Wicked Valentine(22)

“Eve, Max has never shown any interest toward you.” Max had always been the ultimate professional with every one of his employees. And that included Eve.

“It was only a matter of time before he saw me as something more,” she spat. “But you had to ruin it.”

“Have some self-respect, Eve! He doesn’t want you!”

“You don’t know that! We grew closer with each late meeting and trip we took together.”

Nina shook her head. “Are you blind? Max does not want you.” She softened her voice, dropping some of the anger over Eve’s interest in Max. “He doesn’t want you because he wants me.”

Eve’s features cleared to a stone-cold, empty look. “You are not going to mess up my chances with Max.” She cocked her head and stared Nina straight in the eyes. “In a few minutes, everyone in this office and each of Max’s clients is going to get an email containing photos and videos of you and Max.”

The oxygen in Nina’s lungs froze. “You wouldn’t do that. You’d end up hurting Max. I thought you cared about him.”

“I do. And I’ll be the one here when he sees that the email came from you. I’ll help him clean up the mess you created in your attempt to bring down his business.”

Nina gasped. “You crazy bitch!”

Eve shrugged, smiling. “I might be crazy, but you’re not going to chance me sending that email and him losing his employees and clients, will you?”

If she argued with an obsessed woman, she might do more harm than good. “You’re right. I won’t. I’ll go.”

“Excellent. See that you get your stuff and are out of here in the next ten minutes. Security is on the way to escort you out.” She turned on her heel and walked out.

A crowd stared into Nina’s office, looking at Nina with gloomy faces.

A moment later her assistant walked in, put a box on her desk, and left, tears streaming down her face.

She picked up the phone to call Max and warn him about Eve when two security officers came through her door.

“Ma’am. Please put the phone down. You are no longer allowed use of company property,” one of them said. Fine, she’d call him from her cell phone.

“We’ll wait by the elevators to escort you out of the building when you are finished.”

Clearly Eve, in her irrational world, didn’t think Nina and Max would talk again. Nina would suggest to Max that Eve be mentally evaluated. Something about the dead look she’d given her had chilled Nina to the bone. The word psychopath ran through her mind.

She’d just put the stuff on her desk in the box when Max marched in.

“What the hell is this I hear that you’re leaving?” Panic covered his face.

“Max, calm—” She glanced past him at the open doorway. No longer was anyone attempting to look like they were working, but they all stared with open fascination into her office.

“No! You can’t leave.” His voice turned demanding, and Nina’s brows lifted in surprise.

She eyed the doorway again, sure Eve would return and make a big scene. Max’s business would take a big hit if she sent that email. “Max, really you just have to listen—”

He shook his head “I won’t let you go.” He stepped around her desk. “I won’t lose you.”

“But I’m not—”

He grabbed her arms. “I love you!”

“What?” Her eyes widened.

“I love you, Nina.”

She swallowed. “You do?”

“I do. I love you.” He nodded; a desperate edge sounded in his words. “The time we’ve spent together has been the best of my life.” His soft words seeped into her pores and settled in her heart. “And I’m not letting you go.”

“I love you too, Max.” She eyed the door again.

“Let them hear,” he said. Raising his voice, he turned away from her and took steps to the open door. “I love Sabrina, and if anyone has a problem with it they are free to leave this company. I don’t know why I allowed Eve to create that stupid policy to begin with, but as of now, it’s done. Employees may date each other. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your jobs, it will not affect your position here.”

The floor broke into applause. Nina gaped at the scene. It was unreal. The applause stopped suddenly, and Eve appeared at the entrance.

She glared at Nina. “What are you still doing here?”

“Eve,” Max said, catching her attention. “You’re fired.”

“What!”

Color rose over Eve’s pale face.

“But Max,” she sputtered, “I’m your most loyal employee!”