Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
I realize Shilpa has asked me a question, and I haven’t answered.
She puts a hand on my shoulder. “Hemi, I am here first and foremost as your friend. But this is a direct violation of the team’s policy.”
“I know.” The numbness is wearing off, and in its place is real panic. And fear. And anger at Dallas.
“There are channels we need to go through. We just did this for Hollis and Hammer,” she says gently.
“I know this too.”
“Management will want an explanation. Do you have one?”
I shake my head. “I have no idea what he was thinking, or why he believed it was a good idea to post that. He knows the rules.” I swallow bile. “We’re so screwed.”
“I just don’t understand why he did it.” Shilpa blows out a breath. “Have you spoken to him this morning?”
“No. You’re the only person I called.”
“He’s not an inherently malicious person, so understanding why could be helpful,” Shilpa says. I put my phone on speaker and dial his number, but it goes to voicemail. “Dallas, it’s Hemi. You need to call me as soon as you get this.”
Shilpa raises a finger. “Hi, Dallas. It’s Shilpa. Speaking as the team lawyer, check your email. And please, whatever you do, do not delete that social media post. Call me or Hemi when you get this message. Call only.”
“What she said.” I hang up. “What am I going to do, Shilps? He’s put me in an impossible position. How bad will I look if we have to put out a public statement saying Dallas was joking?” Just kidding. I know the answer. I can’t go to my high school reunion if that happens. I rub my temples. The humiliation would be too much.
The buzzer sounds, signaling someone at the door. I set my coffee on the side table and hop off the couch, rushing to answer. A minute later a flower delivery guy hands me an ostentatiously large bouquet of peach-colored roses. I tip him and set it on the counter.
I pluck the card from the bouquet and flip it over.
Shilpa reads over my shoulder.
Wills,
I’ll be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had.
XO Dallas
“I don’t even know what to say about this.” And since when did he shift from Willy to Wills?
“Logically, you have two options. One, you tell the head office this picture was taken out of context and that you and Dallas are not involved, and he did this without your knowledge or consent.”
“And he gets fined then traded.”
Shilpa nods. “They won’t give him a pass. Not when he didn’t have your permission to do this.”
“Which will negatively impact the entire team. Even if I’m the one in the right, the consequences of that will have a huge ripple effect. It’ll stain both of our careers.” Do I hate him for all the stupidity he and his friends put me through as kids? Absolutely. But being a jerk our whole childhood and ruining my prom is not the same as screwing over the entire team. They’re like family, to me and to each other. And Dallas…he’s beloved.
I’ll never live it down. I’ll have to leave Toronto and the Terror. I won’t have Shilpa or the Badass Babe Brigade anymore. This is the first time in my life that I’ve really felt like I fit somewhere outside of my immediate family. Sure, there are a few people in the office who aren’t my biggest fans, but I’m used to that. I don’t want to lose everything else.
“Option number two, you play along. Dallas is your date for the reunion, and he owes you for saving his ass for the rest of his life.”
“And if I go with option two, how do I spin it?” I wring my hands. I can’t believe I’m considering this.
“You say you’ve been trying to stay on the right side of the line, but you’ve been spending a lot of time together, which is true. Dallas is involved in a lot of charity stuff, and you always go with him. You never send Hammer,” Shilpa says.
“Because he’s chronically late! And he needs managing.” I sound defensive.
“Either way, he has promo stuff, and you always attend it. You spend an extraordinary amount of time together, so selling that you unwittingly developed feelings for each other should not be that difficult.”
“But I loathe him.”
“Hmm... Well, there’s a fine line between love and hate, so we can sell them on you crossing that line, and for at least the next few weeks, you need to flip the hate coin and turn it into love.”
I rub my temples. “This is a nightmare.”
“It could be. But the only way this works is if you sell it and then live it, at least until you’re through the reunion.”
“Which means I have to lie to the girls, and the rest of the team, and my family.”