My legs are weak, but I force them to take my weight as I get up. Still in a horrified trance, my body is on automatic pilot as I walk to the door.
“Kiara.”
My body convulses, but I stop and numbly turn around to look at the man who’s become the monster in this nightmare I’ve been thrown into.
“Smile,” he demands.
My lips curve up while my heart feels shriveled in my chest.
While darkness closes in around me.
While my dreams of making a success of my career vanish.
While the nightmare becomes a living, breathing force sucking the very air from my lungs.
“That’s better,” he praises me, a pleased smile forming around his mouth.
Stepping out of the office, I shut the door behind me, then stare at the gleaming tiles beneath my feet.
I’m going to be sick.
Covering my mouth with a hand, I rush to the executive restroom, not caring what anyone will think about me using it.
I make it just in time, and rushing into a stall, I drop to my knees and empty my raw stomach of the bile.
I hear the restroom door open, then Devon calls out, “Kiara, are you okay?” The sounds of my vomiting must reach him because he curses, “Shit.”
I can hear Devon coming in, and once I’ve emptied my stomach, I grab some toilet paper to wipe my mouth and flush the toilet before glancing in Devon’s direction.
He crouches next to me, a look of concern tightening his features. “What happened?”
“I must’ve had something bad for lunch.” The lie comes too easily, making me feel worse.
Devon takes hold of my arm and helps me to my feet. I walk to the basin and rinse my mouth before washing my hands. When I’m done, I give Devon a pleading look. “Do you think I can go home? I really don’t feel well.”
I need to check on Mom.
“Girl, I heard you puking your guts out. I’ll let HR know. Get some medicine on the way home. Okay?”
My chin wobbles as a wave of emotion hits. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell Devon what happened in Finn’s office, but the image of my sleeping mother flashes through my mind.
“Thank you,” I reply, my voice hoarse from the chaos I’ve been dumped into. Needing to flee this hell, I rush out of the restroom.
I give Denise the same excuse I gave Devon, and grabbing my bag, I leave Byrne Enterprises in a traumatized trance.
The instant I’m a safe distance away from the building, I pull out my phone and dial Mom’s number.
“Hi, sweetheart. Won’t you get in trouble calling during work hours?”
Just hearing her voice acts as a soothing balm to the trauma I just suffered.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I ate something bad for lunch. They’re letting me go home early. Is everything okay there by you?”
“Oh, dear. Make sure you drink a lot of fluids, so you don’t dehydrate,” Mom tells me.
“I will. Is everything okay by you?” I ask again.
“Everything’s fine. Oh, on Saturday, the window in the living room wouldn’t close. You won’t believe what happened!”
My heart all but stops in my chest.
“Mr. Rodgers came to fix it for me. Can you believe that? I thought hell was freezing over.”
“Nothing else happened?” I ask, my voice hoarse.
“Besides the total three-sixty in Mr. Rodgers’ attitude, nothing else happened. Kiara, the man even smiled at me. It was weird… but pleasant. Kind of.”
Usually, I’d joke with Mom. I’d tell her Mr. Rodgers has a crush on her.
But not today.
Relief soaks into the cracks all the worry and fear have ripped through me. Closing my eyes, I suck in a deep breath of air.
“I’m just glad you’re okay. Always make sure you lock your windows and door.”
“You don’t sound well, sweetie. Are you almost home?” Mom asks, concern tightening her voice.
“Yeah, I’m just going to sleep. Don’t worry about me.”
“Let me know if you get any worse.”
“I will.” My tongue darts out to wet my lips, tears threatening to push up my throat. “I love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
Ending the call, I tuck the phone back in my bag, then continue to walk toward the bus stop.
Should I have told her?
Should I go to the police?
I don’t have any proof. It’s my word against his.
God, I can’t believe this is happening to me.
Chapter 7
Liam
What a fucking day.
Walking down the hallway, it’s to see Devon taking a seat by his desk and the elevator doors closing behind the new receptionist, Kiara.
Instantly my thoughts turn to when she walked into me and then bounced back into the closing doors. I just reacted and pulled her way.
Only when I was alone in the elevator did I realize touching her didn’t fill me with disgust. Weird, but I’m contributing it to a natural reaction. I just didn’t want her to get hurt. There’s nothing else to it.