Rich and Bossy (Rich Boys)

20. Hazel

CHAPTER 20

Hazel

How does he do this to me?

Even with Campbell on the other side of the door watching, I still couldn’t tell him to get lost.

I’m still covered in goosebumps and the hair on the back of my neck is standing straight up while I stand in the front yard, watching him walk confidently back to the Charger. He is so damn full of himself.

I hate how much I like him. I hate how hard I have to fight to keep from smiling.

How am I supposed to explain this to Campbell? She’s going to bail. She had to have recognized him. I don’t think he knew who she was, though. He called her my friend. At least he hasn’t figured out what we’re up to. There’s no damn way he’d be here, saying the things he said, right?

Maybe he really likes you and just doesn’t care.

That can’t be true. You? More important to him than his business empire?

Why the hell did I agree to go on a date with him? Do I have to do it? Even though I told him yes?

What am I supposed to say to Campbell when I go inside? And I have to go in soon, or I may become hypothermic. The Charger lights come on and cast long shadows off the trees that dance all over. It rumbles to life and slowly pulls down the street, and eerily enough, I can still feel Paxton’s eyes on me as he leaves. The Charger is still loud, even when it’s over a block away and turning out of the neighborhood.

It’s like I can still feel it in my chest.

God, I love that car.

Paxton pulls away, the taillights fading into the night, but I’m still standing here, with my back to the house and my eyes focused on the street. I can feel Campbell and my mom watching me, the way I’m sure they watched everything else play out. I can imagine what they must be thinking. Campbell’s going to pack up and leave. No doubt about that.

My stomach is in a literal knot. I knew there’d be consequences to what I’ve done with him. They just always felt so far away, down the road, and now they’re right in front of me, staring me down.

I’m a grown adult. I can get through this. And that’s what I keep telling myself as I walk back through the door and slip off my coat. Like it’s a bad thing to talk to Paxton?

It kind of is.

I expect Campbell to be packing up her suitcase, but instead she’s just standing there, kind of awestruck.

“What was he doing here?” There’s no anger in her voice. More like amusement and excitement, curiousness.

It takes me by surprise. That’s why I can’t find my voice right away.

So she keeps going. “Was he intimidating you?” She reaches out for one of my arms. “Because we can use that. We have it documented on your camera.” With every word, she gets more excited, more animated.

“We need to have a conversation.” I take a seat at the dining table, noting the fact that my mom has made herself scarce.

I hear a light commotion off in the house and Dad’s voice saying something to her.

He must’ve come in through the back door. I have no doubt they’ll pepper me with questions the second Campbell’s back at her hotel. No doubt Dad recognized Paxton when he wandered in and walked over to see what Mom and Campbell were doing. Even if they didn’t recognize him, Campbell probably told them who he is.

“I’m confused. This is perfect for us, I mean, as long as you’re okay.” Campbell sits across from me, arms folded on top of the table. “Why else would he be here?”

“You couldn’t hear our conversation?”

She snickers. “No. We tried, trust me.” She laughs. “But the camera couldn’t pick it up out in the yard. I hope you don’t think we were spying, we just…” She sighs. “We thought he was bullying you and wanted to have the audio recorded.”

God, I want to bury my face into my hands. None of this was supposed to ever happen. I have to tell her the truth. There’s no way around this, so why is it so damn hard to do?

“You’re going to regret coming here once you hear this, but I need to tell you something.” I slide down a little in my chair.

“Why would I regret coming?” Her voice tightens a little.

Might as well rip this band-aid off quickly. “I’m kind of dating him, I think.” I scrunch my nose up and squint like I’m not really sure what’s happening with us, but it’s something . “I still can’t figure out exactly how it happened.”

She sits back in the chair, and I wish I knew her well enough to read her expression. Does she hate me? I wouldn’t blame her, not even close, but I can’t pretend it wouldn’t crush me. I’ve never been the kind of person who can’t handle other’s disapproval, and the stakes have never been higher. I’ve never craved another human being’s respect the way I do hers.

“I’m sorry.” I cringe a little. “I hope you don’t hate me.”

That’s what stirs her out of her thoughtful state. Instead of looking down at her folded hands, her eyes snap up to meet mine. “What? Why would I hate you?”

“Well, I just kinda told you I’m dating the CEO of the company we’re trying to form a union at. Seems like that’s at odds with our goals.”

She shakes her head gently, and the sight of her smile goes a long way toward easing the weight on my shoulders. “If I hated you for that, I’d be the world’s biggest hypocrite. It just took me by surprise.”

“How would you be a hypocrite?”

“Look, I married a suit. Same kind of guy as Paxton. Successful and ambitious. We were going head-to-head in a similar way and it was a huge risk. You can’t help who you fall for.”

“I don’t know that I’ve fallen .” I look away like it’s ridiculous.

Yeah, you pretty much have.

Still, words can’t express the relief of hearing her say that. “As long as you don’t hate me.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” Her smile fades fast. “Still, I need to make sure you’re okay with going forward with all of this.”

“Absolutely.”

She lowers her brow, giving me the sort of look I’d give somebody who was refusing to acknowledge reality.

“I mean it. I care more about this than whatever might be happening out there.” I point out toward the front yard. “He really believes I gave up. I think it’s why he came. He feels bad about it.”

“This can get way more ugly. Especially now that there’s a personal element involved. Even if he wants to take your side on things, he won’t be able to. You need to be able to deal with and handle that.”

I don’t think I could shake my head hard enough. “This isn’t about me. This is about the people I work with, and the people I’ll never even meet. Their families, their kids. I’m doing this for them. It has nothing to do with me and I don’t give a damn if they fire me, drag my name through the mud, whatever. I’m doing it so nobody else has to.”

“I believe you, Hazel.” That doesn’t do anything to ease the concern etched on her forehead or at the corners of her eyes. “But what will those people think? If they find out about what happened out there? They might not be as understanding as I am. I have nothing at risk. They do.”

I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of that. I doubt they’d understand. They’d probably feel betrayed. I have to cancel that date.

Campbell moves on, like she knows how bad I’m already kicking myself. “You really need to manage your expectations too.”

“What do you mean?”

She presses her lips together in a thin line before answering. “It’s one thing for him to come here and beg you to go out with him when he doesn’t know what’s about to happen, when he thinks you dropped everything. That’s going to change soon. His feelings might change as well.”

Something icy brushes against my heart. “Yeah, I know.”

“I’m not a mind reader. I’ve just helped people in your shoes many times.” She pauses for a breath. “I know humans, deep down, always root for the best outcome. It’s like we try to will it to happen and we imagine it all happening neat and easily. Like once we drop all this information on him—all the complaints, the documented infractions, the photos we’ve gathered to prove how poor the working conditions are—everyone will see things the way the workers do. And maybe you’re thinking you can change him, the way he sees things. Maybe that’s true.”

It takes deliberate effort to keep a straight face.

“I hope it happens that way.” She wears a sad little smile that practically reads that it’s way more likely to happen the other way. “When we launch this, he might feel very betrayed. Very hurt. We obviously can’t tell him what we’re going to do, so it’s going to feel to him like you lied this whole time, when you two are flirting or whatever. You know him better than I do, so maybe he’s capable of empathizing about it. But a lot of rich, wealthy men are really used to being told they’re always right, no matter what.”

I don’t have to like it, but I know I needed to hear this. “I get it. And I don’t know how he’ll react. I’m sure he’ll be pissed at first, and where it goes from there is a mystery to me.”

“I just want to make sure you’re mentally prepared for anything. Because I can’t have you falling apart when we need to do this media run. There won’t be time for a broken heart. It’s going to be sunrise to sundown, twenty-four seven work and preparation. If we want to succeed. I need you sharp at all times.”

I sit up straighter, giving her a firm nod. “You can count on me. If he doesn’t like it, if he wants to make this uglier than it needs to get, then I’m not the one for him.”

I really don’t want that to be true, but it probably is. Look how upset he got at the break area the other night, the mean things he said. Sure, we were both mad. But what if he brings those kind of outbursts into the public? Before he thinks about it to make a wiser decision?

You can’t control what he’ll do.

“Okay, then.” Campbell starts getting her things together. “We start the blitz on Monday morning. Lawyers are making preparations, doing filings. There’s no going back.” She stops and smiles. “It’ll be fine. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”

I nod a few times. Even though I know I’m all in on this, I know it’s what’s best for my friends and all their families, it’s still just a lot to take in. I don’t even know if I can truly wrap my head all the way around it.

Monday. Two days.

Everything is going to change, forever.

I wish I could enjoy it with my whole heart. Sure, there would always have been apprehension, there would have always been nerves and doubts. This would be a big enough deal even without knowing what it’s like to sleep with Paxton Briggs.

It would be much easier if I could hate him. If he was nothing more than the villain I want him to be.

I know it’s going to get bad. Look at what they’re already doing, organizing union-busting meetings. That’s just when they know I’m asking a few questions about a breakroom. What are they going to do when they see it’s a full-on organized assault on their workforce?

I could go through with this with a lot more confidence without worrying about Paxton getting hurt.

If we’re successful, he’s probably going to lose his company. They’ll replace him if it happens under his watch. His best friend too.

Why in hell would he still want us to be a thing after that?

I know he would never admit he was hurt, but he’s just as human as anybody else. The thought of him hurting makes me feel horrendous.

You really do care about him.

I can’t stop. I have to do this. Paxton may have problems, but he’s taken care of. He gets time with his family and nephews. He told me all about it.

The people in his warehouse deserve that too.

I notice she keeps glancing my way as she gets her bag packed up. “I think it’ll be better all-around if we take tomorrow night off in preparation for Monday.”

“Sure. Sure,” I agree, not really thinking about much at all. Other than Paxton and how he wants to go out tomorrow night, and how I need to cancel it. Though, I guess if we’re not working tomorrow night…

For crying out loud, Hazel.

“Well, enjoy yourself.” She picks up her bag, giving me a knowing look like she understands, then slings her coat over her arm. “And I mean really enjoy it, just in case.”

I don’t need to ask what she means. She knows damn well I won’t cancel that date.

I guess it’s true. She’s been there before.

Fell for a man in a suit too. It worked out for her.

Why can’t it work out for me?

You know why.