I sucked in a breath.“No, man.It’s the girl.”
“Huh?”
“The girl from Meg’s lobby.”
His eyebrows shot up.“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Nope,” I said, popping thep.
He was quiet for a moment, studying me.“Emmett, you know I love you like a brother.But you’ve got to be careful here.She’s your employee.Getting involved with her could fuck up everything you’ve worked for.”
“You think I don’t know that?”I snapped, more harshly than I intended.“Sorry.I just...I’ve never felt like this before.It’s beyond just physical attraction.Though, fuck, is she beautiful.But it’s more than that.It’s like she sees past all my bullshit, straight to the real me.And she’s not afraid to call me on it.”
“I get it, man.I do.But you’ve got to think with your head.”He tapped my skull.“The one up here.I know you haven’t forgotten what happened with Heather.”
My jaw tightened at the mention of my ex.
I walked into my dad’s office, my mind racing.
“Emmett, good, you’re here.”He gestured for me to take a seat, his expression serious.I had been in meetings all morning, but when his assistant called to say he needed to see me urgently, I dropped everything.
Gene was sitting across from him.The smug look on his face immediately set me on edge.
“What’s going on?”I asked, lowering myself into a chair.
Dad steepled his fingers and sighed.“Son, there’s no easy way to say this.But a lawsuit has been filed against you.By Heather.”
My stomach dropped.“What?Why would Heather sue me?”
Gene leaned forward, his eyes glinting with barely concealed glee.“Sexual harassment.Apparently, you two have been getting a little too friendly in the office.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but my dad held up a hand.“There’s more.She has video footage, Emmett.Of you and her...engaging in sexual acts.Here, at work.”
My mind reeled as I tried to process his words.Heather and I had been together for a year before I broke things off.She was understandably upset, but I never expected…
“This has to be a mistake.She wouldn’t do this.”
“Clearly, she would.You sure can pick ‘em, boy.”
“Gene, please give us a moment.”
Gene left, shaking his head.In the secluded safety of my dad’s office, I crumbled, burying my face in my hands.“This can’t be happening.”
I felt a strong hand on my back.
“We’ll get through this, son.”
“Why would she do this, Dad?People break up all the time!”I threw my hands in the air, frustrated.
“They do, but if you haven’t noticed, you’re quite a catch.And not everyone is as honorable as you.If nothing else, let this be a lesson in what happens when you place your trust in the wrong person.”
“This is different.Callie’s not like that.”
Even to my own ears, my argument sounded weak.
“Maybe not.But you’re still her boss, Emmett.Even if she feels the same way, the power dynamic alone makes it a bad idea.”
He was right.God dammit, I knew it.That didn’t stop me from trying to justify it.“There are plenty of people at the company in relationships.”
