Office Pet

He stood tall in front of his desk and crossed his muscular arms in front of his chest. “You know enough. I’ll have Max take you back to your apartment.” His lips twisted. I dropped my head, ashamed of pushing his limits. “I believe you have a flight to catch to the Caymans.”

“What?” I asked as my head shot up and I looked him in the eyes. “Caymans? Why would I go to the Caymans?”

He blew out a loud, exasperated breath. “I was going to pretend I didn’t know anything about it. I was going to see if I could get you to tell me the truth because I figured there must be some sort of misunderstanding, but finding you in my locked office, sniffing through my things…” He leaned forward and placed one of his hands on the desk. “If you’re not out of my house in five minutes, I’ll call the police, and you can spend the rest of your life in prison. I’ve cut off all your access to my company. You’ve taken enough for me, and you’re not going to take any more.”

My hand fluttered to my throat. I gripped the star pendant in comfort. That was all like a bad dream. “You’re not making any sense. I’m sorry I came into your home office. That was wrong, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t taken anything from you.”

“Enough lies. When you see your boyfriend Simon tell him I said hello.”

“Simon? Kane, please explain what this is about? This isn’t fair?” I started shaking. Had my luck changed so quickly? Was this really the same man I had just had sex with a few hours ago?

He scoffed. “That’s right, I’m the big bad, unfair boss. You’re talking to me about fair, Reese? I’ll tell you what’s not fair. You thinking you could weasel your way into my life. Setting up that scene with Simon attacking you. Both of you must’ve thought I was a fool, and I was. Now get out of my house.” To emphasize his point, he thrust a finger at the door.

“Kane, Sir, please,” I begged as I stood and inched my way around the large desk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Whatever this is, I can explain.”

“Get out,” he yelled.

I flinched at the loudness of his voice. “Please don’t treat me like this.” I looked over Kane’s shoulder and saw Max with my bag. Tears streamed down my face. “The emails I’ve been getting are life-threatening,” I pleaded.

Kane rolled his eyes. “Ah, yes, the emails you’ve probably been sending to yourself. You needed to get me to trust you. You needed to get inside my mind by saying that you loved me. You used me, and I was the gullible fool who fell for a tight pussy.”

His words stung. I stood up a little straighter and looked him in the eyes. “You really think I’m capable of that?”

“The $5 million you siphoned from my company tells me you are.”

I staggered backward. “You think I’m the one who’s been stealing the money.” I gave my head a violent shake. “No way. Never.”

He dropped my gaze and started to walk towards the desk. “I have more than enough proof that you are.”

“I didn’t, and that you would believe I’m capable of something so vile breaks my heart.” I clutched my pendant desperately, as if I could shake it and make this whole situation go away.

“I won’t say it again, get out.” Kane’s voice was hard and resolved. He sat at his desk and turned his chair, so he was staring out the seaside window. I knew he wouldn’t even look at me anymore.

“My pleasure.”

I pushed past Kane and ran downstairs. Someone had set me up, and, no matter what she’d said, I knew that someone had to be Sloane. I would confront her and force her to come clean. I wouldn’t buy her bullshit again. I wasn’t a thief, and I would do what it took to clear my name.

As soon as I was in the town car, I said, “Max, I didn’t do any of this, you have to believe me.”

“I see nothing, and I say nothing,” he replied in a disinterested tone. “My job is to take you home. Please don’t talk to me. My loyalty is to Mr. McKenzie.”

“Don’t take me home,” I begged, leaning forward and putting my hand on the front seat. “Take me to the office. Just do that for me, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Max nodded. He didn’t look me in the eyes, but he started the car. I leaned back into the leather seats and took a deep breath. Now all I had to do was figure out what to say to Sloane when I saw her or if I was just going to punch her in the nose. I wasn’t sure which I would do when I got to the office.