Page 18 of Wild King
Stupid Salem. Will I never learn?
After sitting with my self-loathing thoughts for a few minutes, I walk over to my bags and fish out my phone. At times like this, a woman needs her best friend to lean on. My best friend is my older sister Ever, and she’ll know what to say to pull me out of this funk.
At least I hope she does. Nothing like being abandoned in paradise. That’s a new one for me.
Before I can get a word out, my sister says, “Salem, I need you on the first flight to JFK. I don’t have all the details right now, but I got a call about an hour ago, and this new client wants the best in the business, so that means you.”
I can’t deny getting lost in work right now would be good for me. It’s not like I have anything going on in my personal life to make me not want to throw myself into helping a new client.
“Okay. I guess since I have nothing to stay here for I can come back today.”
“Good! But wait, this morning you said you were staying until Monday. What happened?”
I hang my head as I struggle to get the words out. “He ghosted me.”
“What does that mean? You said you were staying in his villa. How does a man ghost a woman when they’re staying in the same room?”
Good question.
“I don’t know, Ever. He just left without even telling me anything. I was out on the beach and came up to put some sunscreen on and found out he was gone. God, what is wrong with me? Why would someone just disappear like that?”
“Oh, honey. Nothing’s wrong with you. You’re a beautiful, smart, successful woman. You just have the worst luck with menI’ve ever seen. Don’t let this get you down. Come back to work and fix someone’s life. You’re the best at what we do. Whatever this guy’s problem was, fuck him.”
“Yeah, fuck him,” I quietly say, wishing I meant it the way she does.
“It’ll be okay. I promise, Salem. Come back home and we’ll eat a ton of ice cream, drink ourselves stupid, and then fix someone’s life. I’ll make sure to have your favorite flavor, mint chocolate chip, and I’ll get champagne so we can toast to this asshole’s demise likely at the hands of a woman he’s scorned.”
The very thought of that drink now makes me want to cry. “No, not champagne. Vodka.”
“You must be miserable. I haven’t seen you drink vodka since your twenty-first birthday.”
“I just don’t want champagne. I can toast his demise with vodka just as well. I guess I better go. I have to see if I can get a flight back today. Will you be able to pick me up at the airport? I really don’t want to have to deal with getting a cab or an Uber.”
“Sure, honey. I’ll be there the moment you land. Just text me the details of your flight. And hey, Salem, don’t let this get you down. He wasn’t the one. It’s that simple. You’ll know when you meet the man who’ll appreciate you like you deserve.”
“Thanks, Ever. I’ll let you know when I’ll be landing. See you later.”
I throw my phone onto the sofa next to me and let out a heavy sigh. I didn’t think he was Mr. Right. I was okay with him being Mr. Right Now. I just can’t believe after having such a good time together that he could ghost me like this.
Whoever Mr. King is, I hope I get the chance to make him as miserable as I feel right now.
CHAPTER NINE
Kellen
Matthias paces backand forth across his office at the house as I explain again that Gina and I were never anything serious but I didn’t sexually harass her. My words don’t seem to be making things better, if my brother’s pained expression is any indication.
“You know we have a non-fraternization policy at King Industries,” he says in a strangled voice. “It’s there to prevent things like this from happening.”
I sit back on his brown leather couch and groan. “I’m a goddamned adult, Matthias. I can fuck whoever I want.”
He spins around and practically stares bullet holes through me before barking, “Not if it hurts the company you can’t!”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he stops walking. “I’m tired of answering questions about this, so you’re going to have to step up and handle it. I’m torn about what to do, though. Our PR team thinks you need to go out and explain what happened, but the legal department says definitely not. I’ve got a call intoa fixer, but I’m not sure that’s what we need. At least I hope it’s not.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got this. I’ll do an interview with that woman who looks like a bird and everything will be good. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Really, Matthias. I think you’re going to give yourself a heart attack if you keep freaking out about things like this.”
He stares at me and twists his face into a grimace. “I wish I could believe it will be that easy.”