So, Tanya wanted to drag me down with her, huh?
ssic. This was the same woman who used her husband’s death to climb thedder, so of course
she’d try to use someone else. She wasn’t bluffing. I knew she’d do exactly what she said.
I’d have to keep my guard up around her.
I leaned in, locking eyes with her. “Alright, let’s see who crashes and burns first.”
Then, with a swift kick to her hand, I turned and strode put.
As I reached the door, I couldn’t help thinking about the baby she caused to be born early with all
her drama, so I said, “Oh, and Tanya? If you’ve got even a shred of decency left, maybe take a look
at the kid you brought into this world. At least let him know who his mom really is.”
She froze, and I turned away, leaving without another word.
I headed straight to Lena’s break room to wait for her. Ten minutester, she finally showed up.
“You’re still here?” she grinned. “Didn’t think you’d actually wait for me.”
I gave her a look. “Cut the act. What did your director say?”
Lena shrugged, grabbing a cup and filling it with water. “Nothing major. Just told me to file a report
and cooperate with the investigation.” She took a sip, then smirked. “So, how’d your little face–off
with Tanya go?”
I didn’t answer right away, still thinking about Retta’s involvement. “Why do you think Tanya’s after
you, anyway?”
Lena handed me a cup. “She’s just a mad dog biting anyone who gets close.”
Yeah, sure. Lena was totally trying to make it seem like it wasn’t my fault.
“Okay, but why you?” I pushed, wanting her to dig a little deeper.
Lena sipped her water. “She’s using me to get at you?”
“And maybe there’s another reason too?” I nudged.
Lena frowned, realizing something wasn’t right. “Alright, what are you getting at? Or did Tanya say
something?”
“Tanya’s gunning to wreck your career. Sure, it might be part of her revenge on me, but doesn’t it
seem… I don’t know… a little too indirect?”
She put her cup down on the table. “Alright, just spill. What do you know?”
I hesitated for a second. “I saw Tanya’s call history. She had ate–night call with Retta.”
It hit Lena instantly. Last night, while she and Nate were having their moment, Retta must’ve been
next door fuming.
That’s probably when she reached out to Tanya and cooked up this whole scheme.
11
Lena blinked, then burst intoughter. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.
Wait, why was sheughing? Shouldn’t she be mad?
I picked up the pen from the table and tapped her with t. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s just hrious how even smart women lose their minds over a guy. Seriously.” she said, shaking
her head.
“Retta’s already made her move. How are you so chill? Shouldn’t you be freaking out?”
Lena drummed her fingers on the table. “She’s going to try hitting me professionally first, then she’ll
go after Nate. Textbook strategy.”
I thought about Retta walking off with Nate earlier. “She’s definitely in the perfect position to pull that
off. And let’s be real, Nate can be a bit clueless sometimes Retta’s tricks might actually work on
him.”
Lena stayed calm, her smile never fading. “Retta didn’t expect this trip home to be such a disaster.
She
probably regrets not locking Nate down earlier. That’s why she’s desperate enough to team up with
Tanya.
I had to hand it to her–Lena always had nerves of steel, even when things got messy.
But Retta was targeting her, and she needed a n to deal with it.
But this was her fight now. “So, what’s your n? Retta’s already ying dirty.”
Lena gave me a sly grin, a wink to top it off. “I’m just gonna let her bury herself.”
I paused, catching on. “Wait, you’re thinking of… chasing Nate down?”
Lena pointed at me with her thumb, all confident. “You know me too well, Keira. We’ve been through
too much for you not to.”
Lena took a long sip of water, her eyes gleaming with determination. “Retta thinks by keeping Nate
close, she’ll pull the strings. Well, let’s see what happens when I don’t just get close–I take the
whole damn spotlight.”
X