Aria’s POV When I awoke the next morning and checked Liam’s room, he was gone again. I truly had no idea how he could keep up this pace. With a sigh, I turned from his room and went to help the kids get ready for the day. Once the kids were off on the school bus, I got into my car and drove to t
Aria’s POV Joanna stepped up to the microphone. “Thank you. As I’m sure things have been run with some measure of success around here, I want to confirm that I have no intention of disrupting that process. In fact, I only wish to increase the output of that success.” “I don’t like the sound of t
Aria’s POV After the meeting was officially over, my co-workers and I returned to our offices and to our work. Having thought it over, I decided that Joanna’s belittlement was some sort of motivational mind game. While it hadn’t been particularly effective on me, I could see how it might earn te
“I work hard every day,” I assure, “And I never miss a race.” “My records indicate that you used PTO recently, to take off a day. These vacations should not be allowed in the middle of the race season. I’ve already spoke to HR, instructing them to not approve any more breaks this time of year.”
Aria’s POV After the meeting, I stumbled back to my office in something of a blur. I couldn’t believe what had happened, or what this meant for me and for the drivers. How could this happen? How could everything go so wrong, so quickly? What in the world was I supposed to do now? Sitting beh
“Oh,” the man said. Understanding crossed his face, but so too did annoyance. “Surely you were told you were being demoted. You didn’t think you’d keep your office, did you?” “I didn’t know what to think,” I admitted. “No one really gave me any information.” “Well, this room is mine now,” the ma
Aria’s POV “This is a closet,” I said, looking at the cramped space. I wasn’t sure how they even managed to fit this desk in here. Did they have to disassemble it in the hallway and then reassemble it here? “I’m sure I could find you a smaller, even more cramped space if you would prefer it?” Jo
Aria’s POV My co-workers could have been sharing more gossip, but it seemed more likely, judging by the words they said behind my back, that Joanna had been talking about me with everyone. For that to be true, she wasn’t just on some professional vendetta against me based on my work and work eth
Liam’s POVFriday morning, I was filled with dread and trepidation. I wasn’t looking forward to this coming weekend, not even slightly. The engagement party set for Saturday night was sure to be terrible, but it’s the potential fallout with Aria that had me on edge the most.I hoped she could see my
Aria’s POVThe question blindsided me, and I had no idea how to answer it. How did William know Liam and I were having troubles? We’d tried so hard not to fight in front of them anymore. And even though we’d been distant with each other, we always tried to be friendly when the kids were around.But
Liam’s POVI placed my hands on William’s shoulders, hoping to ease him. His posture had gotten all tense, when he’d confronted Jackson. I was a little worried he might start a fight with Jackson now, too.“Thanks William, but it’s okay,” I said. “Jackson isn’t wrong. I have been failing Aria by not
Aria’s POV“William? What are you doing here?”William, with Liam holding his hand, come into my office.“Can I hang out with you today?” William asked me.I looked up at Liam, searching for explanation.“Someone got into a fight with the school bully,” Liam said. “He’s been suspended for the rest o
“This is my son, William,” I said. To William, I added, “William, this is my co-worker Joanna.”“Just a co-worker? How cruel?”“Joanna,” I snapped. I wouldn’t tolerate her attempting to drag my kids into this unpleasant arrangement between us, and if she even wanted to try it, I’d burn the whole thi
Liam’s POVAs William had been suspended from school for a couple of days, I had no choice but to take him back to the office with me, at least for today. We could later make accommodations for the rest of the week, but it was difficult to get a full day nanny at the last minute.“Now, Liam,” I tol
Right now, however, I had bigger things to worry about. I rushed out of the headquarters building and drove to the other side of town to the kids’ school. Inside, William was waiting for me, sitting on a seat outside of the principal’s office.The principal’s door was open, with her waiting within.
William’s POVWilliam’s worries stayed with him, making him stay awake all night, tossing and turning in his bed. By morning, he was dead tired, dragging his way through breakfast and to the school bus. Even as tired as he was, he knew that if he stayed home, claiming to be sick, he wouldn’t find an
Aria’s POVFinding no luck at Markus’s, I returned home. I wanted to tell Liam about the strange invitation I’d found, that asked me to be at some fancy venue on a Saturday night, but something about Liam that evening was making me hold my tongue.After all, didn’t he say he was also going to be out