Page 132 of When There Was You
He clasps his hands. “Perhaps the quality of your writing deteriorated.”
Or maybe I just refused to fuck the boss.“That’s not thecase, and Tyler can verify. Even these past months where I’ve been unjustly underutilized, I’ve given a hundred percent, like always.”
He straightens his fingers, leaving them threaded, and points them my direction. “How do you propose resolving it?”
“Let Tyler decide who deserves assignments based on merit.”
Don stands, walks to my side of the desk and sits against it, arms crossed. “You know you have a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
His proximity sends a jolt of adrenaline through my bloodstream. The door’s closed, louver blinds drawn, and he’s standing close.Toofucking close, lording over me in a power play.
“Sure do. It’s called work ethic.”Or we could just go with ethics, something you’re severely lacking.
“About that.” He cocks his head, tapping a finger against his lips. “I heard something interesting about you through the grapevine.”
The way he hovers, casting me a glib smile, gives me a vivid flashback to the children’s tale about the spider with the fly. Tornado-alert panic rushes through my system.
“I hear you’re looking for another job.”
“Excuse me?”How could he know that?
He arches an eyebrow, and maybe I’m reading into it, but his expression turns victorious. “I see my comment hit the mark. Youaresearching for employment elsewhere?”
I swallow hard, unsure how to respond.
“Additionally, you’reconsultingon a magazine for the president of a company you met working for us. There’s nothing ethical about that, sweetheart.”
My heart falls. Did Gus tell him this? Why? I grasp for something, anything to say. “You spoke with Mr. Hamilton?” Shit, now I’ve confirmed hissuspicions.
“It matters not where this knowledge was derived. What matters is, one,” he extends his index finger, “you go behind my back to work with contacts you made throughVirginia Now—at the very least, ignoring professional courtesy. And two,” he uncurls another finger, “sneaking around to secure employment elsewhere is just ungrateful. You’ve only worked here a year, and we’ve invested in you. Now you’re complaining about assignments you deem insufficient instead of buckling down and being a team player.”
My breathing labors, heart jackhammering against my ribcage as I stare at the ground. I’m about to get fired.
I’m barely cognizant of Don standing until he moves closer, his voice next to my ear. “But you and I both know how easy it would be for me to forgive these transgressions.” His hand grazes my breast through my blouse, and my body jerks so violently, I lift from the chair.
Was that an accident? It happened so fast. Yes? No? He’s still uncomfortably close but not touching me as I perch on the chair’s edge, ready to bolt.
“You can open your mouth, or you can collect your things.”
My gut roils. Is he saying what I think—? My lips part, my response stalling as I grapple for words.
“Good choice,” he says, unzipping his slacks in front of my face.
“N-no, no!” I push off the chair and his hand whips out, digging sharply into my shoulder and forcing me back down.
He looms over me, confidence written all over his face. When I thrash, he smiles, using both hands to restrain me. “I knew you’d be a tiger.”
Revulsion shudders through my body, my limbs trembling uncontrollably. I summon my voice. “I saidno,” I croak. Goddamn it!
“Be a good girl and stop fighting. This was inevitable,” he grits out.
He grips my throat, pressing against my windpipe, and fresh panic rises. With the other hand, he releases his engorged, veiny penis, cloaked in an angry purple hue.
My eyes widen as adrenaline and fear pump through my blood. Bile bucks from my stomach, and I dry heave, choking and sputtering.
His hand relaxes. “Don’t gag yet. You haven’t even had a taste.” He lets out a low chuckle, lines up in front of my face, and yanks my neck toward that disgusting violet monstrosity.
I reel back, my neck springing loose from his grasp and nearly hyperextending. He scrambles to straddle me, trying to bridge the gap. I rally every ounce of courage and strength to launch one leg skyward, kneeing him in the groin. The squish of his genitals is unmistakable. He falls back against the desk with a strangled groan.
