Being casually cruel became an everyday occurrence for me. Hearing it now barely scratched the surface.
I scoffed. ‘Original. If that’s all, I genuinely hope to never see you again.’
I half turned when he spoke with more venom than I’d ever heard him use before, ‘You might want to get knee pads. You know, since you’re spending so much time on them these days.’
My hands trembled and my head whipped around. A slew of words was about to tumble out of my mouth when the glass door opened, and a calm voice sounded behind me.
‘I knew your dick must be tiny, but I didn’t think you’d stoop that low.’
Oliver strolled into the room like he hadn’t interrupted Charlie, insinuating I’d sucked him off to get this job.
Charlie paled. ‘I-I didn’t-‘
Oliver waved a hand in adon’t worry about itmotion. He stood next to me.
‘Of course not. You wouldn’t say something like that, would you?’
He stepped forward, an air of dominance rippling off him—a move I’d seen him do before. Charlie fought the urge not to retreat. Something glowed low in my stomach.
‘Especially not when I’m about to sign a book deal that could be one of the biggest sellers this company has ever seen. You wouldn’t want to upset dear ole mummy and have her discover you jeopardised that by being a misogynistic little fucker?’
Oliver spoke like he was chatting with an old friend.
Charlie’s body tensed. He didn’t want to back down, but I knew one thing with absolute certainty; Charlie was a coward. He hid behind his veneer of power and his mother’s money, posturing that it made him better than everyone he spoke to, but Oliver had pulled on the one thread that couldunravel him entirely. His one fear was the catalyst for everything he did.
Belinda. His mother started the company and gave him a job. A job that countless other people were better qualified for. He didn’t deserve the position, and everyone knew it. Even deep down, I knew that he knew it, which led to him becoming the biggest arsehole to combat those feelings of inadequacy.
Charlie’s eyes darted from me to Oliver.
After a moment of tense silence, Charlie cleared his throat. ‘It was a misunderstanding. She took it the wrong way.’
I spluttered. ‘Seriously? You accuse me of sucking dick to get a job and then blame me for taking it the wrong way?’
Oliver tilted his head back to look back at me, a smile on his face. But I saw the flicker of anger flare in his eyes.
‘This guy?Really?The receding hairline didn’t tip you off? He’s like a walking red flag, love.’
My cheeks heated. I shot Oliver a glare. ‘And nowyou’reblaming me for my bad decisions?’
He held up his hands. ‘Absolutely not. I’d never blame you. Judge you? Yeah, I’m doing that a little.’ He winked before returning his attention to Charlie, who watched the entire interaction with growing confusion.
‘Think you’ve got something to say to her, Charlie boy.’ Oliver jutted his chin towards me, keeping his eyes locked on Charlie.
‘Don’t think I do.’ Charlie squared his shoulders, which under the circumstances looked comical. Oliver was nearly twice his size and had more lean muscle.
Oliver’s voice lowered. ‘It wasn’t a question. You either apologise to Miss Lowell, or I call your mummy and get this whole deal wiped away.’
My stomach dropped. I didn’t give a flying fuck aboutCharlie, but Oliverneededthis deal. Stepping closer to him, I lifted my hand to his arm.
‘It’s okay-‘
‘It’s more than okay.’ Then in a tone so low it rumbled out of him like a car engine, he said, ‘Apologise. Now.’
Charlie’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly. Without looking at Oliver, he cast a fleeting glance at me.
‘I’m sorry.’
Not looking at either of us, Charlie hightailed it out of the room.
