Bet On It: An Age Gap Billionaire Office Romance(48)

“He didn't just show up in my box in the middle of a game to get money from me.” I wished I’d noted how unusual that was at the time. “He showed up because you were there. And the two of you left together. Tell me, did he notice that you’d already fucked me when he fucked you?"

Her hand came across my face hard. My words were vile, but I felt justified.

She stepped back, horror filling her expression. “I’m sorry . . . I just . . . what is going on? Whatever that report said about how I work with my team is wrong. You're wrong. I do listen to their ideas. I have incorporated many of them. Did they tell you that I didn't?"

"It's in your report. So, yes." Weirdly enough, I had a kernel of concern deep in my gut. Maybe before confronting Analyn, I should've gone to talk to Clive and some of Analyn's team.

But that would mean I was putting into question the performance evaluation, and I had no reason to do that. Every evaluation I received in the past was generally spot on. Even the employees who were fucking up generally acknowledged it and either determined to work harder or we ended up parting ways.

She stared at me like she didn't know me. That goes both ways, baby. Who was this woman who had come to consume my life?

She shook her head in disbelief. "I don't understand what is in that report. You can't possibly believe what you just accused me of."

"Why not? From the beginning, you told me you wanted everyone to know that you got this job on your merits, and I assured you that it would be the case. You told me you wanted to use a mythological fantasy game on social media, and I agreed to it. Then you fucked me right then and there.”

Her eyes flashed with heat.

"After, you run off. So, I try to respect your boundaries and avoid you. But then, you show up at my house telling me that your roommate’s fiancé hit on you. Not only do you show up, but you’re practically naked when you do, and the only place you could go was to my house. Never mind that we live in a city with more hotels per capita than practically anywhere else in the world. No, you show up at my house, and of course, we fuck again because you know I can’t resist you. Then, like clockwork, you run off. You’re using sex against me, Analyn. I can't help but wonder if maybe there's something else going on between your friend’s fiancé and you? Maybe that's why you haven’t told her."

Analyn's face went white, and for a minute I thought she was going to be sick. That kernel of doubt tried to take root again, but I pushed it away. As I recounted our time together, her behavior was making sense.

"I shouldn’t’ve gone to the hockey game—"

"But you did. This whole time, I've been sincere with you, Analyn, and you've used that against me. Tell me, when did you concoct this scheme? Was it the night we met? Is that why you moved to Las Vegas? To fuck me and fuck with me?”

She lifted her chin in defiance, her hands fisted at her side, making me wonder if she was going to take a swipe at me again.

"If you don't believe me, then maybe this isn't the right job for me." She turned, opening the door, and stormed out.

I wondered if that meant she was quitting. Deep down, I hoped she was. She made a fool out of me, and now she was outed.

But Jesus fucking Christ, I wanted to be wrong.





26





Analyn





I rushed out of Reed's office, heading directly for the restroom. I'd barely made it into the stall when my breakfast came rushing up and out.

I couldn't believe what had just happened. The performance report confused me, but what really had me sick were Reed's accusations. I couldn't believe he thought such a thing. That I was playing him, using sex to get what I wanted at work. His reasoning made no sense. But I could see in his eyes that he meant every word. I had never been so disrespected and spoken to so vilely.

When I finished being sick, I rinsed my mouth out and then returned to my office, pulling my purse out from the desk drawer and finding a breath mint. I sat in my chair, and I looked out over the marketing department.

Did they really report to Reed that I could do whatever I wanted because I had his attention? I took time to look at each and every person who was in the office, thinking back over interactions I’d had with them. Not once had I perceived any irritation or resentment from any of them. The head of the marketing department, Clive, wasn't always the most forthcoming with praise, but he hadn't indicated that anything I was doing was wrong, either.

Part of me wanted to go out and demand an explanation from each of them. At the same time, I couldn't stand to hear a repeat of what Reed had told me in his office. Did they know what was going on between Reed and me? Was that why they said the things they did? Had all my efforts to retain my professional reputation been in vain?

I was about to pick up my purse and resign, but deep down, I liked this job. I didn't like the idea of continuing to work for Reed after what he said, but I was good at my job, dammit. I wasn't going to let anyone run me out.

And at this point, it was clear that any further contact between Reed and me wouldn’t involve anything personal except for my anger at him for accusing me of essentially whoring myself out for job perks. If he wanted me gone, he’d have to fire me. I wondered why he hadn’t. Maybe he worried I’d retaliate by suing him.