bring our whole operation down. And if she brings this to the media? It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. We’ll be crucified.”
He’s got me there. But of course, I know it won’t go that far.
Everything in me is screaming to tell him the truth—all of it. Ellie’s his sister, I’m his best friend and business partner, we all want what’s best for S&H.
And we all want what’s best for Ellie.
He’ll understand, right? Eventually?
I take a breath, open my mouth to confess. But…
No. I can’t do that to Ellie. I promised I’d keep this secret. Telling Ryan now would mean betraying the woman I love, and I can’t do that. Not even to save my own ass from Ryan’s wrath—or the media’s.
“I’m handling it,” I say. “Focus on the Portland office stuff, and by the time you’re back on the East Coast, this mess will be a distant memory.”
I hang up with Ryan, my gut tied in knots. Blair’s email trigger-finger seems to have calmed down for the moment, but there’s a new one from a member of my senior legal staff.
To: Jack_Holt
From: Macy_Parkridge
Subject: Harassment allegations
Jack —
Blair Keneally has looped me in on the situation with Eric Webb. My understanding is that she is not interested in pursuing legal action at this time, however, we are taking her accusations seriously and have assured her that we will investigate and come to a resolution as quickly as possible. To that end, I would like to meet with Eric Webb’s immediate team, as well as any assistants or other support staff he may have worked with during his tenure. I’ve asked Hannah to schedule a mandatory meeting with those individuals, including yourself, for 9:00 AM tomorrow. We’ll do a quick general debrief with the group, then arrange to interview them one-on-one. If you’d like to discuss further, please contact me no later than 3:00 PM today.
—Macy
This is bad. Really bad.
My job is on the line, my reputation, my relationship with Ryan and every last one of my employees—hell, I could lose everything I’ve dreamed about and worked hard for since Ryan and I started this place with no more than our MBAs, a little start-up capital, and two big hard-ons for finance.
For so long, it’s been the most important thing in my life.
Most people would say I’m crazy to risk it all for a woman.
But Ellie Seyfried has changed everything for me. She’s what’s most important now. I don’t care how fast it happened, or what Ryan thinks about it, or what kind of stunts Blair is ready to pull.
Losing Ellie is simply not an option.
But we’ve only got one choice right now. I just have to make her see that, too.
I pick up the phone and dial Ellie’s cell.
She sends me straight to voice mail.
Damn.
“Ellie, it’s me. Listen. Legal’s involved now, and they’ve set up a meeting for tomorrow morning to interview your entire team. It’s only going to escalate from here. I hate that it’s come down to this, but we’re out of options. We need to come clean. I can break the news, or you can do it yourself, or we can do it together. Your choice, but it has to be done before this meeting tomorrow. We can’t let this nonsense with Blair continue. Please call me back as soon as you get this so we can strategize. I’m really worried about you. I’m… Yeah. Call me back. Please.”
But she doesn’t call back. Not for this voice mail, or the four others I leave throughout the day.
By closing bell, I’m against the ropes—we both are. As much as I hate to move forward on this without her, she’s left me no choice.
This ends now.
I start a new email, cc’ing everyone involved.
Subject: The allegations are false. Eric Webb is not a man.
CHAPTER 20
Ellie
Day 21 Tues Aug 21
I’m ready. Or as ready as I’ll ever be.
I’m wearing a new navy designer shift dress I couldn’t afford to splurge on, flesh-toned pumps, and a vintage pearl necklace that once belonged to my mother. My hair is swept into an elegant up-do, and Spencer came over early to do my makeup so my blue eyes are popping amidst perfectly blended copper and brown eye shadow and my complexion appears deceptively flawless.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been this well pulled-together, but I might as well be naked.
I feel naked.
Exposed.
Vulnerable and defenseless without my bulky suit and oversize shoes, without my mustache and penciled-in man-brows and the armor that allowed Eric to stride confidently into the S&H offices for three weeks, certain he could make the world—or at least this company—a better place.
I can’t believe it’s only been three weeks.
I can’t believe everything’s gone to shit in a weekend.
I can’t believe I’m teetering down the hall to the conference room as myself, as Ellie, the compromised reporter and Failure at All Things.