Chapter 151
“Elaine p>
I raise a finger without even looking at him, just one finger in the air. In a Stop kinda motion.
He freezes mid-step but I don’t slow down, because right in front of me… at the desk outside Zane’s office… is the secretary.
She’s sitting behind her sleek white desk, typing something into her computer. A neat stack of files sits beside her keyboard, and her hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail now.
The moment she notices me walking toward her, her fingers pause over the keys and hr posture stiffens slightly.
Good.
I stop directly in front of her desk and for a second, neither of us say anything.
Then I lean forward s slowly, my palms pressing against the surface of the desk as I bend down until I’m just inches away from her face.
Her eyes widen immediately and she gasps slightly when she realizes how close I am to her.
“Mrs. Whit m p>
Her chair rolls back a few inches on instinct, the fear in her eyes is instant and obvious.
“Mrs. Whitmore, I p>
“Listen very carefully, I won’t repeat my self a second r time.” I say quietly.
My voice is calm, very calm and so much calmer than i actually feel
She swallows so hard, her throat actually moves when she does it.
“I I’m listening p>
Good. Because I want her to hear every word.
“You are going to stay very very far away from my husband p>
Her lips part in shock.
“I wasn’t I’m sor Sorry ma, I wasn’t p>
I raise a finger again, effectively shut ing her up, nor as gently this time though.
Right in front of her face.
“Don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking p>
She clamps her mouth shut instantly and her shoulders pull inward like she’s shrinking into the chair.
Good.
“Whatever little performance you were putting on inside that office earlier,” I continue, keeping my voice low enough that no one else in the hallway hears us, “ends today p>
Her eyes widen again.
“I wasn’t trying to p>
“Your blouse,” I cut in, glancing deliberately at her chest. “Your leaning into my husbands space, your boobs were literally in his face when I I walked in. Your little shoulder check when you walked past me.” The memory of that shove makes my jaw tighten again.
“None of that happens again. Not ever ever again p>
Her face is starting to turni pale now.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bump in into you Mrs whitmore, it was simply just a slip, I really didn’t mean t p>
“Yes you did… You meant it, don’t act all coy with me p>
For a moment she just stares at me, then she looks down at the desk.
“I I really am sor p>
“You work here,” I continue. “You do your job, you type your little emails and you hand him his paperwork p>
I lean even closer.
“But you will never put your hands on me again p>
Her breathing has turned shallow now, people are walking past behind me but no one is stopping. No one is listening, this thi conversation is ours alone.
“You will never try to flirt with my husband again p>
Her head jerks up.
“I wasn’t flirting I promise, I was just tr p>
“You were practically presenting your chest to him like it was part of the paperwork p>
The words leave my mouth before I can even try to soften them.
And I watch as her face flushes red with embarrassment.
“I I wasn’t I promise p>
“Don’t lie to me. There’s mo need to p>
My voice stays calm, dead calm. Which somehow makes her look even more terrified. Because I’m not shouting and I’m not causing a scene. I’m just leaning over her desk and dismantling her confidence piece by piece.
“Do you understand what I’m telling you p>
She nods immediately.
“Yes p>
“Try again. And don’t make me repeat my self again p>
Her voice shakes when she tries again.
“Yes ma’am p>
Yea that’s much better.
I study her face for a moment longer, her hands are gripping the edge of her chair now and her knuckles have turned white.
Good.
“Say it again p>
Her eyes widen.
“Yes ma’am. I will not try to disrespect yo again. Please don’t ask your husband to fire me please ma p>
“Good p>
I straighten slowly and the moment I step back, she exhales like she’s been holding her breath the entire time.
I smooth my hair back over my shoulder.
“I’m not going to ask my husband to fire you,” I say.
Her eyes lift toward me again as surprise flickers across her face.
“But don’t mistake that for kindness p>
Her lips press together nervously.
“This job is yours,” I continue. “You keep it by remembering your place p>
She nods quickly again.
“Yes ma’am p>
For a second longer, I just look at her then I turn away from the desk.
Aaron is standing a few feet away watching the entire thing with an expression that’s somewhere between impressed and deeply uncomfortable.
The moment I start walking toward him, he falls into step beside me as neither of us say anything as we head for the elevators
When the elevator doors slide open, we step inside.Only then do I feel the small knot of guilt twist in my stomach.
Because the truth is… she looked genuinely scared and part of me feels bad about that.
I lean back against the elevator wall as the doors close, maybe I was too harsh.
Maybe she really didn’t mean to shove me.
Maybe p>
I shake the thought away.
No.
I can’t afford to think like that. People test boundaries the moment they think they can get away with something.
And if I let one person walk over me others will follow.
I fold my arms across my chest and stare at the numbers lighting up above the elevator door.
Necessary… that’s what it was. Necessary.
And if the tight feeling in my chest says otherwise p>
Well That’s something I’ll deal with later.