The Bet Read Free Page A

lose.”
    â€œ When you lose,” she corrected, and then, only half kidding, she asked, “Are you going to be able to take orders from me?”
    â€œYou’ll be the one taking orders.”
    â€œYou have a one-track mind, Kingdom.”
    He smiled. “Only where you’re concerned.”
    She wished his eyes were the color of wet cement.
    â€œGo manage your funds, Kingdom. The last I saw, they needed it.” She strode off, taking heart from the bossy click of her high heels on the tile.
    But when she walked into the conference room, she knew something was wrong. Moore wouldn’t meet her eye.
    â€œZoe,” he said, “I need to talk to you. Alone.” Moore took her elbow and walked her out of the room.
    He whisked her past the cubicles into his lair. He sat behind his mahogany desk and grunted.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œI can’t promote you.”
    Although not a muscle twitched in her face, the blood drained from it. How was she going to face these guys? She thought for sure she’d land this.
    â€œBut my—”
    â€œI know. You’re the best. You outperformed everyone in the division—by a lot.”
    Zoe looked through the glass door and saw Phillip Kingdom wink at her. Adrenaline raced down to her toes. Oh my God. What exactly are the terms of that bet? Her mind raced. Did her funds have to outperform his, or did she have to get the promotion? “You can’t—”
    â€œSorry, Zoe. I would’ve advanced you, for the record, but the partners won’t allow it.”
    Those bastards. “It’s because I’m a woman. I’ll sue,” she said flatly.
    â€œI wouldn’t do that.” Moore’s tone was kind, not patronizing. “They think you’re too . . . distant maybe. They think you don’t have a good enough rapport with the other team members to lead.”
    They won’t promote the Ice Queen. Zoe remembered the endless happy hours she’d endured for the sake of team spirit, and the injustice of it made her want to howl.
    Then she imagined Phillip pulling her hair out of its bun and actually moaned.
    â€œIt’s not the end of the world. You’re consistently good. Hell, I think you’re the best here. Next year they’ll have to move you into a lead position.” Moore looked at his watch and stood. “We have to get to the meeting.” He held the door for her, and they headed toward the conference room. “FYI, Kingdom’s getting this one.”
    Zoe’s stomach sunk.
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    Phillip watched her face when Moore announced the news. God, she was good. The muscles around her eyes tightened almost imperceptibly, but if hadn’t known how much this meant to her, he would never have detected what must have been horror and disappointment.
    Today, he felt like a fraud, and that thought surprised him. When she’d landed that huge account on Monday, they’d all been in awe, and he’d all but kissed that bonus away. Everyone in this room knew she deserved the promotion, but here he stood, shaking Moore’s hand.
    He was a rat.
    â€œCongratulations,” Moore said, still shaking his hand.
    â€œThank you, sir.”
    â€œPlay nice, Phillip. Zoe’s not far behind you.”
    â€œI hear you.”
    â€œFYI, management thought you were a better team player.”
    So that was how they justified it. “I’ll try to live up to it then.”
    â€œYou do that.” Moore walked away, leaving him shaking the hands of Haas then McMurtry and Thompson.
    When Zoe came to congratulate him, he almost felt like he should apologize. The napkin, tucked into his pocket, felt like a lead weight. He’s chuck it as soon as he got out of here.
    â€œCongratulations,” she said, meeting his gaze. He wanted to brush that tendril of hair back from her cheek, until she said, “You’re officially a good ol’ boy. Feel