“But nothing happened,” Jules pleaded. “Nothing would have. Even if he was interested, I’m not.” Then the words fell out of her mouth: “I was thinking I wanted to date a woman next, actually.”

Vivian’s head twitched back, her eyes widening slightly.

Jules gave herself the biggest mental kick ever. What did you just say? Do you think Vivian Carlisle wants to hear about your freaking dating plans?

Time to recover, if she could. “What I mean is—I wouldn’t date Ben. Er, when you say you’d ‘nip it in the bud’—”

The flash of surprise that had crossed Vivian’s face had long since vanished. She rose to her feet. “I’d fire him.”

Jules started in horror. “No! Vivian, he’s worked for you for so long. You can’t!”

Vivian gave her a very, very cold look, one that said, I most certainly can, Julia. Then she left without another word.

Jules slumped back in the armchair, trembling. Had she just gotten Ben fired? She hadn’t meant to; she never would have wanted that. And he’d know exactly what had happened because no doubt Vivian would tell him, and he’d hate Jules for it, and it wouldn’t even be fair because she’d tried to explain everything but Vivian hadn’t listened. Or she hadn’t wanted to hear.

But that just reminded Jules of the truth. Vivian was willing to throw away a man who’d loyally worked for her just because of some stupid, small thing. You could give Vivian everything you had, your entire soul, and this could still be your reward.

Jules tossed the notepad to the floor and stomped back upstairs to her bedroom. Not that she’d be able to sleep.

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Was Vivian taking revenge or what?

It almost seemed like it. She was definitely making up for the first couple of days in London when Jules hadn’t had much to do. Now, after their strange conversation, Jules was on the hop all day.

“Call Simon,” Vivian said. “He should be awake by now. Tell him I want to see the applications he’s screened for Lucia’s replacement.”

Jules fought back a sigh as she looked at her phone. It was midafternoon after a weird morning in which she hadn’t quite known how to interact with Vivian, and Vivian had been curt with her. Not in a way Jules could call out, though. Just enough that Vivian could get away with saying, “Do you expect everyone to be cheerful at all times, Julia? Can’t I just be tired?”

She could be. Jules said, “Sure thing. Um, how are you feeling?”

“Fine.” Vivian brushed past Jules. She didn’t offer any other information, didn’t say what she was doing or where she was going.

Jules’s shoulder tingled where Vivian had brushed against it. She shivered and opened her contacts list.