Page 102 of Hard to Hold

“No. I want to know.”

“I’m sorry, Rush, but if she wanted you to know she would have told you.” She laughs and tightens her ponytail. “And now I see why she didn’t. Shit.” She takes a few steps away from me, and when she turns around, her expression suggests she’s just figured something out. Either Dekker Kincade is really good at playing the game to get me to ask her what she means, or she’s being completely sincere right now.

“Would you care to enlighten me?” Sarcasm rings in my tone.

“If Lennox told you, it would look like a dirty tactic to win you over to KSM. A dirty tactic, which was exactly what Finn was accusing her of doing in front of numerous colleagues.”

Holy. Shit.

Everything clicks. All of Lennox’s comments. “He’s the one who accused her of using sex to secure clients?” I ask, already knowing the answer, already able to see the scenario in my head.

A group of men, drinking, shooting the shit, and Finn leading them by the nose to believe exactly what he wanted them to believe. And of course, there’s nothing Lennox can do to disprove them since their minds have already been made up.

Hell, I’ve been in similar situations like that before where guys are talking, everyone is nodding, and the next time you see the woman, your opinion is skewed. It’s human fucking nature.

And Finn is a fucking wanker.

I roll my shoulders as the anger hits, and know Lennox was right not to tell me. She was right, because my knee jerk reaction would be to call the arsehole up, fire him on the spot, and then move to KSM.

Problem with that?

It would only serve to strengthen his slander.

She slept with me. Others have seen us kissing, thanks to my own necessity to do so, and of course, conclusions have been drawn about our status.

“Fucking hell,” I mutter.

“See the problem?” She lifts her eyebrows.

Fuck. Yes.

“You might get away with doing whatever you want, whenever you want even if it’s trouble, but you still get paid. You still have a public pushing for you because of your incredible talent. Lenn, on the other hand? She’ll look like a tart who fucks her way to the top.”

She’ll be considered a trollop, when she is anything but.

Fuck.

* * *

Me: Any news with Liverpool?

Finn: I think I’ll have two offers for you on the table by the end of next week.

Me: There’s only one I want. Make sure that happens. This is the part where the client is always right, so you go after the contract he wants, not the one you want.

Finn: Relax.

Me: This is conditional on you still being my agent. Shitty circumstances or not, make it happen.

I hit send on the text and beg for him to make a comment about Lennox. Something. Anything. All I need is a stepping-off point for me to virtually plow my fist in his face.

Finn: Understood.

I stare at his response for the longest time, wondering how I’ll be able to face Lennox and not tell her I know.

But hell, I promised Dekker I wouldn’t say a word.

And my word I’ll keep.