by Eden Summers
Max Sutherland opened the door, his forehead creased in a scowl. “Morning, Beth.” His gruff and distant tone sent a skitter of panic up her spine. Before she could open her mouth to respond he asked for her to follow him into his office, then left without another word.
She counted to ten, taking in a deep breath as she tried not to freak out. He would want to talk about the proposition, and she was nowhere near ready. In the irrational state she currently swam in, she could now see an upside to accepting Max’s offer—it would piss Dean off. Not that she would ever sleep with anyone so far out of her age range, or for reasons other than emotional connection, but the thought of turning the tables on Dean made her a little giddy.
Beth left her office, wiping her sweaty palms on her suit jacket, and headed down the hall. Mr. Sutherland sat behind his desk, tapping a pen on his keyboard, his brows still creased. She couldn’t remember him ever appearing so severe, his face and demeanor excessively agitated for the conversation she anticipated them having.
He glanced up when she stepped into his office and held her gaze for a brief second before motioning for her to sit down.
“Beth.” His gruff tone continued to elevate her heart rate. “I’ve been thinking about this all weekend and I can’t find a way around it. I’ve tried damn hard and there just doesn’t seem to be a way. And I have no clue how to say this, so I’m just going to come out and say it.”
He was rambling. Max Sutherland, managing director of Sutherland & Son, didn’t ramble, and the realization ramped up her panic like jumper cables to a car.
“I feel it’s best if you leave your position at Sutherland & Son.”
Her head jerked back in surprise. Time began to slow as a rush of blood filled her ears like a torrent of water through a cave. She could see his lips moving, but the words were broken and disheveled.
“I’m sorry…my fault…unfavorable proposition…”
The scattered pieces of conversation didn’t sink in. Her mind struggled to move past the initial remark about leaving Sutherland & Son. She was beyond confused and, even if she could determine a coherent sentence, the lump in her throat felt too big to speak over.
“I need to work on my relationship with Dean.”
That name broke through her confusion, giving her something to focus on. Dean’s name usually brought happiness from the mere mention. Now the four letters evoked determination. She would not have her career threatened twice in as many minutes by the same man. Squaring her shoulders, Beth mentally dug in her heels, unwilling to let go of the position she loved.
“I don’t—” She cleared her throat when the words scraped passed her throat. “I don’t understand. What did I do wrong?”
Max eyed her with sympathy. “It wasn’t you. You did nothing wrong. The situation is entirely my fault.”
“So why am I being fired?” she cried and averted her gaze while tears started to take over her vision.
“Dean and I have had a rough past. I’ve done things I’m not proud of and he’s never forgiven me. I don’t blame him for that.” Max’s released a sigh. “But in the past year things had become easier. He hasn’t been as hostile, and I was beginning to hope there may be a chance to regain the relationship we lost.”
She glanced up and fought back a sob at Max’s weary brown eyes, so much like his son’s.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t risk you coming in between our relationship. When I propositioned you, I didn’t think—”
“This is about your proposition?” She seethed. All her pain, all her humiliation had stemmed from that one stupid proposal. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You can’t fire me over something that isn’t my fault. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Max inclined his head. “I realize that. I admit this situation is entirely my fault, but Dean obviously took the matter to heart. I didn’t propose my intentions to you on a whim last Friday.” He began to tap his pen on the desk again. “I asked around to ensure you weren’t in a relationship. I had planned on the offer to be mutually beneficial.” Beth cringed at the way he used those words again. “I didn’t realize Dean still held a grudge against me and that he would try to punish me for past transgressions by sleeping with you.”
The air left her lungs, the noise sharp as she raised her eyebrows and shook her head. The weekend had been about retaliation.
She stood from her chair, trying to glare at her boss without letting the tears fall. “You know this is sexual harassment.” She wanted to inflict her own pain by retrieving one of the knives in her back and doing some damage of her own. Max needed to know she wouldn’t walk away easily. “You can’t do this.”
“Sit down,” he growled.
She couldn’t help her reaction; her mind was lost, her heart broken, and she immediately sat like an obedient puppy.
“You know as well as I do that a sexual harassment case against Sutherland & Son will only discredit your reputation, and I promise it’s unnecessary. You will be financially compensated.” He shook his head in what she determined as regret. “Look, Beth, you’ve been one of my best employees. And it hurts to let you go, but my son is more important. I won’t lose him again. I won’t make the same mistake twice. So I plan to offer you financial compensation to leave amicably. I’ve also called some of my contacts and put together a list of companies who would be willing to interview you.”
Willing to interview her? Half the city knew about the situation before she did. The thought of Max speaking to people behind her back added more insult to the gaping injury. She had looked up to him for years, and he betrayed her so easily.
Must run in the family genes.
“All I ask is that you agree to leave amicably and sign a statement saying you left on your own terms.”
Beth sat in a numb silence no longer jolted by the added injuries he inflicted. All she wanted now were answers on her future.
“When do you want me to finish?” Her voice was ragged, weak, exactly how her body and mind felt.
“I think it would be best if you left immediately. Continuing to work will be uncomfortable and I don’t expect you to suffer more because of my mistakes. Having you leave will be a big blow to the business, but that is my burden to bear. I will handle the backlash until Steve can pick up the extra duties.”
Beth stared. Her mouth wouldn’t move, her throat too thick with gravel and her heartbeat so loud that it throbbed in her brain. Just like that, her job had vanished. She was no longer employed. Her financial stability grew a great big set of eagle wings and flew right out the window. If her pride didn’t weigh so heavy in her mind she would have burst into chest-heaving sobs. Instead she stood, raised her chin, and left without a word, heading for the room that would no longer be her office.
Grabbing an empty archive box from her credenza, she started packing personal belongings. Her family photos, her lifetime supply of desk snacks, her greeting cards and personal stationery. One by one the items fell into the box, the impact of each sending a stabbing pain to her heart, until the tears stinging her eyes burst and trailed down her face like rain.
“Oh babe, what’s wrong?” Angela embraced her before she could glance up, the familiar scent of her perfume making the friendly gesture feel like home. Beth tried to speak, opened her mouth numerous times to do so, but all that came out were broken sobs. She’d never been so humiliated and realization dawned that she couldn’t even talk to her family about it.
Why were you fired, baby girl?
Well, Daddy, my boss wanted me to be his mistress, but when he found out I was banging his son, he fired me. Oh, and the son only slept with me as payback to his father.
Shame entered the mix of her turbulent emotions. Apart from sleeping with someone she had feelings for, she hadn’t done anything wrong. But that’s not how it would appear to an outsider. For someone who didn’t know her high morals regarding sex, they would judge her for being cheap and easy.
The fire in her veins began to overpower her shock, h
elping to control the rush of tears. When Angela pulled back to stare at her, Beth diverted her gaze, the concern in her friend’s eyes enough to make her break down all over again. “I’ve gotta go—”
“What’s going on, B?”
Fighting to gain control, Beth let the news out in a rush. “I just got fired—” The answered gasp had her heart taking another nosedive but she ignored it, deciding to keep herself busy by packing away her things. “And apparently Dean only slept with me to get back at his father.”
“No fucking way.”
Slamming the lid on the box, she wiped her eyes hoping her mascara hadn’t run. “Yes, fucking way.”
With all her personal effects packed, Beth wanted to leave straight away. “I’ve gotta get out of here, Ange. If I’ve forgotten anything can you please hold it for me and I’ll get it later.”
“Yes, of course.”
She didn’t care if Max needed her help to run through computer passwords or current projects. He could take a flying leap. She would treat him with the same respect he had given all her years of service.
Beth breathed deeply to steady herself and stared her friend in the eye, giving a fake smile. “OK, I’m outta here.” And with that, she left her office, the only job she had ever loved and the friends she had laughed with too many times to mention.
Chapter Thirteen
His cock was on a hair trigger, his heart played giddyap horsey, and he couldn’t help smiling at random people like he had mental problems. A guy in the bakery on his way to work had even smiled at him in blatant invitation. He usually went straight to the office in the morning, but today he took a detour to buy Beth one of the apricot Danishes she loved so much. If he didn’t enjoy the way she savored every bite like the taste was orgasmic, he would have dropped his money and run.
Only thirty-eight hours had passed since they were together and he already missed her. He’d spent the first two hours of the morning picturing the way she would react at seeing him. The way she would divert her eyes, a shy smile showing the faintest hint of dimples, before she unconsciously moistened those gorgeous lips with a lick of her tongue.
He would sit his ass down on her desk and watch her devour every last crumb of the Danish, enjoying their flirty exchange until he needed to leave for the airport. He didn’t even need to go into the office. He just couldn’t stand the thought of leaving town without seeing Beth first.
With the way he currently buzzed at the thought of seeing her, leaving town for the week was probably the best strategy to stop him from making a total fool of himself. He’d already decided early Sunday morning he wanted to lay everything on the line. To tell her how he felt, unleashing everything except the big L word in case she sprinted for the hills. Removing the emotional baggage from his chest would be a welcome relief.
He walked into the lobby of the high-rise office building with an extra swing in his step. When he sighted Delilah standing alone at the elevator he almost did a complete one-eighty. Shit, did he turn and pretend he hadn’t seen her?
“Dean.”
Fuck.
Pulling a fake smile out of his ass, he slowly made his way toward her, cringing as she stepped back from the open elevator door, clearly wanting a conversation with him before she went to her office. The woman had been like a vulture circling him since the one night they’d slept together.
“Morning, Dee.”
“Morning,” she returned with a seductive smile.
Not that he minded eager women. Dee simply acted obvious to the point of desperation and one night was all he had to offer. She had been well aware of that.
The elevator closed and he resigned himself to making idle chitchat until the next one arrived, hoping to hell she didn’t plan on flirting the whole time.
“So when are we going to hook up again?”
Christ. He masked his surprise with a friendly laugh. Maybe harmless flirting would’ve been better. He certainly hadn’t been prepared for the blatant come-on.
“I’m actually seeing someone.” There. He made the situation clear and hopefully she would realize the sex they’d shared would stay firmly in the past.
She cocked her head and looked at him skeptically. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”
He suppressed a scoff. He didn’t care what she believed and let his deep frown speak volumes as he replied in an icy tone. “I’m a changed man, Delilah.”
The snark in his voice must have been convincing because she straightened her shoulders and raised her chin. “Well she’s a lucky lady. Just remember.” She moved in close, grasping his bicep while she whispered in his ear, “I’ll take you any way I can. I don’t care if it’s just a little on the side.”
Had his reputation stretched so far that women thought he had no sexual morals at all? He clenched the brown paper bag holding the Danish in his fist. With his other hand, he grabbed her wrist and silently whooped in joy as one of the two elevators chimed and the doors to the one closest slid open.
He gave a genuine smile, suddenly seeing the situation with new eyes. If he committed himself to Beth, which he had every intention of doing, he wouldn’t have to surround himself with women like this anymore.
Feeling generous, he kissed the knuckles of her hand before letting it fall. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m not—”
A wounded gasp drew his attention before he could finish the sentence.
Beth stood just beyond the elevator door.
Shit.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face contorted in a mix of shock and rage as her gaze drifted between him and Delilah. He felt like a criminal caught in the act. Beth left the elevator, mumbling curses and knocking him out of the way with the box she carried.
He dropped Delilah’s hand without a second thought. “Beth.” Her name left his lips in a plea for her to stop. When her steps didn’t falter, and she continued moving as if he didn’t exist, he started after her, catching up in a few steps to cup her elbow.
“Beth, I was just…” He didn’t know why he felt the need to explain; he hadn’t done anything wrong. The words died on his lips when she turned to face him, her cheeks now streaked with tears.
“Get your goddamn hands off me.”
His hand dropped, the uncharacteristic anger in her words almost enough to make him take a step back. He searched her face, trying to read what was happening behind those glassy green eyes, but she turned away and walked off.
What the fuck was going on?
She exited the building’s glass sliding doors and he strode behind her. Once they were outside, he maneuvered himself in front of her, then turned and started walking backward, being hit in an instant by her menacing glare.
“Move.”
God, he didn’t even recognize her under all the anger. “Beth, talk to me.”
She increased her pace, pushing into his chest with the box. “Move.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He almost fell flat on his ass as he descended the first step.
Her breathing came out in ragged puffs, the pace of her tears increasing. She gave another halfhearted push of her box, hitting his chest with barely any impact. “Please, just leave me alone.”
The pain in her words tore his heart apart. He had no clue what he’d done wrong.
Halfway down the stairs he stopped, needing to get her attention. He braced his footing and grabbed for the box, crushing the Danish in his hand. “Tell me what’s going on.”
With frantic, jerky movements she tried to pull the box from his hands, but he wouldn’t let up. “You’re causing a scene. Please, just let me go.”
He stood firm, staring her down, just as stubborn and determined as she had ever been. After a few exhausted efforts to regain the box, he watched Beth’s shoulders sag, the fight leaving her body completely.
“I hope it was worth it,” she whispered.
Her eyes were tortured, sunken and glassy. He’d never seen her like this before and her reactions were hitting him like co
ntinual sucker punches.
“I don’t understand.” He heard his own words and hadn’t realized he’d said them out loud until Beth pushed at the box again.
“That makes two of us.”
She attempted to wrench the box from his hands again, giving it one hard pull. He didn’t have a chance to grip the edges tighter and the weight escaped his fingers. He watched in a daze as Beth fumbled with the sudden release and it fell to the ground.
A sob left her lips and he winced at the sound of smashing glass. At his feet now sat a mangled box, the lid half off to display broken photo frames and items he recognized from her desk.
Dean glanced back at Beth in confusion. She stared him in the eye and let out a weary sigh. “What did I ever do to you?”
“I—”
She turned to leave, the box still lying on the ground at his feet.
“Beth!”
She didn’t answer his call, just continued to walk away. He glanced at the breakage in front of him, then back toward Beth as she fled. If he went after her, the box would likely be stolen, but he couldn’t just watch her leave. He couldn’t shake off the apprehension that she was walking from his life forever.
In the end he didn’t need to make a decision. She reached the curb and opened the door to a waiting cab. She didn’t even look over her shoulder, or spare a glance at her belongings as the car pulled into traffic and drove out of sight.
What the fuck just happened?
Dean retrieved the phone from his suit pocket and called the office, asking Angela to meet him outside with an empty box.
“Yeah, I’ll get to it when I can.” The usually bubbly receptionist gave him a dose of attitude, ranting about how busy the phone lines were.
Fifteen minutes and two pieces of glass embedded in his fingers later, Angela came walking out of the front sliding doors of the building. Not once in all the days of her employment had she ever greeted him with anything but a smile—until today. Now she glared at him as he hovered over the broken pieces of Beth’s possessions, her facial expression making his balls shrink. Without a word she thrust the box forward.
