That may have been a convenient save but Mila nodded. “Not in this environment.”
“What did you do before?” He seemed eager to focus on her. So, maybe he did know more than she’d prefer.
Mila hesitated but it probably didn’t matter if she told him. “Fashion. I was in an administrative role though.”
“Well, I’ll try to help you transition as best I can.” Parker smiled reassuringly but Mila still had a bad feeling about what was coming her way.
Parker was helpful but Maddox was determined to use this to his advantage. He snapped orders without a please or thank you and something was usually wrong. She knew he was just doing it out of spite. But after a month, it started to chafe. Couldn’t he just get over it? So, she’d thwarted his plans to use her to get to Danny. Couldn’t he find some other way to achieve the same end?
When she came to his office door one afternoon to offer beverages while he met with a few of the company elite, she overheard part of their conversation as she went to knock.
“So, what about that new assistant?” one of the men said.
“What about her?” Maddox asked.
“Well, is she an assistant or is she an assistant?” the other man asked suggestively.
Mila tensed as she waited for the reply.
“That depends when you’re asking,” Maddox said, and a tittering of laughter floated from the room.
Mila wrapped her fingers around the door handle like a talon. How dare Maddox let them think–
“Mila?” Parker whispered.
Mila spun around and alarm crossed his face. “Are you all right?” Parker said. “You look pale.”
Mila tried to smile. “I’m fine.”
Parker didn’t seem to buy it. “Why don’t you go have something to eat and I’ll take care of them.”
“How?” It flew out of her mouth before she thought of what she was asking or it realized it made no sense.
Parker glanced sideways. “I’ll just ask if they want anything.”
“Oh…” Mila fanned herself. “Right.” She walked around him to the break room and sat down. A little while later, Parker sent her home early despite her protests.
She felt perfectly normal the next morning. She would just ignore Maddox’s comment to his colleagues and get this whole thing over with as soon as possible.
But when she stopped at a pharmacy on her way to work the next morning, she happened to spy something that gave her a completely evil thought.
She really shouldn’t, and she walked away. But then she wandered back. It would be awful.
Awful but immensely satisfying.
After walking away a second time, she finally grabbed the box and left.
When they delivered lunch to Maddox as he huddled in his office with some other higher-ups in the company again, Mila slipped away and put the laxative in his drink.
A short time later, the executives were shooed out and the office door locked.
Eventually, she stood with Parker in the office while Maddox laid down on one of the sofas. He’d stripped off his jacket and tie and looked a little pale. Mila fought to keep a straight face though she almost felt guilty about it.
With his eyes closed, Maddox barked orders at Parker. “We’re shutting down that restaurant.”
Mila’s happiness faded and she stared at him. Was he serious?
But as he gave terse orders, it was obvious he was.