Maisie wanted to run from the inevitable bloodbath that was about to take place. She’d gone completely numb.
She stiffly walked to Stella’s desk. It was unstaffed.
The door to Ethan’s office was open, though Maisie couldn’t see in.
Holding her breath, she edged closer to the doorway. She shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but under the circumstances, did she really have a choice?
“I don’t want to hear it,” Ethan was saying. “We looked into your background before deciding to sever ties with Lotani. You’ve got quite a history.”
“This isn’t about me.” Heather’s voice was strained. She wasn’t screaming, but Maisie estimated that some kind of temper tantrum was only a minute or two away.
“Isn’t it?” Trent asked. He sounded amused, and Maisie knew that would piss Heather off; she hated being dismissed or disregarded by hot men.
“You don’t have to believe me. I can show you.”
“We agreed to talk with the Bobs about business.” Raphael’s voice was flat. “Your presence isn’t required.”
Yes, Maisie thought. Kick her out.
“You really want to see this,” Heather insisted. “Ethan, you need to know what kind of monster you married. That deranged woman told me to send you that photo. I told her I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, but she insisted. Said you’d been going on about how much you wanted me. And she said to make it explicit.”
If Maisie hadn’t been freaking out, she would have rolled her eyes. Heather was the deranged one.
“You’re lying,” Ethan said calmly. “I know Maisie, and she would never do anything like that. Raphael, call security.”
“Gladly.”
“Wait! I have proof. Maisie sent an email, apologizing and begging my forgiveness. Look! Raphael, just look.”
There was silence. Maisie hadn’t taken a breath in what felt like ages, but she couldn’t afford to miss even a second of what was happening.
“Maisie didn’t write that,” Raphael said.
“She did! I swear on my soul. You must have a forensic computer expert you can call. I’m happy to forward you the email. In fact… There. It’s in your inbox, Ethan. I know you don’t want to believe she’s trash, but she is. I’m doing you a favor.”
Why isn’t he standing up for me anymore? Maisie wondered frantically.
Because he was reading the email, looking at the header, and realizing it was from her.
Her heart was shattering into a million little pieces.
She wanted to burst into the room, fall to her knees, and beg forgiveness. And she would have if Heather hadn’t been there. Humiliating herself in front of her worst enemy…
Maisie was prepared to do it. But she suspected the bosses wouldn’t appreciate such an unprofessional display in their offices and in front of an outsider.
“It’s fake,” Ethan said. “Maisie doesn’t use emoji.”
“Obviously she does,” Heather protested. “I’ve only got your best interests in mind. Don’t believe me if you don’t want to, but—”
“Exactly,” Raphael said. “We don’t believe you. Perhaps your account was hacked and someone is having a bit of fun. Heather. You need to leave.”
Maisie couldn’t believe her ears. Heather had shot her most damaging arrow, and it might as well have been made of cottage cheese.
She quickly passed back down the hallway, heading for the elevators.
Now she had the perfect defense. No one would be able to prove a thing. All because Maisie had never used emoji in any email or text to her bosses.
But as she climbed into a taxi, she realized that she didn’t feel triumphant at all.
It wasn’t until she was walking into the penthouse that it fully hit her: her bosses believed she was a better person than she actually was. She had fooled them.
Trent said he loved her, but the woman he thought he knew didn’t exist.
The room blurred into a bright smudge, and Maisie blinked hard, trying to clear away the tears. She’d fucked up, and there was no way out.
The men were sure to mention what Heather had said.
And then what? It was too late to get in front of the problem. Could she stand there and pretend ignorance? Could she look into the eyes of the men she loved and lie to them?
She couldn’t.
She began pacing. No more lying. But that would mean she’d have to tell them about the envelope, come clean all at once.
God, she couldn’t do this.