A staff member comes over, putting gentle but firm hands on Kenny’s arms to stop him from hitting me again.
“You don’t have to restrain him,” I say. “I think I triggered bad memories somehow. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” the man says over Kenny’s ranting. “It happens. I’m just surprised, because he doesn’t usually get violent. Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m fine.” I stand, while Kenny continues to froth and call me names.
“I think it’s best if you leave,” the guy says with an apologetic smile.
“Yes, I think so.”
As I walk away, I can’t tear my eyes from Kenny’s fury. His mind isn’t wholly there, but he truly believes that I’m the reason Aspen’s life’s ruined. Not only that, he blames me for her not finishing college. But that doesn’t make sense. She was desperate to get her diploma and studied harder than anybody I knew at Napa Aquinas to keep her scholarship.
I walk back out into the parking lot with more questions than answers. It’s hard to tell how much of what Kenny said I should take at face value. And does he get violent with Kat? Is that why they put him in the center?
Just what the hell happened to Aspen and her family?
Chapter Forty-Four
Aspen
The nice thing about the whole team being in chaos over a scandal is that Grant’s been too busy to see me for our morning briefings. I did all my work through email and the company messenger. However, now that things have settled down, we’re going back to the standard routine.
But at least it’s Friday, and I’ll have the weekend to get some space and process. I still don’t know what to make of the fact that I had sex with him. Or the fact that my reaction when I think of him no longer includes just annoyance or distaste. It wastotallyuncharacteristic of me to succumb to him…or still be reliving those endless orgasms. It’s like he’s even better now than he was before, which is probably due to more experience.
But I know that isn’t all. His being my first did something weird to my psyche that makes me feel this crazy attraction all the more keenly. It’s just different with him versus other men. Different andbetter.
I take an extra-deep breath as I glance at Grant’s agenda again.It’s just a job.He’s paying me to do the briefing, so I should do it.Think of Grandpa.
I can do anything for him, including sucking up and pretending the sex with Grant never happened.
And itwon’thappen again.
I gather my notes and walk into Grant’s office. He studies me, his gaze unreadable. He doesn’t look like a man who wants to devour me, although my idiot hormones start to heat up under his penetrating scrutiny.
At least I’m wearing underwear! I made sure of that since the green dress incident, although Josephine hasn’t sent a single pair of slacks. Intellectually I understand that one extra layer of flimsy fabric isn’t much, but it feels like a shield nonetheless.
Keeping my voice level to hide how he’s affecting me, I start to go over his agenda for the day. When I’m done, I look at him with the neutral smile I’ve perfected over the years to give bar customers who are a little too friendly.
“Any instructions?” I ask.
“Why didn’t you finish college?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Why is he asking that, especially now?Will he try to fire me, claiming I’m unqualified for the assistant position? No—if that’s what he wanted, he would’ve asked earlier. And if he tries now, I’ll sue for wrongful termination. I was crystal clear on being a college dropout when Emmett tried to hire me, and he said it wasn’t a problem.
“Which version do you want?” I ask.
Confusion crosses his face, which is annoying. What’s so puzzling to him? He knows why I had to leave the campus. Even if it hadn’t been for Grandma’s death, it would’ve been excruciating to continue at the college. It’s a small school, and the constant stream of whispered mockery would’ve worn me down.
“The honest version,” he says finally.
Now I understand what this is about. He wants to hear me describe my humiliation in detail for his amusement.Asshole. Too bad; I have no intention of humoring him. “The tuition was unaffordable.”
“You had scholarships.” His eyes narrow with displeasure, which gives me immense satisfaction.
