Bred By the CEO

“And you think going to his office is going to help you right now?” she asked. “Damn it, Darius, stop and think right now. If you go over there, you’re going to cause a scene, which is exactly what he wants. Let him paint that story, but how about this … how about … I let the world know what happened to me? What our precious father thinks of the world today.”

Darius came to a red light and stared at it. “I can’t let this slide.”

“Then call him, talk to him over the phone, but if you go over there, that is what he is waiting for. Trust me. We both know our father, and if you gave yourself two minutes to just breathe and think about what’s going on, you’ll know and see that this is a ploy. You’re playing right into his hands.”

The light turned green.

Cars behind them started to press on their horns.

Darius hated that his sister was right. He gripped the steering wheel and turned the car, going back the way that he came.

“Darius? Are you there?”

“I’m here.”

“And where are you headed?”

“Back to the office.”

“Look, I know this is hard, but let him run whatever story he wants to. We know the facts and we have the truth that is on our side. Right now, you need to prepare Rose for what he’s going to do, and to warn her what he’s like.”

Darius pulled back into his parking space, running a hand down his face after he turned off the ignition.

“Can I tell you that I don’t like you right now?” Darius said.

“I’m your sister. When will you ever truly like me?” She chuckled. “Please tell me you’re back at your office, safe and sound.”

“I’m sitting in the parking lot.”

“Good. We’ll talk tonight over tacos. I’ve got to go.”

His sister hung up, but Darius wasn’t happy, not in the least. In fact, he was pissed off that he wasn’t in his father’s face. The piece of shit that he was.

After climbing out of the car, he made his way to the elevator and pressed for his office floor. He pulled out his cell phone and saw Rose hadn’t gotten his text.

Going to his contacts, he saw the number that would patch him straight through to his father’s office. After talking to his sister, everything she said made a whole load of sense. His father had done that on purpose to get a reaction from his son. Arnold Blackwood knew what media outlets he was associated with. It was too easy to get that story leaked to him, and it would play right into his hands.

If it wasn’t for his sister, he would’ve fucked up big time.

The elevator doors pinged open, and he stepped out, seeing Rose in his office. She was standing by his desk, her back facing him.

Just seeing her made him feel so much better. He needed her in his arms, and he was going to have to tell her the full truth about his father if she hadn’t already put the pieces together.

Once he was inside the office, he saw her arms were folded.

He went toward her and wrapped his arms around her, about to press a kiss on her neck, to breathe in her scent that always had the power to calm him. She pulled away. Rose shrugged out of his touch and then turned toward him.

Rose always had a smile for him.

Not this time. She was angry.

He was a little taken aback.

“You don’t think I can do this job?” she asked.

“What?”

Her accusation came out of nowhere and was so unexpected.

“You don’t have to admit it. I’ve already talked to Ross. Why did you give me this job if you don’t think I can handle it? Was it pity? Was it to get your own way?”

Between the call about his father’s made-up story, his sister, and now this, he wasn’t exactly sure what the hell was going on.

“Look, Rose, you lost me.”

“I just talked to Ross. I can’t believe you’ve been asking him to do some of the work that is mine. What is this? I can do this job for you, Darius.”

“I know you can.”

“Then why did you tell Ross that you don’t think I can hack it? How you’ve asked him to return to work?”

He rubbed at his temple. “Okay, this is all getting out of context. I think you’re more than capable of doing this job, but I don’t think … this can be a toxic world, Rose, and trust me, I was only trying to protect you. Ross knows firsthand how to deal with the shit that took place at the benefit, and what is happening in the damn newspapers. You’re too fucking kind.”

“I can handle it.”

“By going and hiding in a bathroom!” he asked.

She glared at him. “I wasn’t hiding in the bathroom because I couldn’t handle it. I was in the bathroom to have a moment to think. To understand what is happening. Damn it, Darius, I love you, I do, and I want to marry you, but you are … you are completely taking over every single part of my life.”