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I had a few small projects I could work on for the day while I waited for Raph's schedule amendments and tried to busy myself with them. Waiting another day or two shouldn't be a big deal, since I made adjustments within the timeline.
But upon checking my email, my heart stopped.
'That won't be necessary. Thank you for your time.
R. Teresse, Owner, Experience'
That won't be necessary?! As in he didn't like my designs? There was no way that was possible.
I wasn't sure of much with Raphael Teresse. The way he'd behaved last night had shaken the confidence right out of me when it came to our personal connection. After the way we kissed, all the looks, spending so much time on heavy stuff… I bared my soul to him, and he'd done the same. But when the day was over, his professional face fell back into place like none of it registered.
But my design work for Experience Shoreview, that I was sure of. If Raph didn't like the design, I was as good as fired. It was time to fight. I punched my arms back into my coat and walked out of the building.
My hands shook as I called his personal number.
No answer.
I called again.
No answer.
I called him again.
"What can I help you with, Ms. Hall?"
"Tell me what you didn't like. Was it my design, or was it me?"
"It's nothing personal. I have a business to build. That's my priority."
"Clearly."
Raph sighed with irritation. "Maybe next time, don't rush. I understand you have a lot on your plate, but you declined to take another day for preparation. That's not my responsibility."
"I didn't rush. I was positive you'd appreciate the work I put in. Consistency in color themes and the seamless movement from the dining area into the bar and into the floor and stage. This was my best work.”
Silence blared down the line. "I saw very little consistency, actually. The bold, abrupt changes from one area to the next weren't in line with what we discussed."
My brows pinched. What? It was like we were talking about two different things. Then, I put two and two together. Derrick.
"Mr. Teresse, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"No, Ms. Hall, there hasn't. You sent the design along this morning. I didn't like what I saw, so now we move on. Consider our contract terminated."
Raph ended the call.
Oh, hell no.
I stormed back into the building and sat down at her desk, heart pounding. I checked my sent mail, and there it was. Derrick sent my plans from my email to Raph.
I opened the attachment and to my horror, I couldn't recognize what I saw.
Derrick had kept the floor plan the same, but had changed nearly every other thing. How had he even had time for this sloppy disaster? It explained how I hadn't heard from him all weekend.
He'd cost me the contract, the man, my dream job, my everything. Tears sprung to my eyes as I closed out all the windows.
Derrick won. He wanted to humiliate me, and he succeeded. And now he'd probably fire me for losing the contract. I stood slowly, ready to go face the smug bastard.
Shame, anger, and crippling sadness churned in my stomach as I power-walked back to his office door.
