Irresistible Bachelors: Books 1-5 by Landish, Lauren (bts books to read TXT) 📕

the company had already gotten in contact with quite a few sources in Hawaii, so it could be any number of people. Of course, everyone is denying it. They don’t want to have legal on their asses. Do you two know anything?”

I stay silent, Cassie looking at me with her lip trembling. She’s been so helpful and loyal to a fault. If she sells me out, she can save herself, maybe even get a promotion out of it. But instead, she says nothing, and I give her a look and a small nod. “I’m sorry, Myra, but I really have no idea.”

Myra nods, her face grim. “Well, let’s just say that, hypothetically, of course, Wesley got the information from someone at Aurora. The witch hunt is going to get pretty hard and heavy around here, with a lot of eyes on this floor. By the way, corporate’s told me that they’re going to be going into fire sale mode on the real estate development side.”

“Let me guess, they’ll call it corporate restructuring?” I ask, and Myra nods. I sigh, knowing what I’m going to say next is going to make this more difficult. “Then I guess I’ll get it started early. Myra, I came in today to give you my notice. I’m quitting.”

Myra doesn’t look surprised and instead leans back. “You know that by doing that, you’re going to get a lot of people saying you’re the leak. You practically broadcast it to the entire building the other day that you hated the plans.”

I nod and take a breath. “Myra, I have learned so much from you, and your mentoring has taught me many things. You taught me how to read people and negotiate, when to show your cards and when to bluff, and most importantly, to trust your gut. But the biggest lesson you taught me, I don’t think you’ve even realized.”

“What’s that?” Myra asks. Next to me, I can see Cassie watching intently. She’s being brave, oh, so brave, that I wish I could hug her right now. But I need to tell Myra this.

“Myra, you showed me, and I bet if you ask Cassie, she’ll tell you the same thing—you showed us that sometimes, you just have to do it your way. I don’t know, maybe you filtered Sinatra a bit too damn much when you were younger, but you made it by doing what you felt was the right thing. I learned that by watching and learning from you. I’m resigning because it’s the right thing to do. This company took my hard work and they perverted it from minute one. Not you, but corporate. They fed me a line of bullshit, played me like a pawn, and then at the end, they didn’t even have the presence of mind to say thank you. It’s just not the kind of place I want to work.”

Myra’s eyebrows have risen nearly to her hairline, but she doesn’t appear angry, more pleased at my little speech. “Nice speech, Hannah, but your resignation is not accepted.”

“What?” I ask, surprised, but Myra’s expression gives me pause. “What are you doing?”

“Saving your ass,” Myra says with a small smile. “Hannah Fowler, effectively immediately, you are fired. Your position is being eliminated as a budget saving measure for the real estate division of Aurora. Aurora wishes you the best in your future endeavors.”

I laugh softly. Myra’s covering my ass. If she fires me, she might take some heat, but it’ll take heat off me. “You sure about this?”

“I’m sure,” Myra says. “And if I may, one last lesson . . . I’ve always considered myself rather bold, but you have some big clanking brass balls. Use them wisely.” Myra laughs and sticks her hand out for a shake. “Best wishes, Miss Fowler. I’ll give you a glowing recommendation anytime you need one.”

With a clap, she turns to Cassie. “Alright Miss White, now with our office being shorthanded—”

“I’m leaving too,” Cassie says, her mouth set in that same line of determination I’ve gotten used to seeing. This is the same Cassie who fought like a mongoose on speed during the tug of war. “I can’t stick around—”

“Yes, you can,” I say, reaching over and taking Cassie’s hand. “Cass, I’ve got something else lined up.” I’m sure Myra knows it, looking over at her. “But you? You need this. Stick around a little while, help Myra get the fire sale going, get the ball rolling. Cash your paychecks and make connections. Protect yourself.”

“Listen to Hannah,” Myra says quietly. “Stick around, and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. Besides, I was going to say, you just got a promotion to my primary assistant. Real estate’s going to work as a two-woman shop until we get either absorbed or closed down. Give me three to six months, and I’ll make sure there’s a good severance check in it for you. Just make sure you’re prepared for what’s next.”

Cassie looks determined, and I give her hands another squeeze, leaning in to whisper to her. “Say yes. I just had an idea, and we’ll talk about it in my office. Let me go clean out my things.”

“Fine, fine . . . pair of crazy ass bitches around here,” Cassie mutters. “Okay, but that means I’m done cleaning out the coffee pot around here.”

I give Cassie a quick hug and collect a few things from my desk before waiting. Cassie comes out a few minutes later, looking afraid but still brave, willing to do what needs to be done. “So, you’re packed?”

“Yeah,” I reply, patting the small box of stuff. I never kept a lot of personal things in the office, and my office laptop, I just made sure was scrubbed of any personal files. “Listen, when things are done here with Aurora, give me a call. I suspect that with what’s happening, I’m going to be meeting some new people. Between your charm and a sparking recommendation from Myra and me, I’m sure we can find something you’d