All Chapters of Your Dream Girl Can Have You: Chapter 11 - Chapter 14

The industry gala was at Bayport's finest hotel. Everyone in the city's design scene would be there.I wore a dark green gown, my hair pinned up, and the pearl earrings Jared had given me.Beside me in a black suit, he offered his arm."Ready?"I linked arms with him. "Ready."The bright ballroom was full of familiar faces. People greeted me and cast curious glances at Jared.Champagne in hand, I chatted with a client. As I turned away, I spotted someone near the entrance.Hiram stood in a corner in a navy suit, his tie crooked, his top button undone.He held a paper cup of warm milk from a convenience store.He'd lost weight. His cheekbones stuck out, his eyes sunken. He barely looked like the man who'd made a scene at my office a month ago.His eyes followed me everywhere.Jared leaned down and whispered, "He's here.""I saw.""Want me to handle it?""No need. What can he do?"I was right, but I'd underestimated how far Hiram would go.At the dessert table, he stepped

I was in the break room when I heard Hiram had been fired.A coworker scrolled through her phone. "Lanford Group's got a new CEO. The board voted the old one out. Fired him on the spot."I poured some water and went back to my desk.Tyler filled me in later.The meeting lasted ninety minutes. The vote was seven to two. A landslide.Hiram sat at the head of the table, silent long after the result.Then he stood."Fine. I'll sign."He signed, packed his things into a cardboard box, and left alone.No one saw him off.He used to have his secretary, assistant, and driver around him.That day, he carried his own box and took a cab to an old apartment complex.His $600-a-month rental had peeling paint, rusty pipes, and windows that wouldn't shut.Tyler said he bought two cases of whiskey, locked himself in, and stayed there for three days.He drank until he passed out, then started again when he woke.He ignored his phone and wouldn't answer the door.On the fourth day, he fo