Page 27 of Missed Communication
Aubrey
Is that a question or a demand?
Call it whatever you want, but you’re staying the night with me.
A hand gently clamps on my shoulder—a woman’s hand, but it doesn’t feel like Aubrey’s. I quickly click the power button to hide my screen, then check to see who it is. My eyes widen as Olivia’s face comes into view. There’s a small chance she read the messages, but based on her expression, she doesn’t appear to be upset. She taps her ear, and she probably thinks I’m listening to music, so I pull out my earbud.
“Governor. How are you?”
“Please, call me Livy or Olivia. I’ve had enough formalities for today.” She takes a seat on the workout bench next to mine. “I just wanted to thank you for everything this week. If it wasn’t for all of the hard work you put in, this summit never would’ve happened.”
“It was a team effort. And I’m sorry about everything this morning. The Prime Minister isn’t usually this impulsive; it took me by surprise. But I can assure you, everything I’m seeing on my end has been nothing but positive.”
“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about…”
14
Aubrey
ONE MONTH LATER
“This is absolute bullshit,” I grumble, reading over the email announcement for the third time as I absent-mindedly rub at the little red ant tattoo on my ring finger.
Please help us welcome the newest member of our team, James Wilson. Mr. Wilson will be joining us today as Senior Advisor for Communication, reporting to Chief of Staff, Aubrey Raine.
Why wouldn’t Livy tell me?
The position has been vacant since she took office, but that’s only because we hadn’t found the right fit. Tracy doesn’t want it—she’s happy as our new Director of Media Operations—and everyone else who’s applied was either old-as-fuck and out of touch with the shift to new media, or underqualified. Why would Jamie apply for it in the first place? I won’t deny he did an incredible job with Isaac’s transition, but is he really qualified to take over our entire communications team? He has to know we’ll be working together…
Fuck. I’m in hell.
I grab my phone and march down the hall to Livy’s office, bypassing the gatekeepers, not bothering to knock as I barge in. Olivia’s at her computer, typing something, and startles at the door opening.
“What is this about James Wilson being hired as our Senior Advisor for Communication?”
“I asked him to apply when we were in Ottawa,” she replies evenly, as if I was privy to her secret conversation.
I fold my arms over my chest, which is unfortunately very sore today. “Why wasn’t I part of the hiring process?”
“Because you’re biased.”
“How exactly am I biased?”
“Just because I was distracted by Isaac, doesn’t mean I didn’t notice the way you looked at Jamie or how he looked at you when we were at the summit. Either you slept together or you wanted to. So, I asked Paulette to join me in the final interviews instead. He’ll be a great asset, and I need the best possible team to ensure we have a smooth four years.”
“Eight,” I correct, but I’m glad it seems Tracy never outed me if Olivia isn’t sure about Jamie and me. Still, I’m stuck on how she called him Jamie, not James. His announcement said James, and he was always introduced as James during formal meetings during the summit. Why would she call him Jamie unless… I was played.
Did Jamie use me to get a job with Olivia?
“That’s if I’m reelected,” she reminds. “When you go on maternity leave, I’ll want him to step in for you until you return.”
This has to be a nightmare. How can I wake up from this? Is he a narcissist who wooed me with orgasms? Is any of this real? “What the actual fuck, Livy?” I snap, but what should she expect when she hired a snake who used me for a job. “Are you fucking kidding me? On top of having to work with him every day, I have to train him tobeme? This is exactly why I should’ve been part of the interviews.”
She cocks an eyebrow. “What happened in Canada?”
“Nothing,” I rush out a little too quickly, my bruised ego unable to admit the truth, even if the lie is sour on my tongue. I thought what happened was real, not to get his foot in the door on my staff.
“How long have we been friends?” Livy stands, rounds her desk, and sits on the edge of it. “I figured hiring Jamie wouldn’t bother a woman who doesn’t get emotionally attached.”
