Page 303 of By His Rule

“Wake up happy. Sleep with your boss.”

“Fucking hell.”

Kian shrugs. “True though, right?”

“Maybe,” I say, popping the top and flipping the notepad open.

I scribble today’s date on the page and then sit back to listen to him discuss what’s happening and list out my epic to-do list.

Sure, we could have done this at home—I mean, at his place—but we need to figure out how to keep work and play separate, at least until we figure all this relationship stuff out.

It takes a bit of convincing, but eventually, Kian manages to pull his boss mask back on and set to it. Although, it doesn’t stop him trying to add “fuck your boss in his private bathroom” to the list every now and then.

We’re just finishing up so he can log in to his first meeting of the day when a knock sounds out on his door.

“Come in,” Kian calls, his voice all deep and commanding. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t send chills skating down my spine. From the look he gives me, he knows it too.

The door opens, and a familiar face appears before me.

“Aubrey?” I whisper, my previous desire giving way to unease.

She looks between the two of us. “Is now a good time?”

“It is, as long as you’re giving us good news,” Kian states, gesturing for her to come in and shut the door behind her.

“Some of it is good.”

I close my eyes as dread slowly drips through my veins.

Oh my god.

I’m not sure I can cope with another attack.

“Fucking hell,” Kian groans, scrubbing his hand down his face. “Start with the bad.”

Aubrey smirks and pops a hip. I instantly relax. Maybe this isn’t going to be as bad as I first thought.

“Your security team needs better training. It took me less than an hour to find that motherfucker’s location.”

“Not everyone can be as good as you, Kendrick,” Kian teases, making her smirk grow.

“Well,” she says, flipping her hair back. “You said it.”

“Have you found him?” I ask, ignoring the two of them.

“Yep, and he squealed like a pig. Fucking pussy.”

Her words make me sink back into my chair.

Deep down, I knew. But assuming and knowing for a fact are two very different things.

Hurt and disbelief wrap around me as both Kian and Aubrey watch me closely.

I put so much trust and hope in that man, and all he ever did was cast it—me—aside.

It was never about us, about our future. It was all about him. I was just the fool along for the ride.

“He did it all?”

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