‘You mean you won’t let me fuck her?’ I sit straight, turning in my chair to face him. ‘Is that what this is about, Haydn? You’re pissed off that I got to her first?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ But I caught the guilty flare in his gaze. I know men like him—know them from a time when I was too little to do anything about it to help.
‘Oh, I think you do, but what I don’t understand is why you’d think wearing her down with your insults and your daily put-downs would make her see you for anything other than you are?’
‘And I suppose you’re going to tell me what that is?’
‘Why? You know what you are. And I see it too. You’re just a spineless prick, a waste of skin, bone, and tissue. But bullies usually are.’
‘You know nothing about me, and you know nothing about how I feel about Heather—she’s a colleague, a subordinate—’
‘And I suppose that makes you her superior? You fucking dick.’ The insult leaves my mouth in a gust of loathing. He may not have laid his hands on her, slapped or punched her, but his tactics are the same. ‘Your behaviour is tantamount to abuse, and it’s not going to continue.’
‘Is that what she’s told you? She’s saying I abuse her?’ His whole being puffs up with indignation, like a cockerel ruffling its feathers.
I don’t know about cockerel, but the man is a cock.
‘She’s had a lot to say, but mainly, she’s confused. She doesn’t know why you treat her the way you do. But I do.’ I lean in closer now, just so he gets the point. ‘It stops now. The subtle put-downs, the sly remarks. The degrading comments you throw out in meetings. I’ve marked your card. This is your first and final warning.’
‘So that’s your game, is it? The knight riding in on a gleaming charger to slam her down against the mattress?’
‘She doesn’t need someone to save her. And as cruel as the truth is, if she wasn’t fucking me, it would never be you.’ You stunted prick.
‘I’m not—’
‘There you are, babe.’ I catch a glimpse of Heather behind us, her expression as wary as her next two steps. ‘I was just discussing with Haydn here how things are going to be from now on.’ I loop my hands around her wrist and bring her closer until her hand wraps around my shoulder, the motion seeming like the most natural thing in the world.
‘Oh?’ Her thigh presses along the length of my arm, and she draws closer.
‘I told him what we were talking about earlier. About how if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, I’d drag him to the street and punch seven colours of shit out of him.’
‘Archer—’
‘Don’t worry, I also told him how you said you didn’t need me to stand up for you. That you’d reached the limit of your patience and had decided to report him to HR for any future harassment.’
‘Oh, that.’ She nods as though this is something we’ve spoken of as I bring my arm behind her, my fingers clasped to her hip. ‘So why is he still sitting here?’ At my shrug, her head tilts until she’s staring at him. ‘Go on then, off you fuck.’
* * *
‘Do you think HR will take me seriously?’ Heather slumps into the chair vacated, at speed, by her horrible boss.
‘They’ll have to.’ I watch him stride past the table he was sitting at earlier, grabbing his jacket before storming from the room. When I glance back at Heather, concern creases her expression.
‘But he’s my boss. He’s going to be harder to replace than me.’
‘Who said anything about replacements? It might not even come to you complaining yet. Maybe he’ll just stop being a knob.’ Bullies usually take the course of least resistance when challenged. ‘Why are you looking at me like that? I’m sure being a knob is in his DNA, but knobbishness is a choice. And he hasn’t always been subtle, you know. There are people in the office who would speak up if they needed to.’
‘Speak against Haydn?’
‘Speak up for you.’ I cover her hand with mine, glancing down at where she holds it in her lap, balled in a fist. ‘Do you have something to show me?’ My head rises, my eyes searching hers.
‘Not in here,’ she retorts, all wide-eyed shock.
‘You’re going to show me them somewhere else, babe?’ Show me all the pretty things. The flush on her chest, the parts of her that are lush and ripe.
‘The bargain didn’t mention anything about me giving them to you,’ she demurs.
‘But what are you going to do with them if not give them to me?’ I press my hand to her lap, palm facing upwards.
