Shadow hands me the phone records and I pour over the numbers listed. Every Sunday night, when she was at her condo, she was on the phone withHarry Dick-man.
“They’ve been plotting together? All of this was a setup? For what?” My tongue trips over all these questions as they pour out of my head, unfiltered, unbidden, and without a plausible answer. This isn’t happening. “He showed up at the restaurant one night when Sophia and I went out. We got into a fight. She never acted like she knew him.”
“She wouldn’t, Mr. Powers, if she’s in on this. It all looks very suspicious. There may be a plausible reason, though I can’t think of one right now. Until we know exactly what the end game is, you need to continue on as usual. Don’t tip her off and reveal our hand. If they think we’re still in the dark about them, it gives us a tactical advantage to trip them up.”
“Exactly how in thefucking hellam I supposed to pretend I don’t know any of this? How am I supposed to pretend I believe in something I know isn’t true? The woman I fell in love with, and whosupposedlyloves me, has been conspiring withHarry Dick-managainst me!” I roar.
“Dominic,” Tucker interjects, “trust us. We are doing everything we can to make this move as quickly as possible.” Tucker’s use of my first name is intentional. It reiterates the brotherly bond of trust we’ve developed over the last several years.
I quickly stand, sending my office chair rolling backward and crashing into the credenza. I don’t even care. I just want to break every fucking thing in my office right now. Pacing back and forth like a caged animal, it occurs to me that phrase accurately describes my circumstances. I feel caged and backed into a corner, unable to do anything else but pretend that Sophia hasn’t been conspiring with the enemy. And I feel like a fucking animal, ready to pounce on Harrison’s head and rip him limb from limb.
My Angelhas been sleeping with the fucking enemy.
My office door swiftly swings open, without warning and without Dana’s normal knock. A man wearing a suit and tie comes strolling in like he owns the place, followed by my corporate lawyer, and lastly, followed by Dana who is trying to corral them all out of my office.
“Do you know how to knock?” I bellow at the man who dares to enter this lion’s den.
“Mr. Powers, I presume?” he replies arrogantly.
“You barged into my office. You tell me,” I challenge.
“Consider yourself served, sir,” he says with a smug smile as he hands me an envelope and turns to walk out.
Looking at my lawyer, Cheryl Kealey, I hold the envelope out and yell, “What the hell isthis, Cheryl?”
Can this day get any fucking worse?
“You’re being sued for sexual harassment, Dominic. You and your company are both named,” Cheryl says solemnly.
“Sexual harassment?” I ask, bewildered. “Who?”
“Sophia Vasco,” Cheryl replies. “We need to talk, Dominic. Alone.” Cheryl looks at Shadow and Tucker but neither of them budges.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of them. They are my security professionals and privy toallof my information.” Especially since this is no doubt why Sophia is linked to Harrison.
Cheryl continues, “This is very serious, Dominic. Those papers name all the employees who have seen and heard inappropriate comments and behavior from you toward Miss Vasco.”
Cheryl moves across my office, opening up my line of vision to the hallway outside my office. Sophia is standing in the hallway just outside my door and has apparently witnessed the entire scene.
I don’t even see the woman I shared my bed with this morning.
The woman who saved my life is nowhere to be found.
The only person I’ve allowed to call me by the name that was reserved for my soul mate has disappeared.
Before me now is the black widow who has poisoned me with her venom. She is the witch who put a spell on me and the blinders have finally been removed. She has become the snake who hid in the grass and bit me when I was least suspecting. Sophia’s name is now linked to something dark and evil, something wicked that must be eradicated and vanquished.
My stride has purpose and my feet swiftly carry me across my office. When Tucker sees Sophia standing almost in the threshold of my doorway, and my determined gait toward her, he calls out my name in an urgent warning. He needn’t waste his breath, though. When I reach the door, Sophia stares at me, speechless, her eyes wide and her lips parted.
Staring back at her and not giving away my intentions, I flick my wrist and slam the door in her face. When I turn back to face the others in my office, Tucker’s shoulders visibly slump as he releases the breath he was holding as he waited to see what I would do. Moving to the bar at the other end of my office, I quickly pour four shots and pass them around.
“Now, Cheryl,” I speak after downing my shot of whiskey, letting the burn in my chest make my blood pump since my heart has been ripped out, “bring me up to speed.”
“Miss Vasco has alleged that you forced her into a sexual relationship with her in order for her to keep her job. She claims that you have placed inappropriate demands on her, of a sexual nature, both in and outside the office.
“She claims that you required her to become your submissive in every way. She is not allowed to wear undergarments, she must wear high heels, she must dress in the way you desire, and she must live in the executive condo where you will have access to her at any time.
“The suit alleges that you have inappropriately touched her on the job, at the condo, and at your house. It also alleges that you coerced her into having sex in your office,” Cheryl reads off the list of allegations against me.
