Thrust: Bad Boy Racing Romance (Fastlane Series Book 2) (25 page)

DANI

Leopold interrupted me, gesturing towards Serena and her attorney.

“Dani,” he said, looking in their direction. “Mrs. Rhys has agreed not to take legal action against our firm for your transgressions.”

Frowning, I shook my head.

“I don’t understand, Leopold. I’ve already explained my side of this. This is obviously a miscommunication. I had no idea that Marco was married, and if I had I never would have had any romantic contact with him at all.”

If nothing else, Leopold at least allowed me to finish, but he picked up right where he left off.

“Be that as it may, Dani, there is still the issue of the video evidence of what happened between you and Mr. Rhys.”

Placing my elbow on the arm of my chair, I dropped my head into my hand. It was the first moment I realized the possibility existed that everyone in this room, besides me, had likely seen the contents of Serena’s alleged video. Even though I had no idea what it was specifically, I had a pretty good notion. It sickened me. Mortified, I found myself unable to look at anyone while Leopold continued.

“
Because
of that evidence, the firm is in the uncomfortable position of having to acknowledge what you’ve done and then agree to whatever corrective action Mrs. Rhys sees fit to pursue. To that end, she has agreed not to sue the firm for trying to manipulate the outcome of Mr. Rhys’s decision regarding his estate.”

While he paused, I glanced up through wisps of my hair and looked in Serena’s direction. Her expression never changed. Turning, I looked at Leopold.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” I began, before looking at Serena once more. I placed my hand over my heart. “Serena, thank you, for your kindness. I hope that you can find a way to forgive me for what’s happened.”

Serena didn’t respond. Instead, she turned and looked at her attorney.

“Thank you for your heartfelt apology, Ms. Simms,” the man said. He finished and looked towards Bernard and Leopold. “Gentlemen, we're ready to proceed. Once the issue with Ms. Simms is handled, Mrs. Rhys is prepared to engage your firm in the management of her estate.”

When my situation is handled?

I snapped my eyes towards Bernard and Leopold. “What’s he talking about?”

Both men shifted in their seats. Before they could say a word, the firm’s attorney started to speak.

“No!” I warned, pointing at him. I moved my finger between Bernard and Leopold. “Whatever it is, I want to hear it from them.”

Bernard exhaled and cleared his throat.

“Dani, you’re an intelligent woman. For your own sake, I’d prefer it if we can discuss this matter in your office, privately.”

“No,” I said, lowering my tone and my gaze. “Tell me. Now. What is this ‘situation’ that’s being referred to?”

“Very well, Dani,” Bernard said, the words coming from his mouth with the same emotion he might use when ordering a bowl of soup. “In light of the circumstances, and the demands of Mrs. Rhys, we believe that we have no alternative but to terminate your employment with the firm,
effective immediately.
”

I felt my eyes widen in their sockets. Unsure I’d heard him correctly, I leaned forward.

“What’s that?”

“You heard what Bernard said, Dani,” Leopold began, angling his upper body over the conference table and locking eyes with me. “Save yourself the embarrassment, and don't make this situation anymore awkward than it already is.”

Still trying to process what was happening, I shook my head. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It just couldn’t be true.

“Dani,” Bernard said, gesturing towards the conference room door. “Please excuse us, and return to your office. Leopold and I will be in to discuss your situation once we've concluded the matter at hand with Mrs. Rhys.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach, betrayed. Not only by Serena and whatever spying she’d engaged in but also by Bernard and Leopold. I couldn’t believe my bosses were willing to overlook all of the work I’d done for the firm, all the millions of dollars of business I’d brought to their company. In less than five minutes, they’d fired me like they would a summer intern.

Bernard cleared his throat. “Dani?” he began, looking at me and raising his eyebrows. “We'll be in to discuss this with you.”

DANI

I looked away from him and reached down, wrapping my fingers around the arms of the chair. Without a word, I pushed myself into a standing position. I worried that my first step would send me to the ground. My knees shook. Feeling half-faint, I shuffled for the first few steps until I made my way around the conference table. I didn’t bother looking at anyone while I headed towards the door.

Just before I reached it, I passed by Serena. She grabbed hold of my forearm, startling me. She locked eyes with me, looking at me in silence for a second or two before letting go of my arm not long after.

“I
told you
Marco was incapable of love.” she began, smugness dripping from her words. “And now, you see,
exactly
what kind of man he really is.”

Part of me wanted to scream and slap her in the face. The other part of me wanted to do the same to Marco. Until that instant, the depth of his deception hadn’t dawned on me. Maybe I’d been so shocked by everything else, I hadn't had time to think about it.

I almost couldn’t believe that the woman in front of me was the same tear filled victim I met that first night in his condominium. During the course of the short meeting, she’d transformed herself from a helpless, hopelessly in-love ex-girlfriend to a vindictive and cunning…
wife.

Wife.

W. I. F. E.

It still didn’t seem real. I began to feel nauseous all over again. Even so, I had no intention of allowing myself to be portrayed as a homewrecker. I didn’t care what was on the video she'd shown to them. I was misled by Marco, and since I was going to be fired anyway, I decided to speak my mind.

“Serena,” I said, crossing my arms while looking down at her. “I’ve already apologized to you once. I meant what I said. I cannot begin to tell you how bad I feel. For what it’s worth, I hope someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Serena looked away from me while I spoke, crossing her arms as well.

“But what you’re doing here… punishing me for something that is really your husband’s fault, that’s just not fair. You have no right to come in here and try to rob me of my livelihood. None at all.”

No sooner had I finished saying that then she looked up at me, glaring in my direction.

“Dani,” Leopold began, standing from his chair. “It really is time for you to go. There aren’t going to be any more discussions about this issue and…”

“No! Leopold, no!” I exclaimed, pointing at him. Adrenaline surged through me, strengthening my resolve to defend myself.

“What Serena’s done, it’s basically entrapment. She is essentially trying to blackmail this firm, destroying my career and my reputation in the process. I'm not going to allow it! If you think you can just get away with this, Serena, you are sorely mistaken!”

“That’s enough, Dani!” Bernard demanded.

Soon the mood in the room changed from awkward silence to full-on confrontation.

“You are a whore,” Serena snarled. “It doesn’t matter whether or not Marco was married. You were willing to do anything to get him to sign the contract.”

I snapped. Without a single thought, I slapped Serena,
hard
, across the face. She gasped and tried to get to her feet. Her attorney grabbed hold of her, and I stood there, readying myself for a fight.

“I will sue you for everything you have!” Serena began, holding the side of her face where I’d hit her. “You will owe me for the rest of your life, you bitch!”

While Serena threatened me, Bernard and Leopold hustled in my direction.

“Don’t come near me!” I warned, pointing at them. “Either one of you!”

Eventually they stopped, looking at me with expressions of utter shock. I turned my attention back to Serena. With a calm, even tone, I responded to her threats.

“I am
not
a prostitute. I am also
not
a bitch. I have explained the situation. I have apologized. The real guilty party here is not me, it's your husband.”

Serena flinched, trying to get free of her attorney’s grasp while I continued.

“If anyone is a prostitute in this situation, Serena, it’s
you
. You’re willing to stay married to a man who cheats on you, so you can get his money. If that’s not a prostitute, I don’t know what is.”

Serena thinned her lips, but before she could say anything, I interrupted her.

“You will never see a single penny from me. I feel sorry for you, Serena. You are a pathetic excuse for a human being.”

“Why you…” Serena began, her voice escalating.

“That’s enough! That is enough!” Bernard yelled. “Dani, get your things from your office, and get out.”

I was just numb to everything. In that moment, the only thing that mattered to me was defending my good name. If they wanted to fire me,
fine.
I said nothing for several seconds, until at last I walked towards the conference room door.

Turning one last time, I looked at Serena. “He broke my heart, Serena. Isn’t that enough for you?”

With that, I yanked on the door handle and exited, slamming it behind me.

DANI

Staggering into the hallway, all of the anger and rage I’d vented at Serena drained from my body. In its place, emptiness, numbness, and disbelief coursed through my veins, nearly bringing me to my knees. I braced myself against the wall, pressing my palms flat.

I had to get to my office, not only to clean out my desk, but also I felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown. The last thing I wanted to do was degenerate into a sniveling mess in front of my coworkers. Gathering myself, I walked to my office as quickly as possible, closing the door behind me. I pressed my upper back into it, resting my head against it for a few seconds.

Not only did the room feel like it was spinning, but so did my life. Somehow, I had to keep myself under control just long enough to leave the firm with my dignity intact. I exhaled and shoved myself away from the door. I still had one thing to do - a final call to make.