“That’s rather rich, coming from you,” Cooper says testily.
“What are you talking about?” Emerson replies, “I take my work for Bastian very seriously, Cooper. You know that.”
“Oh?” Cooper shoots back, “Is that why you missed our conference call with New Zealand this morning? Because you take this work so seriously?”
I watch as the color drains out of Emerson’s face. For the first time since we woke up this morning, he falters.
“Damn,” Emerson murmurs, sitting up in his chair, “New Zealand. I forgot. Cooper, I’m sorry. I just—”
“Just what?” Cooper cuts him off. “Overslept? Blew it off? What explanation could you possibly have? You’re my right hand man in Europe, Sawyer, but that doesn’t mean you can just come and go as you please. I thought you were committed to your position here.”
“I am,” Emerson insists, “It was just a mistake. Look, Abby and I have been having a pretty strange week—”
I wince as I’m brought into the conversation. Cooper raises an eyebrow looking at me.
“A strange week?” he says flatly, “Miss Rowan, has your first week here been so prohibitively strange that you’ve just decided not to come into work at all?”
“I. I’m not,” I stammer, “It’s a really long story, Mr. Cooper.”
“I’m listening,” he says, training his eyes on me.
I look over at Emerson, who nods for me to go on. I draw a deep breath and continue.
“I probably should have mentioned this right after my interview,” I begin, meeting Cooper’s steady gaze, “But Emerson and I aren’t exactly strangers. We, uh, know each other from high school, actually. And when I ran into him that first day, even after our interview went so well, I was going to turn down the job because of that. I was afraid things might be...difficult.”
“So you know each other from when you were kids,” Cooper replies, “Why would that mean you had to turn down the job?”
“We didn’t just know each other,” Emerson cuts in, “We were...Our parents were together, for a while. They were even married, for a very short time.”
Cooper’s eyes cloud over as he looks back and forth between us. “But the talk in the office has been...And you showed up here together this morning...” he blusters, looking more disturbed by the second, “I was under the impression that there was some sort of romantic relationship happening between you?” For once, even Emerson is silent as we stare at Cooper. Our boss shakes his head, unable or unwilling to put the pieces together. “But you can’t be seeing each other, then. Not if your parents—”
“It’s complicated,” I say quietly, my fingernails digging into my palms.
“That’s not the word I would have used,” Cooper scoffs.
“Hey,” Emerson jumps in, “You don’t have all the details, Cooper.”
“And believe me, I don’t want them,” our boss says quickly, shoving a hand through his hair. “What I want is for you two to tell me what the hell I’m supposed to do, here?”
“What do you mean?” Emerson says, his jaw tensing angrily.
“I mean, I have a new employee who can’t seem to show up for work, a senior employee who’s more interested in carrying on some perverted relationship with his stepsister than pulling his weight, and an office full of people who can’t talk about anything but the two of you!” Cooper rants furiously.
“Emerson!” I cry out, as he lunges to his feet and towers over Cooper’s desk. In an instant, it’s like he’s eighteen again, facing off against his tormentors. His entire body is alive with powerful rage, and I’m truly afraid of what he might do next.
“Don’t you dare presume to judge me,” Emerson growls. I watch as Cooper’s eyes bug out of his head in alarm.
“Get out of my face, Sawyer!” our boss cries, shrinking back into his chair.
“You don’t know the first thing about my life,” Emerson rages on, shaking, “Abby is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m not going to let you shit on what we have.”
“Fine!” Cooper shoots back, “You two go off and live in whatever kind of sin you prefer, just don’t do it under my nose!”
“Are you trying to fire me, Cooper?” Emerson growls.
“I can’t fire you. You’re under contract. And all of the partners need to agree before terminating someone,” Cooper says, exasperated. “But I’d strongly suggest that you consider—”
“I quit,” Emerson cuts him off, pushing roughly away from the desk.
“Great,” Cooper shouts, “Good idea, Sawyer. Just walk away from the agency because you’re caught up on a piece of ass.”
My vision flashes bright white as my boss’s words sink in. Before Emerson can launch himself across the desk at Cooper, I leap to my feet and block his path. I stare down at Cooper, the corners of my vision blurring with rage.
“I am not some piece of ass,” I say, my voice clear and strong, “I was almost the best graphic designer you ever had. But you blew it. If Emerson goes, I go too.”
“Fine,” Cooper seethes, looking back and forth between us, “Just get out before I call security on both your asses.”
“No problem,” Emerson says, grabbing my hand. We storm out the door together, our shoulders squared.
“Good luck, you two,” Cooper calls sarcastically after us as we march across the community work space. “Enjoy your incestuous little cabal while you can.”
Our coworkers rubberneck to get a better view of us as we pass, but one withering look from Emerson and they all pry their eyes away. We charge down the stairs and back out into the light of day. Just a few days ago, I was walking into this office and landing my dream job. Emerson was one of the most important people in this agency. And now here we are, out on our asses. And all because we tried to make a go of being together.
“Well,” Emerson says through gritted teeth, “Guess I was wrong about oversleeping not being a big deal, huh?”
I open my mouth to answer, but the ringing of my cell phone interrupts me. I snatch the device out of my purse and see that Riley is calling. After her dozens of texts and calls over the course of last night, I figure I’d better at least answer once.
“Ri, it’s really not a good time,” I say into the phone, turning away from Emerson.