Page 7 of Pure Recklessness

‘Knock, knock!’ He flashed his annoying, smarmy smile.

‘Sit.’ I gestured to the chair in front of my desk.

‘We missed you at the party yesterday, sir,’ he said as he sat down. In hindsight, I should’ve told him to stand as this was going to be brief. ‘It’s a shame that you⁠—’

‘You’re fired, Stefan,’ I said, briskly. I had a busy day ahead and didn’t have time to beat about the bush.

‘I beg your pardon?’ His face crumpled.

‘We have a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behaviour between management and their subordinates and last night you crossed the line,’ I said firmly.

‘What?’ he protested. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about!’

‘So you didn’t ask a junior, female employee to “suck your lollipop”?’ I raised a disapproving eyebrow.

‘That was…’ he stuttered. ‘Just a joke! Because there were alcoholic ice lollies for dessert. It was just a bit of banter! I didn’t really mean it!’

‘Banter.’ I shook my head. ‘Witnesses said you had your hand on your cock when you said it.’

‘That was just a coincidence!’ he protested.

‘And would you like to explain why you thought it was acceptable to touch a junior employee’s arse?’ I folded my arms.

‘My hand slipped! I’d had too much to drink!’

‘Get. Out,’ I said calmly as two security guards appeared at my office door. ‘Tony and George will escort you from the building. Close the door on your way out.’

Usually, HR took care of the firing, but I wanted to send a message.

We had a non-fraternisation rule and I needed everyone in the company to understand that it was completely unacceptable for those in a position of power to take advantage of junior employees.

Zero exceptions.

I watched Stefan’s mouth opening and closing like a pathetic goldfish as he was removed from my office.

Good riddance.

Served the bastard right.

He was a talented editor in our publishing division, but the guy was a fucking weasel.

We couldn’t afford to have people like him at Sated.

When my mother created this company almost thirty years ago from her kitchen table, she did it because she wanted to empower women in the bedroom.

To make them feel seen, heard and respected.

And I’d be damned if I was going to let a prick like Stefan make our female employees feel unsafe by trying to use Sated as some kind of pick-up joint.

Fuck that.

This company meant everything to me.

It’d been five years since my parents had handed over the reins and made me CEO and there were still so many goals I wanted to achieve.

And after what happened last year, this time, no one was going to distract me.

I wouldn’t have our reputation tainted by people who didn’t deserve to work at Sated.