Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 37055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Tyson and I share a glance, silently asking, “What is going on?”
He leans in as the others walk ahead of us. “Are they going to fire me for bailing yesterday?”
I snort. “It’s your last day. What would be the point of doing that?”
“Complete and utter humiliation.”
“Wow. You think highly of them, don’t you?”
“Well, they passed up on hiring me, so clearly, I have to at least question their abilities to make rational decisions.”
“There’s the real Tyson coming back out.”
“I never left. Just got suppressed for a moment by devastation.”
And there’s my guy. “Always so dramatic.”
They lead us to the conference room—the room where they announced he didn’t have the job—and Tyson tenses at the door.
I squeeze his shoulder. “You’ve got this.”
He nods, but I don’t think he believes it.
Chapter 15
TYSON
I follow the men into the conference room, and as I pass Mr. Rossi, he reaches out to stop his son from following me.
“We actually only need Tyson.”
Rossi and I lock eyes, and all I can think as he takes a step back is no, no, no, don’t leave me.
Then I kick myself.
I’ve never needed a boyfriend to hold my hand before, and there’s no reason I should start now. If I am in trouble here, I’ll face it with my head held high.
Still, as I take a seat across from Mr. Rossi and the partners, I feel like a kid playing dress-up in my peach shirt and bluebell tie. What was that about confidence? I lick my lips and draw my shoulders back, because while we all know I’m disappointed, the last thing I want is to look pathetic in front of people I respect.
Feeling nervous, I jump in before they can. “Before you start, I want to apologize for disappearing yesterday. It wasn’t professional, and obviously I was disappointed, but I let it get the better of me. I plan to do better.” Even if that’s not here.
Mr. Rossi smiles, but I turn my attention to Lawrence.
“Thank you for saying that, Tyson.”
Yep. You’re welcome. Now please don’t fire me.
“But it was totally unnecessary,” Mitch says. “Everyone’s entitled to a sick day here and there.”
I relax a little, even as I twist my hands in my lap. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“We weren’t lying when we said we wished there were two positions available,” Lawrence says. “You’re an extremely hard worker, and we appreciate everything you’ve done here.”
See? This. This is one of the things I’m going to miss. These guys are partners of a huge finance company, and yet they’re taking time out of their day to talk to and reassure one of their interns. “Thank you.”
“We got you this.” Mr. Rossi leans forward with a small square box. “We get a present for all of our interns to thank them, and I thought cufflinks would be perfect for you.”
“Pretty and shiny? You know me well.” The words fall out before I think to stop them. “Ah, I mean, thank you?”
He chuckles. “Yes, pretty and shiny. You’re like a bower bird.”
“If you could see my apartment, you wouldn’t—” I cut off as I open the box and see the cufflinks nestled there. Bright red cherries. I swear my face heats. “These are …”
There must be something in my voice because Mr. Rossi frowns. “Don’t you like them? Gianni picked them out. Said they’d match your tie.”
Of course he did. It’s all I can do not to laugh as I wonder whether I’d still be holding these if Mr. Rossi knew what they meant. I school my features as I look up at the three of them. “I love them. Really.”
Mitch narrows his eyes at me, then slowly glances back down at the gift. I’m suddenly very worried he’s putting things together, so I hurry to distract them.
“If that’s everything …”
“Actually, Tyson, there’s something else we wanted to talk to you about,” Lawrence says. “Robert showed me some of your work, and I have to say, I’m impressed. All week I’ve been calling around to some of my associates and talking you and Whitney up, hoping to find a spot available for the one we didn’t choose.”
Nerves explode in my gut. “And …”
“Joseph Wright called this morning and wants you.”
“H-he does?”
“Asked for by name. The reference Robert sent him was exceptional, and he’s got a junior financial advisor he’s ready to promote, but unfortunately for him, his interns this year weren’t anywhere near the caliber of ours.”
I swallow around my nerves, because of course I’ve heard of Joseph Wright. I vaguely remember seeing him at one of the meetings I’ve attended. “He’s based in Boston, isn’t he?”
“He is.” Something lights up in Mitch’s eyes. “So, you wouldn’t have to leave … your friends.”
Oooh, he knows. I guess you don’t get to run a company as successfully as this one by being an idiot. But that makes me question this. “And this offer isn’t because Gian and I … are … umm …”