Chapter 36

Thirty-Six

TOM

By three p.m.the next day, I realized coming in to work had been a waste of time. The night replayed inside my head and every time I arrived at the moment where I almost choked Tiffany, my insides twisted with fear.

I closed my eyes and shuddered.

It could have been Sara.

I gathered my things and prepared to leave. My flight wasn’t departing for Teterboro for several more hours, but I wanted an early start, anything to keep my mind from spinning nightmares.

What the hell was I thinking last night?

Out of nowhere, Tiffany barged through my door and slammed it closed.

Speak of the devil.

The red scarf around her neck highlighted the thoughts I’d been attempting to shake out of my mind.

“I heard you’re leaving. What’s going on?” she demanded.

I didn’t look up at her and continued to stuff my briefcase with documents. “I thought I told you to stay home today.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t.”

Reaching for the mouse, I closed down window screens on my laptop. “I’m leaving for Jersey.”

She approached closer, the scent of her musky perfume assaulting my nose as she neared my desk. “Stop pretending you’re doing something important and look at me. Why didn’t I know about this sooner?”

I lifted my gaze from the computer and met her eyes with a cold stare. “It was a last-minute decision. And, well, as you are no longer my personal assistant, I didn’t see the need to inform you of my itinerary.” I looked away, dismissing her wide-eyed reaction as I shut down my laptop.

She placed her hands on my desk. “What are you talking about?”

I looked at her stiff fingers pressed down on the oak tabletop then peered up at her face. “You’ve been reassigned as office manager for this location.”

Stumped, she shook her head in disbelief. “Greg’s already the office manager.”

An exasperated breath escaped my lungs as I rubbed a hand down my face. “Greg is my new personal assistant, and it seems he will need training regarding visitors into my office. If you’ll excuse me, I’m in a hurry.” I packed my laptop and reached for my suit jacket.

“You can’t do this to me.”

“Sure, I can,” I replied coolly.

“Tom, why are you leaving? Is it because of me? Because of what happened last night?”

I shook my head as I put on my jacket. “Me leaving has nothing to do with you. Your reassignment, however, that’s a different story.”

“You can’t reassign me here.”

I slammed my briefcase on the desk; the sound making her jerk back. “After the stunt you pulled last night, you are lucky I didn’t fire your ass.”

“What about my apartment in New York?”

“Sell it. Stay at your L.A. hotel as long as you need. Until you find a new place here. Greg can assist you with the details later.”

“My friends? My life?”

“I don’t know what to tell you, and frankly, I don’t care what you have to do to get your life together.” I grabbed my briefcase and walked around the desk to leave.

She reached for my arm as I passed her on my way out the door. “I won’t let you do this to me.”

My eyes froze over her gripping hand. “Accept the relocation or consider yourself terminated from this company.” Raising my eyes to meet hers, the stern look forced her to let go of my arm. Then I walked out.

* * *

After boarding my private charter, I plopped down into my seat. My body pulsed with uncomfortable energy. Telling Sara about what happened with Tiffany didn’t sound like a bright idea, but I’d promised her I’d never lie. I had no clue how she’d handle the news.

Trying to shake the nerves, I raked my hands through my hair a thousand times. The flight attendant strolled by my seat holding a tray of scotch and tumblers. My mouth felt like ash all of a sudden and my fingers trembled.

Not again.

I’d been able to keep the illness under control. Aside from Jake who knew about my troubled past, no one guessed I still battled with alcoholism. Masking the problem hadn’t been difficult; always pouring myself a glass of wine at dinner, holding a drink in my hand at parties. No one cared or noticed the liquid never entered my mouth. It took a hard level of self-control, but I’d mastered it. Everything had been fine.

Until now.

Forgetting about the acid churning inside my stomach, I rested my head back and focused on Sara’s brown eyes and her soft smile. Soon she’d be wrapped in my arms and I would feel at home and at peace.

Soon.