"Yeah, you guys no longer need a babysitter."
Nervously, I looked around, unable to meet his eyes. "Thanks for the help."
"I'd do anything for you. Even leave when it's hurting me."
His words lodged in my chest like a stone. I stared hard at the wall, refusing to blink, because the last thing I wanted to do was cry.
"Stay safe, Bruno."
Before my eyes betrayed me, I hurried to the conference room. When I pushed the door open, celebratory words and cheers greeted me. Every face in the room was smiling, so I forced one onto mine and hoped no one caught how strained it looked or how it masked a choice that would cost me sleep.
After the meeting,we actually got to work at Amoré Nights. There was more press to line up. Investors who wished to congratulate me. The telephone was held to my ear for the remainder of the day, and my arm was starting to hurt, but this was the best-case scenario. As the day wrapped up, I removed my shoes, leaned back in the chair, and for a brief moment enjoyed the peace and quiet.I did it.
With my eyes closed, I heard my office door open—no knock. Guess everyone forgot themselves with the celebration. When I looked and spotted James, I squinted. Damn, I hadn't fired him yet. Well, today seemed as good a day as any.
"You can't knock?"
He wore an expression I couldn't place. "Why? What if you were fucking one or two of your boyfriends on the desk, and I wanted to see the show?"
His words made me sit up straight. Regardless of all the shit I talked, I'd never had sex with anyone from work, much less on my desk. For a bit I stared at him, shocked and furious. "Your time is up, buddy boy. You're fired."
James laughed. It was unexpected and quickly made me uneasy. For a man who I'd just fired, he was too calm. I stood. "What the hell is so funny? Get out of here." When James didn't move, I added, "Don't make me call security."
"Call them," he said, lowering himself into the chair.
I reached for the phone. Something didn't feel right.
"Before you do, I should mention I saved all your slutty activity from the beta. The dick pictures men sent you and every dirty conversation."
I dropped the phone. Shit.
James' smile grew, and the son of a bitch winked.
"You're a whore, a pretty one, but still a hoe with way too much authority. Can't have you dragging Amoré Nights down. If your reputation becomes public, what will the investors do? Can you imagine the press?"
Lowering myself back into the chair, I processed the situation calmly. The company's success was tied to me. I was the face, CEO. James was right; Amoré Nights would be ruined. Still, I wasn't about to roll over. "It would be your word against mine. Why would anyone believe a word…"
"You aren't listening. I have evidence. I tracked every move you made on the app: the chats, slutty photos, everything."
James handled back-end analytics since the first beta. He'd had access to every scrap of data.
Inside, I was breaking down, but I held it together. "What do you want?"
"Well, originally, I was going to order your ass on top of this desk and introduce you to a real man. But you're a slut, so I'm not interested. I want a monthly payoff and the CEO title."
I glared at the man. "You'd run my business into the ground. I might as well go down with the ship."
He laughed again, and I fought every urge not to reach for the heavy paperweight. Prison sounded like a better option than what he was giving me.
"The truth is, I don't even want to work. Just give me some money, and I'll settle for COO position. What do you think, my little heiress?"
The confident way he spoke irked me, but I had to stay calm. This man was now holding the one thing I held dear in his hands. "I'll get back to you."
"Don't you even want to know how much cash I'm asking?"
"If I say no, it won't matter."
He never took his eyes off me. "You won't say no. This company is your baby; no woman turns her back on a baby," he said, then stood to leave. "Don't keep me waiting too long."
