It had felt like Harper was going to break up with her anyway, but running had still been shitty. Before she could change her mind, she picked up her phone and typed out a text. She reworded it a few times but eventually landed on:I’m sorry I left without saying good-bye. I thought it was the right move at three a.m. but now…not so much
She rolled onto her back and tried to focus back on attorneys again, but instead, she stared at her phone asreadappeared below her message, and dots started to bounce.
But they bounced and stopped and bounced and stopped, and Charlie tried not to obsess. She tried to think of all of her contacts who might know attorneys that specialized in SEC matters, but she kept looking back at her phone to see if Harper had texted yet.
Harper:It was probably the right choice. You should figure you out, and then we can see where we are.
The words were like a knife. Yet, what did she expect? That Harper would be happy she’d snuck out in the middle of the night and only left a note? Of course, Harper was going to be mad. And hurt. And she had already been pissed at Charlie for good reason. She typed back the only thing that made sense.
Charlie:Okay
Harper:So you made it to wherever you were going to today?
Charlie:Yeah. I’m at my parents’
Harper:Good. And good luck I guess
Charlie:Thanks. And take care of yourself. Give Franky a kiss from me
Harper:Will do
Charlie had no idea what else she could say to keep theconversation going, to hold on to some connection with Harper. She dropped her phone on her chest and realized that she was crying. She hated this. She hated having hurt Harper. She hated having to leave. She hated the thought of having to go back to New York.
She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow and cried until she fell asleep.
Harper dropped her phone, shocked. What possessed Charlie to think texting her saying she maybe had regrets about leaving in the middle of the night was okay? She didn’t have the right to twist Harper up like this.
And that cold text exchange? Not that Harper could put thatallon Charlie. That was, honestly, probably all Harper. But she was so fucking frustrated with her. She was still reeling from Charlie’s past being revealed and finding out about her unethical behavior, yet at the same time, she found it hard to believe that was who Charlie was. It wasn’t who she’d shown herself to be in their every interaction. Yet, Harper wouldn’t have the chance to find out because Charlie had snuck out in the night.
Anger, sadness, and hurt all warred within her.
But on top of all that, there was a loneliness too. A deep devastation that Charlie had abandoned her too.
But she also needed to use this time while Charlie was away to figure out what all of those feelings meant for her. She wasn’t sure if she could get over everything Charlie had said.
Could she look at Charlie again andnotthink about how her company and maybe to some extent—even indirectly—Charlie herself, had played a role in Kelly’s death? It all made her miserable. Maybe this was Kelly finally sending her a sign thatshe reallydidn’twant Harper to move on.
Chapter Twenty-six
Charlie sat in a conference room at The Offices of Mills, Webber, and Adams in Washington DC, conveniently two blocks from the SEC’s office, and tapped her fingers incessantly on the table as she waited for her attorneys to arrive. She was driving herself crazy with the motion, yet she couldn’t stop. It wasn’t caffeine coursing through her since she was halfway through a mug of chamomile tea that the receptionist had given her when she’d arrived.
She felt like she might throw up. She knew she was doing the right thing, but she was nervous. The SEC might not believe her. D. B. Graves might pull out some big guns to try to silence her. She’d never knowingly been a part of anything illegal, but in a world of AI and easy photo and video manipulation, there was no telling what they might come up with or manufacture to discredit her.
“Ms. Paulson?” A blond woman who might have been considered short, except for her several-inch heels, who looked like she was in her early forties in a stunning burgundy suit came into the conference room.
Charlie stood and shook her hand. “Yes, but please call me Charlotte. Or Charlie. Sydney Adams?” She recognized her from their multiple video consults, but it felt weird to address her like they were old friends.
“Yes, great to finally meet you in person, Charlie. Let’s sit. Pat and Frederick will be here shortly. They’re on a call that is running over.”
Charlie cleared her throat as Sydney sank into a plush conference room chair across from her. “Gotcha.” She didn’t know what to say, her nerves still holding her hostage.
“How are you finding DC?”
“It’s fine. I only just drove in from New York yesterday, so I haven’t done anything other than check into my hotel and sleep.” Since she’d left Key West nearly two weeks ago, Charlie had felt exhausted. She was sure it was all the stress with the SEC and not knowing where things stood with Harper, but all she wanted to do was sleep.
Sydney chuckled. “Fair enough. Are you ready for this?”
Charlie took a deep breath. “I hope so.” But she wasn’t entirely sure.