“Why?”I realized how stupid that sounded.There was no way she would have told Rachel why she requested to see me.But Rachel didn’t take offense.She shrugged, her expression indifferent.
“Thank you.”I didn’t bother dropping my bag and my coat.
I headed straight for her office with a pounding heart.
I knocked softly on her door.
“Come in.”Her detached voice sent shivers down my spine.
Clara Lang’s jet-black hair came into view as she scribbled something on the paper before her.It was swept in a tight ponytail.She looked up as soon as she heard me come in.Her Asian features were pressed into her signature frigid look.Her dark eyes gave nothing away, making it hard to discern what was going on in her head.
It spiked my anxiety even harder.
“You are here.”
“You asked to see me.”I swallowed, approaching the seat before her.
“We won’t be needing your services any longer.”My butt froze against the surface of the seat the moment I sat down.
“I don’t understand...”
Clara exhaled.“You’re fired, Isobel.”
“What?You can’t do that!”The tremble in my raised voice was unmistakable.
Surprise crossed her features, mixed with anger.It elicited a sigh from me, then I took a deep breath.
“What I meant was that you can’t fire me without cause.You can’t do that.Please, I-I really need the job.”My eyes instantly filled with tears.
This was such a bad time to get fired.This couldn’t be happening right now.I had so much to lose, too much to lose, and this was the only job keeping me together.Heck, it was barely enough to sort out my pressing bills.
“The company is not firing you without cause.You have consistently shown up late to work, spaced out during tasks, and mismanaged your responsibilities.Your effectiveness as the boss’s secretary has dwindled.He doesn’t want you working for him anymore, so I have to let you go.”
My lips trembled as I breathed in harshly.“Is he making you do this?”
Clara blinked, confused.“I’m sorry, what?”
“Is he making you do it?Mr.Cullen.”I emphasized my words with so much spite.
Ned Cullen, my boss, was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.I had put up with his wanton sexual advances ever since I started working for him.He wanted me to sleep with him.He promised me all sorts of luxury as long as I spread my legs for him.The bastard was married, and no matter how many times I turned him down, he wouldn’t listen.
I didn’t think he’d pull such a petty stunt after the other day at the club, when he got drunk and I went to fetch him.He tried to grope me.I was defenseless, and the only way to save myself was to kick him in the balls.I was convinced he might want to fire me, but he apologized to me the next day.
I thought we were past that.
Well, I was.
He wasn’t.
“Are you accusing me of something?”Clara arched her brow, her voice low and threatening.
“He’s taking away my job because I won’t sleep with him!”I yelled, rising to my feet.
“Whatever tension exists between you two is none of my business.I’m only doing what I’m told,” she said sternly.
I looked at her with so much disbelief.“Do you hear yourself?”
“I won’t have you insult me in my office,” she gritted.“If you wanted to keep your job so badly, maybe you should have spread your fucking legs and let him fuck you in all the ways he wanted, instead of claiming Miss Goody Two-shoes.But you didn’t.So I suggest you get up and get the hell out of my office.”
