Chapter 3

That afternoon, the Stellara client specifically requested me at the pitch meeting. The smile on Savannah's face dimmed slightly.

"The client wants to meet the lead creative. That should be me."

The account manager looked uncomfortable. "They've seen June's previous work and specifically asked for her to present."

Malcolm glanced at me. "Then you'll both go."

Savannah flipped through the files and asked softly, "I'll present, and June handles Q&A. Does that work?"

Before I could answer, Malcolm had already agreed. "Fine."

At the pitch meeting, Savannah got less than ten minutes into my draft before she mixed up the core data. The client cut her off on the spot.

"Ms. Leclair, who built this user model?"

The color drained from her face. I took the mic and walked them through the model again from the top. The furrow in the client's brow gradually smoothed out.

"That's more like it. Going forward, Ms. Arden will be my point of contact on this."

Savannah didn't say a word the entire ride back. Malcolm spoke first.

"June, there was no need for you to jump in like that."

"She got the data wrong."

"You could have corrected her quietly instead of embarrassing her in front of everyone."

I glanced at the rearview mirror. Savannah was sitting in the passenger seat, her eyes rimmed just the right shade of red.

"So, I should have sat there and watched the company lose the project?"

"The project wasn't going anywhere." Malcolm's tone dropped.

"You just wanted to prove you're better than her."

Savannah turned around. "Stop fighting, you two. It's my fault. June, I know you don't like me, but work is work. You don't have to bring your feelings into it."

I almost laughed. "Why wouldn't I like you?"

"Because of Malcolm, obviously."

She said it like it was nothing. Malcolm cut in immediately. "Savannah."

"Am I wrong?" She smiled.

"She's been staring at you since the team hike. People are even saying she follows you home."

I went completely still. People at the company had seen me going into Malcolm's apartment. Over the two years we'd been together, I stayed the night there sometimes.

Malcolm kept his hands on the wheel, his voice flat. "She drops off documents occasionally. Don't read into it."

Savannah let out a long, knowing "Oh." The car fell silent after that, and I didn't bother explaining.

Back at the office, I realized the original files for the Stellara project were still at Malcolm's apartment. That evening, I went to pick them up, but the fingerprint lock rejected me.

Malcolm didn't show up for another half hour. He opened the door but didn't let me inside. A moment later, he came back out carrying a cardboard box and set it down in front of me.

"All your things are in here."

"Why did you delete my fingerprint?"

"Savannah isn't used to staying in hotels, so she's staying here for now." He kept his voice low.

"If she knew you had the code, it'd make her overthink."

The words had barely landed when Savannah walked out of the master bedroom wearing one of Malcolm's shirts. She feigned surprise.

"June, what are you doing here?"

I stared at Malcolm. "Why is she sleeping in the master bedroom?"

He stepped into my line of sight. "The guest room AC is broken. Don't make a scene."

Savannah leaned against the doorframe. "Malcolm, is she really just here to drop off documents?"

I waited for him to answer. He was quiet for a few seconds, then pushed the box past the threshold toward me.

"Yes."

The door closed in my face. From inside, I heard Savannah's voice.

"Does she have a thing for you?"

Malcolm's reply was barely audible. "Ignore her."

A second later, the lock beeped once, and I was shut out for good.

The next day, Savannah unveiled the final version of the Stellara project proposal at the office. My name was gone completely.

She cornered me in the locker room. "Did it bother you, seeing me in Malcolm's shirt last night?"

I stepped around her. "Move."

She grabbed my arm. "Malcolm told me you just dropped off documents a few times. But don't you think it's a bad look, chasing after a man who doesn't want you?"