I leaned against the door. “It has come to my attention--.”
She shook her head. “Nothing has been brought to your attention. If we’re going to talk, at least be honest.”
I drew in a deep breath. “You saw something you shouldn’t have, and I have a feeling you’re trying to get a certain woman to take the issue to H.R.”
She leaned back. “Let’s say I did see something and that I am trying something akin to that. Are you here to stop me?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m not. Though, before you consider ruining someone’s career here at the company, you should know that things were consensual.”
“Now, why do I have a hard time believing that?”
I shrugged. “Because I’m here to tell you that you and I will never be a thing. That’s why.”
She scoffed. “I mean, not that I needed any confirmation, but trust me. You’re not my type.”
“Except when you were first hired here, I saw you just about every day in my office.”
She slowly stood to her feet. “Spit it out, Mr. Ryker.”
I pushed off the door and stood strong. “Miss Loren may not understand that you’re jealous, but I do. You couldn’t have me, so you’re making sure no one else can. And I’m telling you, Miss Krist, I will not tolerate such nonsense in my company.”
She practically spat at me. “Get the hell out of my office.”
“You mean, my office. I loan it out to you due to your job, but that can go away in an instant.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you seriously trying to blackmail me right now?”
“On the contrary, I’m trying to let you know that I get it. I understand. But, should Becca ever find out? I think she might back out of your lunch date tomorrow, don’t you think?”
“How do you know about that?”
I stalked toward her desk. “Miss Krist, I know everything that happens within my company. It’s how I stay on top. It’s how I avoid scandal. It’s why I’m one of the few businesses without a defector to another company. I always keep this place under lock and key. And if you want to have any hope of ever repairing things with the only woman you haven’t pissed off in this company because of your jealousy, I suggest you stop stirring up trouble and keep your nose within the confines of your own business. Got it?”
She grit her teeth. “You’re right. I did have a crush on you when I first arrived. But I’m not the only female employee who’s had something like that. Why are you targeting me?”
“Because I know you’re the one who chirped in Becca’s ear about going to H.R. with something that was a non-issue between her and I. I know you’re the one attempting to sabotage whatever it is that’s growing between her and I.”
“And what’s growing, exactly? Or are you struggling to put a title on it like you do with most of the women you fuck?”
I growled. “That’s enough.”
She came out from around her desk. “What are you going to do about it? Huh? Fire me? Because if you do that, I’ll go right to H.R. with everything.”
“And I’ll blacklist you from here to kingdom come. I’ll make sure you’re so unemployable that you’ll have to move countries in order to get a job singing in a shitty bar in the middle of nowhere. Do you understand?”
“I understand that you’re a slimy, manipulative little snake. I understand that the second you’re done with Becca, you’ll toss her out with the trash just like every other woman you use and abuse. And I know that when that happens, I’ll be the one there to pick her up. I’ll be the one escorting her to H.R. Then, when it’s all said and done, I’ll be the one helping to prop her up while we both go public and take you down. That’s what I understand.”
Got her.“So, your plan is to watch her destruction before leveraging it to get what you want. Got it.”
She blinked. “Wait, what?”
I turned around and opened the door. “Have a good weekend, Miss Krist.”
“Wait a second, what? Where are you going? Mr. Ryker! I didn’t mean that!”
I knew without a shadow of a doubt that she wouldn’t talk to anyone ever again about what she saw. That jealous bitch had no idea who the hell she was fucking with, and I’d take her down before she ever ruined this thing I was exploring with Becca. Sure, it confused me. And yeah, there were times where I wanted to punish her while imagining that it was her sister, Maggie. But, if I was truly being honest with myself, Becca stirred something within me that I hadn’t entertained with a woman since high school.
And I wanted the space—and privacy—to be able to further indulge it.
