Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

MARLOW

I woke up early, and like I did almost every morning these days, I stared up at the ceiling and contemplated life. I thought about my life choices and whether I was making the right ones. I used to be excited to go to work. I used to wake up with a smile on my face.

I couldn't say the same these days. Work wasn't enjoyable. Technically, the work was fine. It was the people. No, person . Spencer. I didn't know what to do about him. I wanted to be friends with him. I wanted more than that, but he didn't. I was not about to beg him to want me. If he didn't want me, whatever.

I got up and managed to get myself into the shower. As the warm water cascaded over me, I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. It was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the lingering tension between Spencer and me. Despite my best efforts to bury my feelings deep down, they continued to resurface, taunting me with what could have been. I wanted to believe he felt something for me, but if he did, the man hid it well.

After what felt like an eternity beneath the soothing stream of water, I reluctantly turned off the shower and stepped out, my mind still clouded with thoughts of Spencer. I got dressed for another day at the office, choosing a black power suit. With the rocky atmosphere in the office, I needed to dress for success.

I walked into the lobby, feeling like a million bucks. I got in line at the coffee shop, blending in with the rest of the corporate masses.

As I waited for my turn, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation around me. The usual gossip about who was up for promotion, who was dating whom, and who had made a fool of themselves at the last company party. It was all the same, no matter what office people worked in. I couldn't help but smile to myself. It was good to know our office wasn't the only one with palace intrigue.

When it was finally my turn to order, I requested a strong black coffee and a blueberry muffin. As I waited for my order, I noticed a man looking at me.

"Hello," he said with a smile.

"Hi." I nodded.

"I'm Alex," he said. "I've seen you in the building before."

"That's because I work here." I laughed.

I was drawn to his easy smile, and he was attractive enough, but I couldn't really see myself dating him.

"Really. What do you do?"

"I'm in marketing," I said. "You?"

"Lawyer." He grinned. "Litigator."

"Ah."

"It's not as bad as it sounds," he said. "I'd love to take you out sometime."

I should say yes. This was exactly what I needed. But dammit. I couldn't get Spencer out of my head, which was stupid.

"I'm seeing someone," I lied.

"Well, when you're not seeing someone, let me know," he said with a wink. "I'm on the eighth floor."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said.

I took my coffee and muffin and made a swift exit from the coffee shop, silently cursing myself for not giving Alex a chance. Maybe some distance from Spencer would clear my head and help me see things more clearly.

I had been avoiding Spencer since our last encounter in the office. The tension was palpable every time we crossed paths, and I wasn't ready for another confrontation. If he wanted to act like he was the injured party, fine. I was not going to feel bad for not wanting a casual fling. I wasn't an insecure teenage girl who needed the hot jock's approval. I was a strong, confident woman. I didn't need him to make me feel like I was only worth a quick roll in the hay.

When I arrived at work that morning, I felt that familiar tension. It had been like that for days. Worse than it had been before. I noticed everyone in the office trying to do their best to be invisible. Then I heard raised voices coming from the conference room. My first instinct was to make myself scarce. I quickly walked to my office, seeking shelter.

Kyla was already at her desk. When she saw me, she hurried after me into my office. She closed the door behind us. I turned to look at her, asking her with my expression what the hell was going on.

"Spencer and Graham haven't been getting along all morning," she said in hushed tones. "And that's a mild way of putting it."

I frowned, not entirely surprised but still concerned. "What happened?"

She shook her head. "I have no idea. It's like a slow eruption of the biggest volcano. All of these men have such big egos and personalities. It's dangerous. I feel like we're all just waiting for them to step into the arena. A bunch of gladiators running around here growling and glaring."

"Did something happen?"

"Graham and Spencer were snapping at each other," she said. "I happened to overhear them. Well, everyone did. They went into the conference room for privacy, but everyone could hear them."

"Did you hear what they were arguing about?" I asked.

She shook her head. "And now all the guys are in there, and it looks like it's Spencer versus all of them."

This made my heart hurt. I knew another side of Spencer. Yes, he had been an ass and rude to me, but I also knew that hurt people hurt people.

"Why?" I sighed.

"I don't know. Normally I would try and eavesdrop, but I had a feeling it would be safer if I avoided the fallout zone."

"Are they really ganging up on him?" I asked with a hint of sadness.

"I didn't hear every word, but from the brief glimpse I got of the situation, that's what it looked like," she said with a grimace.

"Do you think it has anything to do with me?" I asked.

"I didn't hear your name," she said.

"You're sure?" I asked. "I would hate to know they are still giving him a hard time for bringing me on."

"I get the feeling all of this has been brewing for a while," she said. "I can't imagine them still being upset about you being here. You've done well for them. And with the new clients you're bringing, how could they be pissed at him?"

"I don't know," I said. "But I can't let him stand there alone. He feels alone. This place, those guys, they are his family. They can't turn on him."

"What are you going to do?"

Driven by empathy, I felt compelled to see if I could help. "Act as the mediator."

"You might catch some shrapnel," she said as I walked out of my office.

"I know, but I can't just leave the guy alone."

I walked to the conference room and paused outside the door. I could hear the raised voices. This was probably not my smartest move, but I couldn't just let Spencer get railroaded, especially if this had anything to do with me. I took a deep breath and let myself into the conference room. All the men turned to look at me. The room went quiet. The tension nearly choked me.

"I was feeling left out," I joked, but nobody laughed or cracked a smile.

Graham smoothed out his suit and brushed past me. "I'm over this," he muttered.

Derrick followed him without saying a word. Max and Jaxson exchanged pointed looks before leaving as well. Sebastian stood there for a moment, shaking his head at Spencer. "It's a shame, man," he said before leaving too.

Alone with Spencer, I felt the air in the room thinning. Something big had just happened. I wanted to ask if he was okay, if he needed something, but there was a storm brewing inside him, and I was afraid of setting him off.

"I guess I know how to clear a room," I said with a half-laugh.

He finally met my gaze. "Don't feel sorry for me. I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity," I said. "It's called friendship. You should look it up."

To my surprise, he cracked a small smile, but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

"Spencer, what is going on?" I asked. "I don't want to imply anything, but is this about us?"

"No."

I nodded. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?"

He pointed to a file on the table. I glanced down and recognized it as the one I had left in his office.

I sighed, realizing I was the reason for the argument. They must have felt the same way about the water bottle campaign as Spencer did. And they were holding him responsible for my choices.

And just like Spencer, he went to bat for me. It was cute the first time. He got laid. But if he thought that was what I wanted, he was wrong. Dakota wanted me to be the little woman dependent on my big strong husband. Now, it seemed like Spencer was thinking I needed him to be my forever protector.

"I'll call the guy back and tell him we can't take the job," I said firmly. "If they had a problem with it, you could have just directed them to me. I don't need you fighting all my battles."

He chuckled, but it sounded like more of an evil villain kind of laugh than anything real. I had a feeling there was something he was about to say I wasn't going to like.

"The guys are pissed because I'm taking this file and marketing the product. Independently."

I blinked, trying to process his words. "What?"

My mind was spinning. There was no way he was saying what I thought he was saying.

"My time here is done," he said matter-of-factly. "I had a good run, but this shit isn't for me anymore. I can be more successful on my own."

I felt like I needed to clean out my ears. "More successful than seven figures a year?"

I shook my head. This was crazy. These guys were his friends. This business was their legacy. What happened in the last two weeks that made him want to end everything on such a bad note? Was it me? Should I leave? Oh god, was I Yoko?

"It's not you," Spencer said, reading my thoughts. "It's me. You don't have to worry about me. I can handle it."

"Of course I have to worry about you!" I cried, losing my cool. What an idiot. "You isolate yourself, Spencer. You always have. It's why you and Rhett aren't as close as you used to be. You have a pattern of self-destruction, and for once in your life, stop and take a breath before you make a mistake and blow up the best friendships you have. And have ever had!"

He stared coolly at me. The Spencer I knew wasn't there. The man standing before me was cold and empty. I needed to bring him back.

I took a deep breath and gathered my nerve. "I don't know what you're scared of, but running isn't the solution. It never is. You can't walk away from this. You built this company. Why would you give up on it?"

"Says the girl who ran from her husband."

His words stung. "Be mean. Be small. It doesn't change anything. I've put in the work to reflect and be better. Can you say the same?"

Spencer's jaw tightened, and he looked away. I might have pushed too hard, but he didn't get to disrespect me. He had no idea what I put up with from Dakota. I didn't run from anything. I ran toward my own happiness. I was so sick of everyone implying I was the one that failed or gave up because I didn't want to put in the hard work.