More, Please(22)

I crinkled my brow as I got to work. She had randomly cheered me on for no reason. I kind of loved it.



It was a little after noon and I’d just decided to get myself a sandwich when I heard, “Incoming,” in a low voice.

I glanced over at Brenda, wondering what she was talking about, when I caught sight of movement coming our way. I glanced at Hunter’s schedule, seeing he had time blocked off for a couple hours.

“Do I need to stay?” I asked, clicking out of the calendar. Scheduling meetings and looking after the guests was something that fell under Brenda’s jurisdiction.

Before Brenda could answer, blond hair in loose curls framing a beautiful face caught my eye. A high-dollar tailored suit wrapped around an incredible body, the skirt reached her the mid-thigh revealing a shapely and tanned leg.

Blaire.

Cold washed through me as her eyes hit mine. She smirked in a condescending way as she stopped by Brenda’s desk. Beside her stood a tall man in an equally expensive suit carrying a briefcase. He looked expensive and important, and screamed lawyer.

“I’ll let Mr. Carlisle know you’re here. Please have a seat,” Brenda said in that frosty way she had when she first met visitors. Hunter couldn’t have done it better himself.

Blaire flashed me another condescending smirk as she sauntered toward my desk. “So.” She ran her finger along the edge as the man with her walked away toward the seating area. “Working girl, huh? How’s the boss treating you?”

“Great.” I pointedly looked at my computer, pulling up a spreadsheet I was working on to have something, anything to do instead of having to talk to her. My stomach rumbled, but there was no way I was going to get up and walk out. Not while she was playing the intimidation game. I had to stand my ground.

“He hasn’t come home the last couple nights. I heard he bought his new mistress a flat. How quaint. You must feel like Cinderella.”

“Big words, coming from someone living in his house with nowhere else to go…”

Oops. I hadn’t meant to say anything. I did not need to stoop to her level. Nor did I need to incite rage in a crazy person.

“And at least I have a ring.” She rested her hand on my desk. The large diamond on her ring finger glittered in the light. “I haven’t put much effort into seducing him. I figured he’d come around on his own. But based on your prancing around him like a dog in heat, it seems I have to up my game…”

Do not respond. She wants you to respond. Don’t do it!

I clenched my jaw, staring at my spreadsheet.

“I’d be worried, if I were you…” Blaire smirked.

“He’ll see you now,” Brenda said, standing from her desk. She gave Blaire a frosty look as she passed, pausing in Hunter’s door.

Blaire smirked at me again before leaning down. Her expensive-smelling perfume wafted by my nose. “Watch yourself, little girl. I know where you live now.”

She straightened as the man she was with passed her. With a soft laugh I could only describe as terrifyingly evil, she followed Brenda and the man into Hunter’s office.

My release of breath was a noisy affair. I slumped against my desk.

“What a bitch,” Brenda whispered as she closed Hunter’s door. “She’s here to try and keep Hunter in that stupid contract he signed.”

“Does she have a shot?”

Brenda paused by my desk. She looked down on me with the sparkle of anger in her eyes. “She doesn’t, no. But I heard Hunter talking—the problem is with his father. There was an exchange of inheritance on the premise that Hunter would marry Blaire. I think whatever Hunter’s dad had going with Blaire’s father mostly fell through or didn’t work out—I don’t know the details. But Rodge has to agree to release Hunter of his liability.”

“And he won’t because he knows Hunter wants him to.”

“Exactly. If Hunter breaks the contract, there will probably be millions in damages. Millions. It would cripple Hunter financially.”

“I thought Rodge married Hunter’s mom for money because he didn’t have any…”

“His business was in trouble, and then yes, he got a bailout. But then he made the most of it. Now he’s worth a pretty penny.”

My heart sank. “Hunter will probably have to go through with it.”

Brenda’s expression turned comforting. “Don’t underestimate Hunter. He can be sneaky when he wants to be. He’ll figure out something.”

I endured Brenda’s pitying gaze as she settled at her desk. “Looks like he wants a witness,” she said a moment later. “Not that I blame him.” I caught her closing a PM before she grabbed a notepad and got to her feet.