“Barrett,” he corrects me with a grin. “Get to work.”
Chapter 12
Barrett
I stand in my office and watch my assistant give one hell of a hug to a man who just lost his job because of me.
Fred Molfor, the former head of research for one of Garent’s subsidiaries, is taking full advantage of Isabella’s compassion.
Every person who has left my office without a job today has landed in my assistant’s arms. Most take the hug offered for what it is and break free after a respectable ten to fifteen seconds of full-body contact.
Fred’s hug is heading into minute two, and he’s not letting go.
I clear my throat to break them up, but they ignore me. I step just outside my office doorway so I’m within five feet of the hug-fest.
This time I resort to a muffled cough, but the embrace continues with Fred’s hand inching its way down Isabella’s back. It’s on a direct path to her ass.
“Isabella,” I snap her name off my tongue.
That sends her a step back, breaking Fred’s death grip on her.
“What?” Fred looks at me. “What now?”
All respect and pretense disappear when you steal a person’s career out from under them. Fred was a gentleman when he shook my hand twenty minutes ago. He had no idea that I called him into my office to kick him out of the company.
“I was talking to my assistant,” I point out. “You need to go, Fred.”
“Bella and I were in the middle of a private conversation.” He shoves a hand into the front pocket of his cheap suit pants.
My gaze drops to follow the movement. I catch an unfortunate glimpse of the obvious bulge under the dark brown fabric.
He’s sporting a hard-on even though he just lost his job. Potential hardship isn’t raining on his dick’s parade.
His attention shifts back to Isabella. “I could really use a friend right now. Can you meet me for a drink tonight? Around eight, maybe?”
Isabella’s gaze volleys between Fred’s face and mine. “I have plans.”
Fred shakes his head. That shifts the gray hair that’s covering a bald spot. He flips it back in place with his left hand.
I’ve had enough of this ridiculous exchange. Fred is clearly none and done in Isabella’s eyes. He’s a few decades older than her and he’s unemployed. I interrupt whatever the hell this is because I have work to do and I need my assistant’s undivided attention. “Isabella, get Curtis Mayview on the phone.”
“What about right after work?” Fred ignores the hell out of me and hones in on Isabella with a hand on her wrist. “You must have some time to fit me in.”
She tugs her arm free. “I’m having drinks. I have a date tonight…with… with two men.”
That mess of words tumbles out of her in a breathy stutter.
“With two men?” Fred repeats that back slowly. “You’re into threesomes? I have a friend who I know would be willing.”
What the fuck is going on?
Enough is enough, so I place a hand on Fred’s shoulder. “Collect your things from your office and leave the building.”
He glares at me. “I’m not ready to go yet. I haven’t finished my conversation with Bella.”
The man is delusional if he thinks he stands a chance with my assistant.
“I need to get to work.” Isabella steps toward her desk. “Good luck with everything, Fred.”