Page 45
“I’m just going on their website to see if there’s a photo of him…” He tapped a few times before his eyes widened again. “Holy shit.”
“What?” I demanded immediately, picturing a recently issued press release posted in their news section. Managing partner makes newly appointed event planner come on desk.
“He’s a fucking smoke show, Anita.” Hustin pinched his screen, no doubt zooming in. “Jesus Christ.”
I’d already looked at var Rorik’s photo on the website, so I knew what he was seeing. A black and white portrait shot of var Rorik in his impeccable suit, with flawless hair and a slight cocky smile on his handsome face. That big, gaudy diamond winking in his ear.
“Hustin.” I reached over and lowered his phone, because he’d lifted it even closer to his face and was still staring at it. “This is really bad.”
He made a face and reached for his iced tea. “Why?”
“Because I had sex with a client!” I hissed.
Hustin didn’t seem to be taking it as seriously as I was, because he leaned in with a sly smile and whispered, “So what exactly happened? Give me details. Just so I can fully assess the situation.”
I huffed, back to tearing my napkin into shreds. “I… We… He kind of… went down on me.”
Hustin’s brows went up as he listened avidly, nodding in encouragement.
“On his desk,” I added weakly, dropping my forehead into my hand.
“Nice.”
“And then he… he jerked off in front of me.” My face was on fire.
Hustin choked on his sip of iced tea. “Holy fuck, that’s hot. I’m so jealous.”
“No,” I whispered frantically. “It shouldn’t have happened. He’s a client! I broke Corva’s most important rule!”
Understanding finally dawned on Hustin’s face. He set down his iced tea and smoothed his napkin over his lap. “Okay. Well, it’s not like she’s going to find out.”
“She might.”
He looked at me sharply. “Do you think he’d say something?”
“No, but…” I cringed. “We did it right in front of the big windows in his office. So someone in the building opposite might’ve, um, seen.”
Hustin choked out a laugh. “Damn, Anita. When you break the rules, you go all out.”
“That’s the thing though,” I said unsteadily. “I’m not a rulebreaker, Hustin. I feel awful. I’ve… I’ve betrayed Corva’s trust.”
He made a face. “I think that’s a bit much. You haven’t done anything wrong, Anita.”
“Yes, I have!” I hissed. “You know how strict she is about boundaries with clients and among the staff. You know how unprofessional we’d look if people started… talking about how Feris Events planners have sex with their clients.”
“That’s not going to happen,” he said calmly. “And I get why it’s stressing you out, but it’s really not that big of a deal. Two consenting adults had sex. Hot desk sex. And like I said, Corva isn’t even going to find out.”
I dropped my forehead back into my hand, feeling sick. “I think I have to tell her.”
Hustin’s brows popped up. “Look, honey, you know I’m a big fan of your… unflinchingly rigid moral code, but I would say that you definitely do not have to tell her.”
“Why?” I jerked my head up. “She’d fire me, wouldn’t she?”
His face did something complicated. “Not… necessarily.”
I groaned. “I’m not good at hiding things, Hustin. I’m not good at lying. I swear to god, lying makes my IBS flare up, as if my body is actually punishing me for being a bad person.”
Hustin tutted. “Lying doesn’t automatically make you a bad person, Anita. And you’re not a bad person. Besides, not telling her isn’t the same as lying. You’re just… not telling her something about your personal life. Which she prefers not knowing anyway.”
