Page 122 of Icebound Hearts
“Thank you,” I say, glancing from Cindy to Robert.
Robert nods, pursing his lips. “So, we’re all good here? You’re still on board for the commercial?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He turns to Cindy. “And the rest of your marketing team can pick up the slack now that you’re down a member?”
Her spine straightens a little as if daring anyone to question her capabilities. “Of course.”
“Wonderful.” The Beaumont rep blows out a breath, looking relieved.
They spend a few minutes talking, hammering out some last-minute details for the commercial and occasionally throwing questions my way. Since I’m the one who called them all here, I’m happy to let them talk, but I’m only half paying attention to any of it. My focus is mostly on Violet, and on making sure that she’s truly okay. I got rid of Elijah and ensured that he should stay out of her life for good this time, but I know that the ghosts that haunt us take longer to banish than that.
I nod along and speak when needed, and once the impromptu creative meeting is over, I extend a hand to Violet, helping her up from her chair. She glances over at the doorElijah bolted out through as if she’s in some sort of daze, and I catch her chin between my fingers, tilting her face up toward mine.
“Hey,” I murmur. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine,” she whispers. Then she shakes her head. “I just can’t believe you did that.”
“Did what?”
“You gambled your entire promotional career just now. For me.”
I tuck a lock of blonde hair behind her ear, trailing my fingers along her jaw. “Of course I did, heartbreaker. And even if I’d lost that gamble, it still would’ve been worth it.”
She draws in a shaky breath, but before she can say anything, her phone buzzes, and she reaches for it automatically. An alarm is going off to remind her that she needs to go pick Jake up from school.
“Oh.” She shakes her head as if to clear it. “I should get going, I don’t want to be late for Jake.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get him. Just head home and take it easy, okay?”
She looks up at me, her hazel eyes pensive. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Thank you, for everything,” she says and although she looks like she wants to kiss me, she doesn’t.
“Will you be okay to drive?” I ask her, and she nods.
“Yeah, I’ll be okay. I’ll see you at home.”
After nodding goodbye to my agent, as well as the Beaumont and Affinity people, I walk her to the door and out through the lobby so I can make sure Elijah isn’t waiting to ambush her. She’ll be fine, and I know that, but it doesn’t stop me from watching from the lobby window until she’s in her car and pulling out of the parking lot.
I’m just about to head out to my own car when Cindy enters the lobby, accompanied by the remainder of the Affinity team. She says something to them and then steps away from the group, hurrying over to me.
“Is everything alright?” I ask, my brows drawing together.
“Yes, it’s fine.” She glances around and then leans closer to me, keeping her voice low. “Listen, I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I’m glad you did what you did.”
“Oh?” I ask, frowning. “Why?”
She sighs. “To be honest, Elijah was on thin ice at our firm already. There have been rumors about bad behavior, and when I saw Violet in the meeting room today, I… well, I have a feeling that she’s the reason you didn’t want to work with Elijah. I don’t know exactly what happened between them, but I hate that she didn’t feel like she could come forward about it. Either way, I think it’s admirable what you did for her.”
Anger curls in my gut at the reminder of how long Elijah got away with acting like an entitled shit stain, hiding the worst of his behavior just like he did when he gaslit and tormented Violet. It’s a good fucking thing he’s gone. Otherwise, he’d be leaving here in pieces, and I’d be leaving in handcuffs.
I nod stiffly at Cindy, giving her a small smile. “She deserves it.”
The older woman rejoins her team, and I head out to my car, knowing Jake will be waiting for me soon.