Of Course, It's You

Chapter 36

Carmen

            Stressed wasn't even the way Carmen could explain how she felt. She was drained, exhausted, her head felt like a tornado had just come through and annihilated everything in its wake, and she might have been hungry if she sat long enough in silence to figure it out.

            She had HR working on a new outline for their sexual harassment training. PR was aware of the story and came up with their best plan of action. Marketing was working hard on their ads about the Bi-con event posters and the company's social media posts were queued up and ready for when the news broke about Robert and the claims against him. The board was prepared to make Carmen the new head of all locations. They didn't care that she hadn't been made co-owner yet. Her abrupt and preemptive measures made them fully aware of her view and almost all were willing to make the necessary changes that night.

            Carmen was shocked they had wanted to give her the control she had worked so hard for. She had assumed there would be more of a fight, that she'd have to work harder for their approval. As it turned out, it was only her father that had been the one against it. During their video conference, someone had said that they all were far more than ready for change, but she hadn't been aware that she had been the change they were waiting for.

            She closed the lid of her laptop and let out a long breath she wasn't aware she held. She stood up and paced a few times. She needed air. But, she couldn't go outside. She went to the restroom to put a cool paper towel on her neck and dab her face. She paced a few more times there.

            Jesus.

            Was all of this really happening?

            She couldn't wrap her mind around it. She was getting what she wanted, sure, but this all was horrific timing. Not only was she going to be announced as the new head of the record label, but she was going to have to fight these allegations and watch them tear her father down in the process. And possibly tear down the company she loved and worked so hard for.

            Granted, from everything she had heard, the allegations were true. He had manipulated and used his career, and name, to be with women. It was appalling.

And it was all true!

How in the hell had she not seen it. Of course, she knew he used his power to be with women, but not like that.

She should have done more. Should have stepped in further than she had. Instead of dismissing his behavior, knowing it was what he always did, she should have paid more attention to his actions.

But, could she really hold herself accountable to that? Maybe not, but she knew that the tabloids and lawyers that inevitably would be involved would. Because the truth of the matter was, she had tried to intervene, several times even. But all she got in response was backlash and held up further in terms of her career.

She didn't hear the door open. Didn't even hear the footsteps that followed.

Before she was fully aware, there was a hand on her shoulder. And in that moment, she didn't even care whose hand it was, and she leaned into it. Just having someone there, in the moments that could be her entire meltdown, she needed someone, anyone.

But, when she turned to look at the person, it was the one she hadn't known would be the exact person she needed.

Need.

Was that even the right term? Looking into Hannah's eyes, she knew it shouldn't be the person she needed. They had hardly even been together, or whatever this had been. Carmen knew this could be the end of it all.