Just One Spark: A Black Alcove Novel

by Jami Wagner

  “Ballsy. I’ll give him that.” Abby looks at the door.

  I jump up and rush to it like he’s going to open it and come in before I get to tell him to go away. But he doesn’t, so I do.

  “Beth, please just let me explain.”

  “Pretty sure you lost that privilege when you acted like I was nothing to you,” I argue back.

  “Ouch, yeah, that’s going to be a tough one to come back from,” Abby adds and then wanders into her room, closing her door.

  “I know, I know. I just … I wasn’t thinking. Please let me come in.”

  “No.”

  “Fine, but we still need to go over this presentation and who will deliver each section to TACM.”

  “Don’t weasel your way in here with work talk,” I snap.

  “I’m not being a … weasel. If you don’t believe me, open the door a crack and I’ll hand you the printed slides. You’ll confirm I’m not lying and then we can put them in order. It’ll take five seconds. I’ll go home and label the slides and sort them into the correct order,” he says.

  I stare at the door handle as if it’s going to give me the answer. It would be really nice to focus on something else for a few minutes, even if it is with Maverick. I still need to put work first.

  If I’d have been doing that in the first place, I wouldn’t be standing here with a broken heart.

  Maverick

  “As much as I would love to dive into work right now, this isn’t anything we can’t discuss on Monday morning, Maverick.”

  My heartbeat picks up.

  Yes, I’m being a weasel as she called it, but how else am I going to get in there to talk to her? I have to make this right.

  “Beth, please,” I plead with her.

  “I don’t do this, Maverick!” she shouts through the door. “I don’t have fights and make up. I fight and move on. It’s for the best.”

  “I disagree.”

  “Well, you lost your vote when you called me your coworker. Perhaps I’ll start calling you … jackass or … no, lying sack of shit.”

  “I messed up, okay. I know I did and I’m so, so sorry, Beth.” I rush the words out before she can argue with me to leave, again. “Please, open the door. Please.”

  Please.

  She comes into view slowly; I let my gaze take her in from bottom to top, and my heart skips. Her eyes are a bit puffy and red.

  As though my heart can’t think of enough to do right now, it drops to my stomach and then jumps back up my throat. I did that. I made her hurt.

  I reach for her, but she steps back.

  “Please, Maverick,” she hesitates, “don’t.”

  I deserve that.

  She doesn’t step aside to let me, but I’ll take it. She opened the door. That’s all I need.

  “I’m sorry,” I repeat, because I don’t know what else to say.

  “I know you are,” she says, lifting her head to look at me. She licks her lips and I stand frozen as I watch a tear fall. “But I don’t think there is anything you can say to me that will make this better. You made your choice and so have I. Now, I need to make better ones.”

  “Just let me explain—”

  “I feel like that’s all our relationship has been, Maverick. Me listening to you explain everything. I’m tired of waiting for you to be open with me. I just want honesty, and it’s clear that somewhere inside you’re scared to admit the truth to people.”

  “I am honest. I’m just so fucking tired of disappointing people. Until you, my job was everything to me. President has always been my goal, and even though I still want it, other parts of my life have changed and I obviously don’t know how to handle it. I know how to sell product to a client, to bargain my way to the best deals, to control a room full of fifty employees, but this … you and me … it’s new to me.”

  She sighs, leaning against the frame of her door, still not allowing me inside. “It’s new for me too.”

  “I should have just told him. I know that now.” God, I want to reach for her. Pull her into my arms and never let go.

  “Did you tell your dad the truth after I left?” she asks.

  I want to look away because she isn’t going to like my answer, but I can’t. I shake my head.

  She releases a long sigh and drops her chin to her chest.

  I know how it looks. No one has been harder on me than I have been to myself over this whole fucking stupid situation. But when my dad said keep sex and work separate I gave him my word. Letting him down is what got me here and yet I’m here and letting him down all over again.

  My mother would be so unhappy with me.

  Be a hardworking, trusting, and considerate man, Maverick. And most of all, please keep your father happy. It shouldn’t be hard to do; you’ve always made him proud.

  “How do you expect me to believe you when you’re here right now saying you know you did the wrong thing yet you haven’t done anything to make it right?”

  “I have a lot at stake here and I—”

  “I don’t want to hear what you have at stake anymore!” The rise in her voice catches me off guard. “I’m sick of listening to what this job has done to you, Maverick. I have things to lose too. They may not seem as huge to you, but they are big to me. And if you can’t figure that out, then you never truly cared about me, and for that, I think you should leave.”

  She steps back, ready to close the door.

  “No, I do know. I just … fuck, I can’t even say the right thing right now. I’m trying, Beth. I’m trying so hard to make this work for everyone. I also knew the consequences of being with you. I know it could cost me my job and yet here I am. I want to make this work.”

  She sighs loudly, shaking her head and folding her arms in front of her as she leans on the wall. At least that looks like she might be settling in to talk more. I mean, I hope that’s what it means.

  “Maverick, if that were true, you’d have told everyone else the truth, too.”

  “I’ll tell them all tomorrow. Every last one.”

  She releases a long sigh. “I really want to believe you.”

  “So do— trust me. I know I messed up, I know what I did was wrong. Let me fix it and I swear to you, I’ll never let you down again.”

  She shifts on her feet, focusing on something behind me. I don’t look to see what it is because if I do, I might miss the signal that she’s going to give me one more chance.

  “Please,” I beg, reaching for her hand and lacing our fingers. She jerks her hand back.

  “Actions speak louder than words, Maverick. It’s an old saying, but right now, those words haven’t never been so true. You want this to work, prove it. Until then, I want to focus on nothing but my job.”

  Her door is closed before I can say anything more.

  My heart pinches with each step I take away from her apartment. It’s when I get to my car that everything finally clicks.

  For the first time in a long time, I know exactly what I need to do.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Maverick

  “Good morning,” I say cheerfully to the man who shares the elevator ride up with me. He just nods and gets off on the second floor where an investment firm is located. If he were about to do what I’m about to do— tell my dad the truth about me and Beth and then win my girl back—he’d be in a pretty good mood too. Today is the day I put everything out there. No more sneaking around with work or Beth. The last two and a half months would have been a lot easier if I’d have done this from the beginning. It just took me a bit longer than most to put my priorities in order—starting with Beth. She wants honesty, well, I’m about to downpour it.

  “Good morning,” I say, greeting Ann as I pass her desk. “You should call my father. He misses you.” She gasps as I pass another desk, knocking on the top with my knuckles, and smile at the guy behind the computer.

  “Good morning,” I say to him as well as I continue to make my way toward my office. I have no idea what his name is.
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  What I do know is that my father will be here in just under an hour and after that, life will be good. But first, I need to get rid of the leech standing at my office door.

  “Well, what could possibly put my cousin in such a good mood?” Austin asks as I approach my door. He’s leaning against the frame with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face. He isn’t really interested in what he just asked me. He’s here for something and I have a pretty strong feeling I know what it is.

  “Well, it isn’t you,” I say and his head jerks back. Damn, I should have tried this blunt thing a long time ago. “I have a long list of things to take care of today, Austin. So, please, get to the reason why you are here,” I say. His eyes narrow, but he gets right to it.

  “I’m pitching a separate proposal to TACM, and if my schedule is correct, I’m doing it an entire hour before you and Beth will be presenting yours.”

  Tomorrow is the day we present. Then the radio station has forty-eight hours to decide if they want to hire us. After that, MM chooses who—Austin, Beth, or me—they will hire. Two proposals to choose from has never been an option.

  “That wasn’t part of the program. Yeah, you could work separately, but we pull our assignments together and pitch as one. You know that,” I remind him.

  “My father was happily open to the idea of switching things up this year. He’s always been a competitive man, as you know, and he’s looking forward to hearing what we all have to offer.”

  I take my seat behind my desk to absorb the pile of bullshit he just laid out. “By all means, please proceed with pitching to TACM before Beth and myself. With the research and hours Beth and I have devoted to them, I have no doubt TACM will accept our proposal.”

  He huffs.

  “Now if you don’t mind—”

  Where did this envelope come from?

  The issue with Austin is pushed to the back of my mind as I stare at the unfamiliar item on my desk. Not because its manila color makes the bold, black letters of my name stand out, but because it’s leaning up against a picture I have on my desk. A picture of me and Beth. A picture that was in my drawer and before now didn’t have a frame. I don’t think even Beth knows it was in here. But this envelope is good sign someone has seen it.

  I grab the folder. Inside are more photos of me and Beth. Shots no one should have. Or have ever taken. I shake them back down to the bottom without even pulling them out but keep my grip on the letter included with the pictures.

  “Everything okay?” Austin asks.

  “Fine,” I say with a grunt and shove the folder in my top drawer, locking it once it’s closed.

  “Are you sure? You’re looking a little pale. Is it because I mentioned the project?” he asks. Forget the presentation. Being as blunt as I’d like to be right now could get me fired.

  “No,” I growl out. Austin stands straight and sticks his hands in his pockets.

  “All right well …”

  I don’t hear anything else he says. My focus in now on the crimson-haired beauty that just walked by my office. The one who has no idea how upside down this day just turned.

  “So, yeah?” Austin asks. I remove my eyes from Beth and find him glancing in the same direction.

  “Yeah what?”

  He turns to me once again, slowly. “Things with Beth are working out all right even after the picnic where you told everyone you’d get the job and she wouldn’t.”

  Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

  “I don’t think that is anything you need to worry about,” I tell him and enter my password, lighting up my computer screen.

  “You’re not just saying that because you seem to have taken a liking to her more than other employees around here? The way you know your dad wouldn’t approve of—kind of like the last woman you fooled around with?”

  I keep my eyes trained to the computer. My cousin has got to be the dumbest man I know.

  “Nope, she’s good at her job. Simple as that,” I say, refusing to give him the reaction he is working toward.

  “Well, I guess I should let the two of you get back to work. Big day coming up. Don’t want to mess it up.”

  Once he’s completely left my office, I move to close my door and then I close the door that connects with Beth’s office. That door has only been closed once in the time she has been working here.

  Knowing I’m closed off from everyone else, I pull the folder out of its drawer. Beth’s naked body and long legs are in every photo. I’m not much more clothed myself. I’d prefer it be the person who took these photos, but my fist slams down on the desk, hard. Some sick bastard has been following us to get these photos, but what concerns me the most is who they’ve shown them to or who they plan on showing them to.

  Dropping the photos with a flick of my wrist, I lean my chair back and rub my palms into my eyes. I don’t even want to guess what is in this letter. It can’t be anything good. I couldn’t care less about what it says about me or if they are threatening my job; it’s Beth I’m worried about. She’s worked so hard, only to get caught up with me and have all of it ripped out from underneath her.

  I sit forward and unfold the white piece of paper.

  Sleeping your way to the top is not how business it done, and she’s about to learn firsthand. Unless, of course, you finally do the right thing. End it. Now. I’ll know when you’ve agreed and only then can I promise that these photos won’t be revealed to anyone else. Which is more important: your future or hers?

  Fuck.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Beth

  “Good morning, everyone,” I greet the management team of TACM with a smile. I’m a bit shocked at how comfortable I feel leading this presentation. More so since Maverick has yet to show up. I’m blunt, yeah, and I work at a bar, so speaking in front of a bunch of people shouldn’t faze me, but I honestly thought that I would be more nervous about this. This is, after all, the presentation that will ultimately decide how my career plays out from this moment forward.

  I have no idea how Austin’s presentation went this morning. I just hope mine and Maverick’s will be better. Him showing up, … well, that would be a start. Did he not hear a word I said the other night? Actions speak louder than words. And right now, I’m feeling like I just got a big fuck you from him.

  I receive a nod from each of the eight people sitting in front of me, six of who are from the radio station. The other two are Bart Mitchell and his assistant, Gail. Mr. Mitchell nods his head once more, pointing to the white canvas behind me that will display the presentation.

  “Ms. Moyer here and Maverick, who is running late, have been working day and night on a package for you. If the rumors around the office are true, you will all be quite impressed,” he says.

  Hopefully, I hid my wide-eyed panicked response at the word rumors. I instantly assumed he was going to talk about me and Maverick and the relationship we shouldn’t be having as coworkers. I give myself a moment to let my racing heart regain its normal pace, all while maintaining a reassuring smile that I can do this.

  “When TACM originally contacted Mitchell Marketing, you spoke of wanting to regain your followers. Build your following back by reminding people what kind of station you are,” I pause, for effect, of course. “While that idea is the perfect goal, reminding people of who your station once was is not.”

  A few faces trade annoyed glances, but I don’t let it distract me.

  “Times are changing, along with the people in this town. No one wants to be stuck in the past, they want the new and hip and fresh voices. They want to hear a station that’s going to pump them up. A station that brings excitement to their day before eight in the morning. A radio station that stands for something.”

  This time, there are a few squinted eyes as they keep listening.

  “Over that last couple of months, I’ve done research to find out what the people want. You know what your station wants, now it’s time to see how we can combine the two.”

  I lean forwar
d, waking the screen of my laptop, and then double-click on the drive with the presentation. The file opens and nothing is there. The folder is empty. Blank. Not a single file where there should be many.

  I glance up and force a smile.

  Holy fucking shit, where is our presentation?

  “Just one second,” I say as I remove the drive. I flip it over to see the station’s initials I scribbled on it with Sharpie. It’s the right USB. Maybe my laptop just didn’t read it.

  I plug it back in and repeat the steps.

  Still nothing.

  I let out a slow breath and hope it didn’t release as loudly as the screams going off inside my head right now. This file has everything I need. My head starts to spin. I don’t have a backup. Now my leg is bouncing. Why hasn’t Maverick showed up? Did he save a backup? Surely he did, right?

  “Ms. Moyer.” My head snaps up only to catch the scowl on Mr. Mitchell’s face. “Is there a problem?”

  “Well, I—”

  “Beth,” Maverick says, rushing into the room. His quick steps slow when he takes in all the eyes watching him from around the table. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Maverick, Beth is in the middle of a pitch. A pitch you are late for. Whatever you two need to discuss can wait. Now, since you were not able to show up on time, please let her finish.”

  Maverick’s eyes flash wide between me and his uncle.

  “Of course. I just have something for her.” With his head down as he approaches me, he looks up to make eye contact. Then I see his lips move. He mouths to me, “It’s gone.”

  I twist, pretending to have a scratch, and mouth back one word: “What?”

  He pauses when his eyes recognize my glare. Then, before I can think, he is standing next to me, hunched over the computer like I was moments ago. I mimic his stance.

  “What do you mean, it’s gone?” I whisper.

  “It’s been deleted.”

  “By who?”