“That can’t be right,” I whispered to myself.
The more I looked through his desk, though, the more I found to back up the insane theory unfolding in my mind. Maybe he simply didn’t like people unless they were paying him for something. Maybe he was a billionaire recluse, or some bullshit like that. But even those who reclused themselves away from the world didn’t have smiling pictures of himself swimming in the ocean.
Or pictures of him laughing over cocktails.
Or pictures of him sunbathing on the beach.
Who the hell took these pictures?
I reached way back into his pencil drawer, hoping to find some sort of fail-safe for my venture. Was this man really a well-adjusted guy who simply hated my guts? Hated all of his employees’ guts? I found it hard to believe. But, instead of finding a false back to the drawer, my fingertips stumbled upon something that felt like another picture.
And when I pulled it out, I saw JoJo smiling brightly for the camera in a tuxedo.
With a woman in a white wedding dress standing next to him.
“What the fuck?” I murmured.
I’d never see him smile like this. Hell, I’d never seen him smile at all, much less like he was in the picture. I studied the massive rock on the woman’s left-hand but didn’t see a ring on his, which only confused me more.
Who was this woman?
And why is he so happy to be with her?
“Mr. Ryker! How did the meeting go?”
The elevator doors dinged, and I heard his secretary’s voice kick up. I scrambled to get everything back in its place as I heard his heavy footsteps surging down the hallway. His voice was low and gruff, and while I couldn’t make out what he said I already knew he wasn’t in a good mood. So, after easing his pencil drawer shut, I quickly rushed to stand by the chair in front of his desk.
And when he opened his office door, his face turned red with anger.
“The hell are you doing in here?” he spat.
I cleared my throat as he slammed his office door closed.
“Waiting for you to get out of your meeting. I was hoping to know how it went with the second round of my documentation.”
His stare raked up and down my body before he clicked his tongue. “Find what you were looking for?”
I blinked. “Beg your pardon?”
He scoffed. “I’m not an idiot, Becca. Did you find whatever the fuck it was you were snooping around for?”
No point in lying now.“No, sir.”
He charged past me, slapping a file folder on top of his desk. “I didn’t fucking think so.”
I pivoted with him. “I did have a question for you, if you have a moment.”
He planted his hands on top of his desk and glowered at me. “I feel a need to let you know that if you opened any personnel files, contractual files, or if you have otherwise tampered with anything sensitive that is for my eyes only, it’s not only a fireable offense, but I could technically accuse you of trying to steal information for our competition.”
And just like that, he had the power once more. I knew I could walk away. I could wash my hands of this altogether and be done with him and his abusive ways. But I knew he’d ruin my career as well as my reputation. I’d have to tuck tail and go home, proving everyone right that I’d never be able to make it out here on my own without any family to fall back on.
But, when I didn’t answer, I watched his frown tick into a grin. “You can make it up to me, though.”
I cleared my throat. “What do you have in mind, sir?”
He straightened his back. “You’ll stay late again tonight. I’ll send the list of requirements via email. You can go now.”
“But, sir, I sort of have—.”
