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AVA
“Chad Winthrop! Really, Ava? How could you be so stupid?” Ryder’s voice boomed, making me feel even smaller than I already was.
“We couldn’t help it–”
“Don’t give me that!”
I looked down at my hands in my lap and twiddled my fingers. How my big brother still has the ability to make me feel like I’m five years old, at work nonetheless, boggles my mind. I would have thought I’d feel like a real adult by now. I have my degree, my own apartment, and even my own cubicle–yet I’m still just Ryder’s little sister everywhere I go.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”
“No.”
“I’m going to have to fire Chad now; you realize that, don’t you?”
“No! Don’t fire him. It’s over. We’ll keep it quiet, I promise.”
“I can’t have people thinking they can sleep with my little sister to get to the top.”
“That is not what happened?!”
“Oh, yeah? When did your little tryst begin and end? Around early February? Because at the end of January, Chad approached me about a promotion. And on February 19th, I told him we were holding off on all promotions for now. Do those dates match up?”
“No.” I lie. Actually, they match up exactly. I’m so embarrassed and angry. I can’t believe he would use me like that! No, I can believe he would use me–I can’t believe I fell for it. And now my brother is scolding me for it. How humiliating.
“Either way, Chad is toast. And now, I’ll need to get you out of here for a while.”
“You can’t let me go, too! Everyone will know. Oh, please, Ryder! I’m sorry. I was so foolish–I didn’t even think–” A tear rolls down my cheek before I can stop it. Ryder can’t stand tears, so I’m not mad about it.
“Av, listen. It’s not your fault,” his voice softens. “Chad is slimy like that. I would never have kept him on for so long if he weren’t such a talented writer. But I can’t move past this–seducing my little sister in hopes of getting a promotion? Disgusting.”
“So I can stay?”
“No. You’re going on assignment. I promised an old friend we’d feature his ranch in our luxury all-inclusive vacation edition. Now is as good a time as any.”
“All-inclusive luxury? I can do that.”
“Whispering Meadows Ranch. It’s a dude ranch.”
“A dude ranch?”
“Yes.”
“Like a resort with a bunch of dudes?”
Ryder laughs until tears stream down his face.
“I guess not.”
“No, it is not a resort with a bunch of dudes.” He drys his eyes and tries to catch his breath. “It’s…like a farm. With horses and cattle. You can ride horseback, hike, learn about cattle, etc.”
“Excuse me. Learn about cattle? While on vacation?”
“You will not be on vacation. You will be on assignment, remember?”
“Yes.”
