“I’m not harassing people.”
When his head jerks back, I’m not sure what to expect. “Oh, I’m sorry. Are you no longer allowed to joke around here?”
“Of course you can joke. It’s just—”
With a snide voice, Sam snaps, “Oh, well, thank you so much, Ms. Kirby, for allowing us—”
Why won’t this asshole let me finish a goddamn sentence? “Enough.” I hold up my hand. My turn to interrupt. “I have no idea what your problem is, but I’m only going to say this once.”
I wait for him to speak, but his lips are shut. For once.
“Back off.”
His face morphs from surprise to that angry one I saw yesterday. “Or what?”
“Or you and I will have a sit-down with Graham.”
“Graham? You cozy with the boss now too? You’ve got Ben and now Morgan doing your bidding?”
I’m practically sputtering. “I beg your pardon?”
He leans in so close I can smell remnants of something like whiskey on his breath. “You heard me. I know your type.”
I lean back as far as I can get. His breath is making me feel a little queasy. “And what type is that?” I can’t wait to hear this.
Sam leans in closer. “The kind who uses their looks to get men to bend to their whims.”
I feel the heat rise from my chest up to my cheeks. I’ve never been spoken to like that before, so I have no idea what to do. “That’s ridiculous.” I clear my throat. “Please back away from me.”
“Come on now,” he coos, staying put.
“Move. Away.” I place my palms on his chest, ready to push, when he finally moves backward. He must catch his foot on something, because he goes down hard and fast. I hear his head make contact with the floor. It’s carpeted, but I’m sure it’s concrete underneath the thin industrial carpeting.
“Sam?” My voice is a squeak. Bending closer, I place my hand on his chest. “Sam!” I say loudly. Damn. He’s out like a light.
“What happened?”
I sigh in relief when I hear the sound of Meghan Lincoln’s voice above us.
“He fell,” I say quickly. “He hit his head.” Looking up at her, I add, “I think he’s been drinking. His breath was….” Looking down at Sam, I decide to wait on all of that. “Call 9-1-1.”
* * *
“Jesus fucking hell.”Graham actually spits a little when he hears what happened this morning. Even the part where I smelled alcohol on his breath. “Where did they take him?”
“I’m not sure.” I was there when the paramedics arrived, and I told them what I knew. Sam had regained consciousness by then. Before they carted him off, he looked at me, and I’d like to tell you he smiled at me, but it was more of a blank stare.
When Graham reaches for his phone, I hear him snap, “Find out where they took Sam!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ben
“Did you hear?”I look up and see Clive standing at my desk.
“Hear what?” I’m not sure why, but I’m sort of happy to see the asshole.
“They took Sam out of here.”
