Her whole body felt weak. “She said something about a magazine article. I don’t know what she was talking about. She said I sent it to her. But, I didn’t send her anything.” A deep weariness threatened to invade her. Would this never end? She’d made a choice that seemed positive, but had caused a complete disconnect between her and the only family she had left. Even her aunt had taken her in-laws’ side.
“From what you’ve told me, she’s a bit lost, dear. She could have seen an article that reminded her about Brandon and got it in her head that you sent it her way. She’s not someone you can get back, Avery. I know you want a family, but she’s never going to forgive you.”
She wished he would stop talking. He wasn’t saying anything she didn’t know. “I just thought she would come around someday.”
“No. She won’t. Most people wouldn’t understand what you did. They would see it as a complete betrayal of your husband and your child. It’s why you shouldn’t talk about it. I understand, but most other people won’t. Your in-laws prove it.” He was close, his body brushing against hers as he pulled her close. “I’m the one who accepts you, Avery. I’m your friend. I’m so sorry you got that call.”
She let him hug her. He really had seemed like her only friend for so long. When she’d first taken the job and they’d been in New York, she’d thrown her whole being into her work. Brian had died shortly afterward and she’d stuck close to Thomas, two stunned victims alone on a seemingly endless sea.
She sniffled a little.
“It’s all right, Avery.” Thomas’s hands smoothed across her back. “I can take care of you.”
His voice was deeper than before, and she could feel the heat of his breath on her neck. A little shiver went through her. She didn’t like being so close. It felt different than before. It felt more intimate, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. Maybe it came from being with Lee, but she suddenly didn’t want to be so close to Thomas.
“Sir, I needed to talk to you,” a masculine voice interrupted.
Thomas’s head came up, and there was a little snarl on his face. It was gone so quickly she wondered if she’d actually seen it. “Malcolm, this had better be important.”
“I wouldn’t interrupt you if it wasn’t.” Malcolm was the head of Thomas’s security. Standing at a massive six foot four, Malcolm was a bit of an enigma. He rarely talked, and he disappeared for long stretches of time. Thomas almost always had a bodyguard around, but Malcolm was the only one who really scared her.
Thomas stepped back, reaching for his cane again. “I’ll see you in an hour or so, dear. Please order some lunch for everyone. Use my card.”
He stepped into his office, Malcolm closing the door behind him, and she was alone again.
She wanted Lee. She wanted to call him and tell him to come and get her, and she would just go with him anywhere he wanted to go.
And he would ask why and she would have to admit what she’d done. Would he understand? Or would he be like her in-laws and find it to be a betrayal? She wasn’t sure she could risk it.
In the end, she picked up her phone and took the coward’s way out. She texted him explaining that she couldn’t meet him for lunch.
Her phone rang almost immediately. Lee. She couldn’t talk to him right now. She would break down. She texted again. In meeting. Can’t talk.
That’s twenty, love. Don’t think I’ll forget. Pick you up at five.
Twenty. He was going to spank her. She would get upset at the injustice, but just for a moment he’d taken her mind off her trouble.
Yeah, she’d take a spanking for that.
With her hands still shaking, she sat down and got back to work.
Molina tossed his cane away with an angry crash.
He hated that cane. It had been necessary for the last several years. He needed it to keep up his pretense, but how he loathed being seen as weak and vulnerable. He should be able to force Avery to her knees, to spread her legs and make her scream, but no, he had to play the pussy role.
One day she would know exactly how strong he was.
“Careful, boss, someone might come running in.” Malcolm’s voice was perfectly bland as though he hadn’t interrupted something intimate. The idiot had the worst timing. She’d been soft in his arms. She’d been ready to accept his lips on hers, and Malcolm had ruined everything. She’d been horrified at her mother-in-law’s call. It had been exactly as he’d planned. Now she would compose herself. Now she would gather that seemingly endless supply of optimism around her like armor.
“Give me one good reason I don’t fire you this instant.” And by fire, he really meant find a bloody gun and take Malcolm’s head off. That might start to calm him down.
If Malcolm was affected by his harsh tone, he didn’t show it. His face was blank and smooth as always as he took the seat in front of Molina’s desk. “You said you wanted an update on Lee Donnelly. I thought I would give you one.”