He slowly smiles. "Standing up for the help again? You dating Ana now? You ditched Shelby?"
"You're disgusting." I turn to Ana. "Ignore him. And don't do what he tells you. He's not your boss."
"I sure as hell am," he says. "If she works for my dad, she works for me."
"That's not how it works. Your dad's paying her. You're not."
Ana moves back to the stockpot, stirring the bone broth. "I'll have it ready in a few minutes."
"I want it now!" Braden barks, his eyes locked on mine.
"Don't listen to him," I say to Ana. "He's not your boss."
Braden goes around me and stands behind Ana as she ladles the broth into a bowl.
"Good girl," Braden says in her ear as he grabs her ass.
Her body stiffens and she sucks in a breath.
"Stop it!" I shove his hand off her.
Braden whips toward me. "Don't fucking tell me what to do."
"I'll put it on the table," Ana says in shaky voice.
"I'll take it to my room," Braden says, glaring at me. He takes the bowl, grabs a spoon from the drawer, and leaves.
Ana hurries back to the skillet and flips my sandwich.
"Why do you let him do that?" I say, standing next to her.
"It'll be ready in a few minutes," she says. "You can go sit down."
"Ana, answer me. Why do you let Braden treat you like that?"
"He's my boss," she whispers. "Just let it go."
"Brock is your boss. Not his son."
"It's just easier this way." She goes to the cabinet and takes out a plate and a glass. "What would you like to drink?"
I take the glass from her. "Has Braden ever...done anything to you? Physically?"
"No, but he—" She stops and shakes her head as she returns to the skillet.
I race up to her. "What did he do? Tell me."
Chapter Five
Ana puts the sandwich on a plate and hands it to me. "Would you like anything else?"
"Ana, tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone."
She hesitates, then says in a low voice, "He makes up stories."
"About you?"
She nods. "When he's angry with me. He tells his father things that aren't true."
