Page 223 of The Girlfriend Clause
“I’m sorry, Liam.”She looked like she actually meant it. “I know this had become something more for you.”
I’d had to tell Bonnie when everything with the painting blew up—she’d simply raised a brow like she wasn’t surprised. Not the reaction I’d been expecting.
My eyes scanned down the letter.
… formally record concerns regarding an incident… not aware of Mr. von Roth’s identity, role, or seniority… significant power imbalance… discomfort and concern… threats, inducements… asymmetry of authority… willing to cooperate…
All the air inside me seemed to have disappeared.
“When did you find this?”
“At the end of last week,” Bonnie said. “I’ve spoken to her. She understands the position this puts you in.”
Was this how Andrea saw me? Someone whose status represented so much of athreatthat she needed to take pre-emptive action to avoid consequences?
Had she seen me like that all along?
“I see.”
Bonnie looked at me, her brow dropping slightly. “I know,” she said. “I thought she was different, too.”
Chapter 51
Andrea
The sun wasstill warm as I walked over Wandsworth Bridge even though it was already after six. The Thames was a murky blue brown and the odd pedestrian passed me heading south toward Clapham, occasionally a bike.
I didn’t know where I was going, I just wanted to walk.
Bonnie hadn’t given me a copy of the document, but I’d found it stored in my personal Gmail. It didn’t look good.
Why hadn’t we shredded it?I was sure I’d asked James to do it.
After the meeting, I’d logged into my HR record on the company SharePoint. There was a new folder under my name.Employee Relations. I’d clicked on it, and a message popped up:
You do not have permission to view thisfile.
I’d flushed and snapped the laptop shut, like I was being watched.
“Certain protocol has to befollowed.”
Did that include her telling Liam? Of course it did. My stomach churned like I’d eaten something raw and unripe.
I’d phoned James twice, but he hadn’t picked up.
On the other side of the bridge, it was cooler, the tall apartment buildings throwing shade into the streets. I walked past the Sainsbury’s and the little terraced houses and followed the street back down to the river. The Thames Path was quiet, a handful of boats floating alongside it. Ahead, Battersea Railway Bridge was green against the sky, a train rumbling slowly over.
The thought of Liam reading the letter made me want to throw up.
What would he think of me? I pictured his face scanning the words, struggling to comprehend how casually I’d damaged him.
And after everything we’d had together…
This would hurt him, and not just professionally.
I took out my phone and scrolled to his name. I could just call him. Maybe it wasn’t too late? I could tell him what I’d done and why, explain it, make it go away.
But… I couldn’t make it go away. Even Bonnie couldn’t do that.
