by Harlow Layne
I knew what to think. There was no reason to be by King’s office unless it was to see him. There was literally nothing else around. I had a very bad feeling we’d been caught.
“It’s nice to meet you, Pria. I’m Graham, a long-time friend of King’s.” He held out his hand and I robotically shook it as I internally freaked out.
“Oh, I didn’t know he had any friends. You must be a good one.” King pulled me to his side. His green eyes twinkled as he took me in. “I think we’ve been made.” A somber expression fell over his face.
“So, what do you say to dinner? I can call Soraya and see if she wants to meet us. It can be a double date.” Graham’s face lit up with amusement. If I had to guess he’d never been on a double date in his life. Neither of them had.
“What do you say?” King squeezed my hip. “We can go to Luciano’s, eat good food, and have a couple of drinks to forget our troubles.”
“Problems already?” Graham laughed as he started to head for the elevator as if it was a foregone conclusion we were going.
“We’ll explain later. Maybe you can help us figure something out.” King’s tone held doubt as he ushered us to the elevator.
“So, let me get this straight,” Graham laughed before taking a sip of his scotch, “you’re dating not only someone in Human Resources, but the director and you have a no fraternization policy at your company? You’re fucked.”
“Don’t mind him.” Soraya, Graham’s beautiful girlfriend smiled at us with ruby red lips from across the table. Her long black hair was dyed blue at the ends and her big brown eyes were bright with happiness. “He’s jaded to love in the workplace.”
“Do you have any ideas? I’m pretty sure his secretary caught us tonight. She’s been acting strange around me since I started back to work. Maybe she’s had her suspicions.” Looking over at King, I asked, “Did she act any different when you went back to work?” That could explain why she’d been an even bigger bitch.
“You took leave?” Graham’s eyes lit up as if he’d landed on a juicy detail.
“At King’s request. I was mugged two weeks ago and was pretty beat up.” I lifted my casted arm. “My makeup is covering the bruises. You don’t want to see what I look like underneath. I’m a walking—”
“Still beautiful.” King kissed the top of my head.
“Hold up.” Graham sat his drink down and clasped his hands together. “You took a vacation?”
“I wouldn’t call it a vacation. I stayed home for a week to help Pria. Once she’s better and I’ve got a break in my schedule, I’ll go on a real vacation with her.”
“You stayed home?” Graham asked in disbelief.
Soraya nudged him. “Be nice. You’d do the same for me. Why are you giving him such a hard time?”
Graham’s eyes softened as he looked down at his girlfriend. “Of course, I’d do the same for you. I’d be at your beck and call for as long as you needed, but you don’t know this guy. He’s never been in a relationship or dated.” His eyes got big as he looked back at King. “Ever.”
“Yes, okay, we all get it,” King deadpanned. “Why don’t we focus on the problem of my secretary finding out about us.”
“No one is going to take me seriously at my job if the person who’s supposed to enforce the rules is breaking them.” I buried my head in my hands. It wasn’t as effective when one was covered with a cast, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t believe I’d already fucked this up.
“What if you said that if people did date they had to sign some form stating they were in a relationship and make rules about not dating someone who’s directly under you so there’s no nepotism?” Soraya shrugged.
“That’s not a bad idea.”
It wasn’t a great one either. Maybe if the policy had been in place beforehand, but now it was like we were making rules so we could do whatever we wanted.
“Now I probably can’t fire her, or she’ll sue me,” King growled out before he drained the rest of his drink.
“You should have filed a complaint,” I added. Instead, he took on the work she hadn’t been doing.
“Life is never boring with you.” Graham laughed.
King laced our fingers together. A look of worry crossed his handsome face. “Right now, I wish it was, but whatever happens we’ll get through this.”
I only hoped he was right.
22
Kingston
Going by the look on everyone’s face as I walked the distance from the elevator to my office, it was safe to say everyone knew about me and Pria. I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep from firing my fucking secretary. Her time with Avery Capital Holdings was limited. If she filed a folder wrong, I was going to fire her ass.
Normally, I was the first one to work, but I had an early meeting out of the office that prevented me from appraising the situation. I hoped Pria wasn’t getting the side looks and snickers I was getting. One look and they all cast their eyes down and went back to work. Last night, after we got home, she had slumped down on the couch and deteriorated before my eyes. I didn’t care what anyone thought about me. They all already thought I was an asshole, but I understood why Pria felt the way she did. No one wanted to be known as the one who fucked their way up the ladder, and it would make her job difficult if no one took her seriously.
The problem was once it was out there, I couldn’t do anything about it. The rumors had started, and they wouldn’t stop anytime soon. If we had come out as a couple before someone heard us fucking in my office, it might have changed the way they looked at us. But no one wanted to announce to the world they were in a relationship until they knew it was going to last or out of its infancy.
I typed out a quick message to Pria.
King: You should probably stay in your office today.
Pria: Too late.
King: I’m sorry my dick got us in trouble. You can work from home until this blows over.
I knew as I typed it, it wouldn’t blow over anytime soon, but I wanted to shelter her from the scrutiny. I knew if I caught anyone saying anything bad about her, I would likely fire them. I guess it was a good thing the head of my HR department didn’t let me fire people for such things.
Pria: So you’re saying for me to never come back?
King: All I can say is I’m sorry and I’ll try to fix this mess.
Pria: I know you are, but you can’t fix it.
King: I guess I shouldn’t ask you to lunch?
Those three little bubbles appeared showing that she was typing. They went away and came back a couple of times before a new message finally showed up.
Pria: I’d love to have lunch with you.
King: Meet me downstairs at 11:30 and we’ll hit this amazing sandwich place I know of that’s not too far from here.
Pria: See you then.
That was easier than I thought it would be. Maybe I could convince her to work from home the rest of the day while we were at lunch. But if she stopped coming to work wouldn’t that mean they’d won? Even though I hated this for her, Pria wasn’t weak and could handle them. That was her job.
A knock sounded and I didn’t bother to look up as my secretary (no use finding out what her name was now since she wouldn’t be around much longer) opened the door and peeked her head inside.
“You have a package,” she said timidly. Her hands twisted together as she waited for me to speak.
Lifting my head, my eyes narrowed at her. I hoped she could feel my wrath and realized how much she had fucked up going against me. I’d make sure she never worked at any credible office again once she was out of here.
Getting back to work, I hit send on my email. “Sign for it.”
“I already did.”
“Then bring it in and set it down over there on the table.” It wasn’t like it was the first time I’d gotten a package since she worked here. If she was trying to test the waters to see if I knew it was her who spilled the proverbial beans, she was doing a shitty job.
�
��Yes, sir.” It was quiet for a few minutes when I felt someone looking at me. Glancing up, I saw her in the middle of my office, her eyes trained on me.
“Is there something else? I’m busy,” I growled, dropping my pen to my desk.
“Is there anything else, Mr. Avery?”
Was she fucking kidding me? Now she wanted to somewhat do her job?
“Nothing.” My tone was lethal as I said the one word.
“I can get you a cup of coffee or…” She trailed off, batting her heavily made up eyes at me.
Was my secretary flirting with me? Did she think I’d fuck any employee?
“As a matter of fact, I do have something for you to do.” I smiled wickedly.
Sandy or Cindy, or you were about to lose your job whatever your name was licked her bright pink lips. My stomach rolled at her action. I was revolted she’d think it would be so easy to get into my pants. The only thing I wanted everyone to think about me was that I was an asshole who got the job done.
“Anything,” she answered back breathlessly.
“I need all the information we have on Gainsworth printed out.”
Her face screwed up in confusion. “Everything?”
“Yes, everything. I need it on my desk by the end of the day. Thank you,” I dismissed her.
It wasn’t anything I needed. It was busywork, penance for thinking I would ask her to suck my cock now or ever.
I felt her linger for a few moments before she finally left. Blowing out a heavy sigh, I tried to clear my head, but it was hard to rein in my temper. I was mostly mad at myself for keeping her for as long as I had. I should have given her one warning after she didn’t do her job the first time and after she failed again, gave her her walking papers with a smile on my face. Now, I was sure if I fired her, I’d be sued by the end of the week. My lawyers could handle it, but I didn’t want Pria’s name dragged through the mud.
I kept busy going through all the information I’d received on my trips and decided if I wanted to expand my business to California. Now that I had Pria in my life, I wasn’t sure I wanted to make more work for myself. I wanted to be able to take time off and enjoy life. Something I hadn’t done in a long time and wouldn’t be able to do if I expanded my company.
Putting my computer to sleep, I grabbed my cell phone and headed to the elevator. This time as I passed through the halls everyone kept their heads down. There were no whispers or side glances, which gave me hope that they’d forgotten about Pria and me. Logically, I knew they hadn’t, but I was still hopeful.
As I rode the elevator down to the lobby, I checked my phone for any messages, but aside from the hundred emails, I needed to answer there was nothing. When the elevator doors opened, I scanned the lobby looking for my lunch date. Since we were going a little early to beat the business lunch crowd, the only people in the lobby were security. A flash of black hair flowing in the wind caught my attention. Pria was pacing outside. Upon further inspection, she was either talking to herself or was on the phone. Her hands flew as she spoke with her forehead creased with worry.
Guilt gnawed at me. Ever since Pria had come into my life, I’d caused her nothing but hardship. I hated it, but I wasn’t willing to give her up. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and now it was up to me to figure out how I was going to be the best thing to come into her life.
Stepping in front of her to block her rapid back and forth, I reached out to pull my feisty girlfriend into my arms. Only she didn’t come to me or greet me with anything but a paranoid look over her shoulder.
“Where’s this sandwich place you were telling me about?”
I guess she hadn’t been on the phone but talking to herself. Knowing that bit of information worried me. Had someone confronted her about us?
“Right this way.” I pointed to the left and held my elbow out to her. With only a slight hesitation, she hooked her arm with mine and let me guide her down the busy sidewalk. We had been quiet since we’d left. I looked down at her as we waited to cross the road and wanted to kick myself in the ass. Her entire body was radiating worry and sadness. Why did people have to be assholes? Me included.
“Has anyone given you any trouble?”
“No one has even come into the department, but there’s been plenty who’ve walked by gawking and whispering. It’s like we’re in high school.” A heavy sigh deflated her already hunched posture. “I don’t know what to do, King. I’m the laughingstock of the thirty-fourth floor.”
Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her into me and kissed the top of her head. “Give it a day or two for it to die down. If it doesn’t, then…” I had no idea what I’d do, but I’d come up with something. Normally, I was good at thinking on the fly.
“Then what? Do you have any ideas, because I like my job and would like to keep it.”
Wow. I stopped in my tracks at her words and stared down at her in shock. “You can’t let them run you off. If you did, you’re not the strong woman I know.”
“Maybe I’m not the woman you know because right now that’s the only option that makes sense.”
“No, it doesn’t make sense. Let’s order our food and strategize. Between the two of us, surely we can come up with something that doesn’t involve you leaving.” I didn’t want to think about what it would feel like for her to work somewhere else.
“Fine,” she answered with no conviction in her voice.
Even though it was still a little early, the shop was busy. While we waited in line to order, Pria stared down at her black peep toe heels with her hands clasped together in front of her. I kept the palm of my hand on the small of her back in a silent show of solidarity. I wracked my brain for ways for Pria to stay at Avery Capital Holdings and be taken seriously, but I wasn’t sure how to do the latter. I couldn’t make anyone respect her or listen to her, but I could make sure that anyone who didn’t treat her like everyone else, would have it marked in their file and if it continued to happen, be fired. I didn’t care if I had to hire an entire new staff.
We ordered our sandwiches. Mine a teriyaki chicken with bean sprouts and hers a ham and Swiss with water for us to drink. Their teriyaki chicken was what kept me coming back to the sandwich shop. I wasn’t sure how they made it taste as amazing as they did, but I was addicted to it. Carrying our tray to an empty table, I sat across from Pria and took her in. Her eyes were downcast as she sat slumped in her seat. She was in a bad way, there was no doubt about it.
Handing her sandwich over, I opened mine and took a bite before I spoke. “I wish I had some magical words to make this all better, but I don’t. If you want, I can fire everyone and let you hire an all new staff.”
She bit the inside of her cheek before looking up and rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t do that, and I won’t let you.”
Taking another bite, I chewed and watched her pick at her sandwich. She pulled off a little piece and popped it in her mouth.
“We could do what Soraya mentioned. Why not supply a document and come out as a couple?”
She choked on her bite and coughed a few times. After taking a drink of her water, Pria sat up taller in her seat. “And what happens when we break up? Do I find a new job then?”
“What makes you think we’ll break up? I thought after the night in the hospital that we… I don’t know.” I shrugged. I wasn’t good at talking about my feelings or having feelings at all for that matter.
Her face softened. Reaching across the table for my hand, she clasped hers over mine. “We did. Sometimes I think it was all a dream or the drugs were playing tricks on me. I never thought I’d be your type. I mean look at you.” She indicated my chest, but I didn’t think it had anything to do with what she was talking about.
I sat back in my seat, my sandwich forgotten. “I don’t understand. What did you think my type was?”
“You’re a strange mix of the boy next door and a model who’s extremely cocky, but somehow you make it work for you. I
t doesn’t make sense but it’s very appealing. You don’t need to tell me how good-looking you are or how amazing your body is. I saw you with supermodels and ex-cheerleaders, and here I am this little Chinese girl.”
I didn’t need her to tell me, but I liked knowing how attracted she was to me.
“You’re my type, Pria. I love how small and tight your body is. I love how we fit together, and I love how you don’t take any of my shit. And you should know you could be a supermodel with how gorgeous you are.”
She scoffed. “If I was like ten inches taller maybe.”
“I don’t care about your height. I know what I see.”
“You sure know how to make a girl feel good when she’s down. Who would have thought?”
“Certainly not me, but you’ve worked your way into my heart. I don’t see what we have having an end date. I’d happily send out a memo to the entire staff declaring you’re mine, but I understand if you don’t want to.”
“I hate this. I’m back for two days getting looks because of my arm and your secretary probably telling everyone I was in the hospital after I sent her that email, and now this.”
There wasn’t anything I could say to make her feel better, so I stayed silent and tried to show my support by being there for her.
“Maybe it was too soon for me to come back,” she murmured. “I could work from home, but I don’t want them to think they can scare me off.” Her eyes filled with tears and her chin trembled. “I don’t know what to do, King.”
“I say we make a united front and show there’s nothing they can say or do that bothers us. You do your job and if anyone gives you a hard time, put it in their file and let them know. We do quarterly reviews on all our employees and they all know there’s a three strikes and they’re out policy. Next month everyone is up for review and I doubt they want to lose their jobs.”
