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Back Long Story Short Save as PDF
Chapters (61)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. EPILOGUE
  55. THANK YOU!
  56. MORE FROM VICTORIA WALTERS
  57. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  58. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  59. ALSO BY VICTORIA WALTERS
  60. Boldwood Ever After
  61. About Boldwood Books

‘Actually, I understand perfectly,’ he cut in. ‘You don’t like the fact Freya wants to leave but you have no say in it. You like to get your own way but that isn’t what this job should be about. Freya understands that being an agent is about listening to and supporting your clients, and doing the best for them, and not yourself. That’s why I wanted to come in and talk to you about my deal offer. You didn’t listen to me on the phone about what I wanted. All you cared about was the money they’re offering.’ Jake turned to me. ‘You should take the job, Freya. And Hayley will let you leave immediately but you’ll be paid for the rest of the month. And she won’t say anything negative about your time here.’ He immediately turned back to Hayley, our eye contact kept brief. ‘Right, Hayley?’

46

I was stunned. Jake protecting me like this… a little voice whispered that he must care about me a tiny bit to speak up for me to Hayley. But I knew he was a good man and he knew what she was threatening wasn’t right. So, maybe it wasn’t about me at all.

I wished it was, though.

Hayley sighed. ‘Whatever. Get out of my sight, Freya, and stay out of my way if we ever see each other again. I thought you had the makings of an excellent agent but I bet you’ll sink without a trace now.’ She sat back down behind her desk. ‘Let’s talk then, Jake. Freya, take all your things when you leave.’ With that dismissive ending to our six months together, she waited for us to do what she’d said.

Jake glanced back at me, gave me one nod then went to sit down opposite her. I longed for him to give me more than that but when he turned away, it felt like this was the ending for us too.

‘Okay then,’ I said awkwardly as they both looked away from me. I edged out, exhaling hard that I’d made it out of that alive. Jake had rescued what could have been a disastrous meeting and I was so grateful to him. But I was also confused about how he felt about me. I was so stunned, I forgot to close Hayley’s office door behind me when I left and it was too awkward to go back so I just hurried to my desk.

I was shocked at what had happened. I had done it, though. I had quit working for Hayley and now I could start my new job as soon as I liked, and was even going to be paid for the rest of the month. It was the best outcome possible. Jake had really stood up for me in a way no man ever had done before. And it had been pretty swoony.