It’s just… It felt like they were so much more. Down deep where Felicity sometimes let herself explore, even though that seemed dangerous and risky, she could feel the connection she had with Cooper tugging at her.
Anyway, it was over now. She waited. Idly, from somewhere far away, she wondered if Cooper understood what she’d done. How she’d achieved the rather astonishing feat of making Felicity care. She forced her expression to bland and still as Cooper fixed a gaze upon her.
“I think you try to emulate your boss,” Cooper said. “You think Elena is ice-cold and focused and into her career only, so you try to be exactly the same.”
The last thing Felicity had expected was Cooper bringing her boss into this.
Cooper continued, “Yet Elena’s given up the biggest title in the business world to accept a smaller one in a city that’s not her own. Ask yourself why.”
“Don’t mention Maddie again,” Felicity grumbled. “That’s just not a thing.”
“Maddie or not, she’s clearly chasing her happiness. She’s thrown everything away for her fashion magazines. Isn’t that what you told me? She’ll just be editing five Style International magazines out of her whole media empire. Why? Because she’s decided those five magazines give her everything she’s seeking, and the trade-off, the loss of power and position, are worth it for her.”
Felicity stilled.
“You don’t understand her decision, do you? It’s another random side venture to you, like your mother’s and sister’s choices: baffling.”
Accurate.
“Because you don’t understand people making the unambitious choice. Not even people you emulate, like Elena Bartell.”
Felicity surreptitiously wiped her hands down her pants, uncomfortable beyond measure.
“And then there’s you,” Cooper said, tone gentle. “Even with your beloved mentor’s example right under your nose, what are you doing? Chasing ambition. Only ambition. Even if it harms your relationships.” Cooper shook her head. “I can see we’re incompatible.”
She leaned in and kissed Felicity’s cheek. It felt like a mocking parody of the sweet kiss she’d received when Cooper arrived.
“I’m going now,” Cooper said.
Of course she is. Everyone leaves.
Cooper rose. “It’s probably better this way, working out we’d be a train wreck together before we begin,” Cooper said, eyes dark. “But call me if you discover there’s more to life than your career.” She turned to go, then paused. “Oh, and appoint Mrs. Brooks director as she deserves. It’ll save us all a lot of trouble.”
She straightened and was gone before Felicity had even registered her words.
Long after Cooper had closed the door with a soft click, Felicity stared at the bottle of champagne and wondered how everything had gone so very wrong.
CHAPTER 15
Alone
Felicity didn’t need anyone, thank you very much. Her fulfilling career was all she needed to be content, and she was quite sure to remind herself of that fact as the days slowly bled into weeks.
Elena finished training Felicity and completed her own transition work ahead of permanently shifting to Australia. She told Felicity she would be staying on in New York for a few more weeks to finalize things, but her office duties were over. This was her last day at work.
Elena called Felicity into her office and gave her a slow, warm smile.
“It’s all yours now,” she said. “Bartell Corp. I’d like to hang on to my office for whenever I’m back in town, though. If you’re okay staying in your own office?”
Oh, thank God. “Yes, of course.”
Elena smiled and patted the armrest on her designer executive chair. “I will, however, bequeath you my favorite chair. I’d thought about having it sent over to Sydney, but then I decided, why deprive you of the pleasure of enjoying one of the perks of your new position?”
“That’s very thoughtful,” Felicity said. She tried to muster a smile.
Elena frowned. “What is it? I thought this was the culmination of all your hopes and dreams. Shouldn’t you be giddy with glee or whatever the Felicity Simmons version of that looks like?”
Felicity attempted to improve on her smile. She probably looked constipated.
“Okay, what is it? Really.” Elena leaned in. “Is there some problem with the business somewhere?”
“No!” Felicity was dismayed that Elena would even ask. As if she’d allow that on her watch without addressing it immediately.
“Some new acquisition giving you heartburn? Or perhaps some lawyer being especially obnoxious? You have my full permission to terminate or accelerate any deal you like if they’re being bastards.” Elena sounded sincere.
“Nothing like that,” Felicity said quickly, although she warmed at the confidence Elena had in her.
“Is it…personal, then?” Elena asked delicately. One eyebrow slid up…slowly…as if she wasn’t quite sure whether this was a question she wanted to ask.
To Felicity’s horror, her cheeks reddened. “I— Not anymore.”
“Are you still pining for that Sydney lawyer? What was his name? Phillip?”
“You knew about him?”
“Haven’t you worked out by now that I have truly excellent hearing? There is little that I miss in the office.”
Felicity slumped. “He dumped me when he found out I was moving permanently back to New York. I don’t…miss him.”
