Best of 2017

I grow nervous, though, when we enter the boardroom. Eight men are seated around the table. The eight men I hate most at this company. But then my eyes lock with Jeff’s—or Bull as Gray calls him—and he gives me a reassuring smile that has all the air in my chest rushing out in relief. He’s one of the few I don’t hate. Gray pulls out a chair at the head of the table—his chair—and motions for me to sit. All eyes are on me as I take my seat. I flit my gaze up to him and give him a questioning look.

Instead of answering me, his voice thunders as he addresses the group.

“You all were called here today because we have something very important to discuss. But first, I want to ask you all what Violet Simmons does for Maxwell.” His voice is low and deadly.

Jeff winks at me before turning to regard Ralph Darden at his left. “What do you think, Ralph?”

Ralph huffs and shrugs. “She’s a secretary. Grayson’s secretary.”

Gray crosses his arms over his chest and walks over to Ralph. “Wrong.”

At this, I scrunch up my nose in confusion but I don’t dare interrupt. Whatever it is that’s going on, I know Gray has my back. He wouldn’t treat me the way he’s treated me all weekend and today to suddenly throw me under the bus.

“She does special favors for the CEO,” Truman quips, disgust in his tone.

Gray’s fist slams so hard down on the table beside Ralph, it’s surprising that he doesn’t break his bones or the table. Everyone gapes at him in shock. Then, he places both palms on the mahogany and leans forward to glare at Truman from across the table. “That,” he clips out in the coldest tone I’ve ever heard, “is sexual harassment.”

Truman’s eyes widen in surprise and Ralph starts to protest.

“No!” Gray thunders. “You all will listen really well. Jeff and I became aware that many of you are sexually harassing our employees. Specifically, Violet Simmons. And in case you didn’t know, sexual harassment will not be tolerated at my company.”

Clint peeks his head in the doorway and clears his throat. He looks scared as hell. “That’s right,” he says in a wobbly voice. “According to our HR policy, many of you have violated the rules.”

“This is ridiculous,” Ralph hisses. “Just wait until the board hears—”

Jeff slides a piece of paper over to Ralph. “Actually, the board already knows. The motion has been approved to remove you via telephone conference earlier today. As of now, you are no longer an active board member.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Brent Adams, the VP utters.

Gray rises to his full height and pins the VP down with a vicious glare that has him hunching in his chair. “I don’t joke about sexual harassment.”

Brent has the sense to shut his mouth. His face turns bright red. I have to bite back a smile. That asshole has been one of the biggest thorns in my side here.

“Ralph, you may leave,” Gray says dismissively. “As far as the rest of you, you’re fired.”

A roar of arguing voices all start up at once, but Gray once again silences them with a fist slamming down on the boardroom table.

“This is not up for negotiation. Clint and Mr. Barker will handle it from here. I want you gone within the hour,” Gray hisses, his fiery glare meeting each and every one of them.

Truman, the arrogant prick, just can’t leave well enough alone because he stands abruptly and points an accusing finger at me. “Sexual harassment isn’t okay but it’s okay for this bitch to suck you off in your office. Double standards, man.”

Gray starts around the side of the table, a loud growl rumbling from him, but Jeff stands and blocks him.

“Enough, Truman,” Jeff bellows. “Talking shit after you get fired isn’t changing the fact that you no longer work for this company.”

Gray shoves past Jeff and pulls my chair out before offering me his hand. Once I’m standing, he addresses Clint this time.

“Violet is now our VP. That is what she does for this company. I’ll send you an email with the details, but understand this,” he tells the wide-eyed HR guy. “She is your boss. You report to her. And if any more of this sexual harassment bullshit slips through again, it’ll be your job next.”

He gapes at Gray but nods like a bobble head. “Yes, sir.”

I’m still in shock, even after we make our way back to his office and he closes the door. “What just happened?”

He stalks back and forth in front of his desk like a caged lion. “I did what I should have a long time ago.”

I swallow and stand in his path. His solid chest bumps against mine. A hot glare is affixed on his handsome face. When I reach up and run my fingertips along his jawline, his gaze softens. “I don’t know what to say,” I murmur, my lips tugging into a frown.

“There’s nothing to say,” he says gruffly. His palm finds my shoulder and he grips me gently. “They shouldn’t have lasted as long as they did.”

“But me? I don’t know, Gray…” I trail off. Why promote me right before I leave anyway?

“You’re more qualified for that position than anyone in this damn office,” he argues, his jaw ticking.

“Won’t they think…that…I don’t know…”

“That we’re fucking?”

I gape at him. “We’re not, though.”

His eyebrow quirks and he flashes me a smoldering grin. “Not yet.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

GRAYSON

I’VE BEEN COUNTING down the minutes till five ever since I fired a bunch of losers and promoted my girl. And like the hard worker she is, she’s taken her new responsibility seriously. She’s been tapping away at her computer for hours now. I’ve been trying to focus on work-related shit, but my mind keeps drifting back to lunch.

It had been perfect. I got to taste her—willingly on her part—before lunch and then had my finger back inside her before lunch was even over. I’d been looking forward to the moment I’d have her alone until she broke apart on the street.

That motherfucker prostituted her out.

I will put my crosshairs on his goddamned forehead

and blow his head off.

“Is murder on the agenda today?” Bull questions in a teasing manner from my doorway.

I shrug. “Maybe.”

His eyes widen and he closes the door behind him. “I was kidding, but apparently you’re not. Who are we killing?”

I can’t help but grin at my best friend. Always willing to go into battle with me no matter what. “Vaughn Brecks.”

He stiffens and gives me a clipped nod. “Thought so.” He drops a file down on my desk. Dusty’s familiar handwriting is scrawled on the outside. Three possible addresses. I flip open the file and stare at the pictures inside.

“He took these photos?” I demand, a menacing growl in my throat.

He shakes his head. “No, but he’s doing more digging. The first address is the one he thinks he’s at. A guy fitting his description comes and goes from there.”

“Anything else?”

“Not as far as that fucker is concerned. Mostly, I wanted to check to see how you were doing. In that meeting,” he says thoughtfully as he scrubs his cheek with his palm, “you weren’t yourself.”

I frown and cross my arms over my chest. “How so?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. You were focused. Not just on her but everything around you.”

Ever since Violet caught my eye, I seem to notice a lot of things. Mostly the things that directly affect her but she seems to touch everything around her, which means I notice those things as well.

“Violet makes me better,” I tell him, confidence in my tone.

He smirks. “I can see that. I can see she’s warmed up to you.”

“She’s mine,” I tell him absently as if that is the reason why she is no longer frigid around me.

“Does she know that?” he probes, amusement in his voice.

“I told her a time or two.”

He snorts and rubs at the back of his neck. “Of course you did. Does she know you’re a fucking stalker?”