She Cheered for His Office Crush, Then Left Her Husband Behind novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Ivy's Choice

Ivy's apartment was labeled.

The couch said COUCH. The cushion on the couch said COUCH, SOFTER. On the coat rack by the door, a pink strip had been stuck to the hook.

It said: VIVIAN, GUEST.

"You made me a hook," I said.

"I made you a hook on Tuesday. I didn't know when you'd come. I'm an optimist."

I put my father's casserole on her counter.

"My dad sends this when anyone near me has a bad week."

"I didn't have a bad week."

"You testified against your own promotion on a Wednesday."

"Oh," Ivy said. "That. Sit."

She poured two glasses of white wine and labeled neither.

We sat on COUCH, SOFTER. Her red lipstick had worn off, and without it she looked younger and a little tired.

"I'm withdrawing," she said.

I put down the glass.

"From the race. I'm going to tell Dennis on Friday."

"Ivy, the numbers..."

"I know what the numbers say. I made a binder of them." She tucked her feet under her. "That's partly why."

"Is it Tristan? Because I'll tell you..."

"Oh my God, no. I like your husband. He's the only director who has ever answered my email in under a day. But I'd rather lick a battery than be his office crush."

I laughed so hard I had to put my wine down again.

"Listen," Ivy said. "Chicago has an opening on the VP track. Dennis approved my interview in September. It's a different division and a different building. Nobody there has seen me with my hand on a man's arm at a party."

"You could stay and win."

"Could I?" She said it lightly. "After Wednesday, if I beat you here, half the floor would say it was a pity win. If you beat me, a third of them would say it's because you're married to Mr. Hayes. Either way somebody gets a rumor, and I've had mine."

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