Carson opened his mouth, but Curtis, who was as wide as he was tall, stepped forward. He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest in a fair impression of a brick wall. Thinking better of whatever he’d been about to say, Carson turned and stomped down the hallway to his office. I wasn’t sorry to see him go.

24

“Belly, where are you?” Soph asked. “I feel like I’ve been talking to the side of your face for the last fifteen minutes.”

I turned from my Sunday brunch people-watching to face her. We were enjoying Bloody Marys at Matt’s Big Breakfast on Camelback Road, and Soph had been talking about how amazing the materials for Lexi’s development, New Dawn, had turned out.

“What’s wrong?” Soph asked.

“Nothing,” I said. She didn’t know that Nick and I had ever been together so I couldn’t exactly cry on her shoulder now that we’d broken up, could I? “Just thinking about the gala.”

“It’s so exciting,” Soph said. “I heard that the mayor is going to be there, and she’s bringing several prominent local politicians with her. I’m just thrilled. We have to get our hair done and shop for new dresses. It’s my treat.”

“Oh no, I can’t let you—”

“Yes, you can. Annabelle, I’m going to be straight with you,” she said. She took a big sip of her drink. These were not lightweight beverages, so I wondered why she felt she needed liquid courage. Needless to say, she now had my full and undivided attention.

“Okay,” I encouraged her.

“Miguel and I have been in marriage counseling,” she said.

“So that’s what the meetings at four o’clock are,” I said. I didn’t mean to say it out loud but oops.

She nodded. “We’ve been going for a few months.”

Months? My eyebrows rose. I reached for my drink. I had a feeling I was going to need it.

“Go on.” I took a big chug.

“We’ve been having some issues,” she said. “Mostly I felt betrayed that when we started the company, we were on equal footing, but over time, Miguel seemed to respect Carson more than me. Carson spent years slowly creating a wedge between us. It was so subtle, I didn’t even notice. You coming to work for us was a tipping point. I knew Carson wouldn’t handle not getting the promotion very well, and I knew he would try to turn Miguel against me completely, but I felt as if I had nothing left to lose. The situation had become untenable.”

She took a huge breath, and I asked, “So you used me?”