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I leaned back in my chair, studying the snow that fell outside my window. All this fucking time, she’d been working for one of my closest friends, and I had no fucking idea.
No, she was working for that asshole Victor Rainer, and he screamed at her and frightened her.
My hands clenched into tight fists. I thought back to how many times Charlotte had come to my house afraid and upset by her new boss, and I wanted to fucking murder him for treating her that way. My urge to track down his address and pay him a visit was a little on the alarming side.
I made myself relax. Char - Riley was safe, and I’d make damn sure I helped Aiden find a new CFO who would treat her with the respect she deserved.
I glanced at my watch. It was close to the end of the day, and I hadn’t spoken to her since our introduction this morning. I wasn’t deliberately avoiding her - I had been in a meeting all afternoon - but I could no longer put off talking to her.
I pressed her extension on my office phone.
“Hello, Mr. Ste - Cross.” Her soft voice stuttered in my ear.
“Hi. Can you come into my office, please?”
“Yes, sir.”
My fucking cock twitched just hearing her say, ‘Yes, sir,’ and I pushed my chair in close to my desk as the door opened and Charlotte stepped into my office.
She hesitated at the door, and I smiled stiffly. “Shut the door, please.”
She shut the door and joined me at the desk, sinking into the leather chair and staring quietly at me.
“So, this is unexpected,” I said.
She smiled faintly. “Yes.”
I cleared my throat. “I promised Aiden I would help him, but if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll make up an excuse for why I can no longer stay the month.”
She blinked at me. “What? No, I don’t… I mean, I wouldn’t ask you to do that. Mr. Wright needs you, and he’s been a great boss. I don’t want the company struggling because I’m… I mean, it’s my fault that you even have to be here.”
“No, it isn’t,” I said harshly. “I’m here because your former boss was an abusive asshole who treated you like shit.”
“I’m sensitive,” she said. “We both know that and -”
“Don’t do that. Don’t minimize the abuse, Char - Riley.”
She made a slight nod. “All right.”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair, rubbing my jaw again. “I know this is awkward, but I think we can make it work, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Good.” I hesitated. “I cancelled our session for this evening.”
“I know,” she said. “Celeste texted me.”
“I can’t book with you anymore,” I said. “You know that, right?”
“I do,” Riley said tentatively. “But you’re only here for the month, right?”
“Yes,” I said. “Just the month.”
“So once the month ends, we could return to the play sessions.”
“That isn’t a good idea,” I said.
Disappointment and, weirdly, what looked like a flicker of panic crossed her face. “Why not? If you’re no longer working here, there’s no conflict of interest, right?”
