Page 62 of Bling

“Sit down, Isabelle,” Garrett said, his voice hard.

She shut the door and did as she was told.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

Right, the phone call. “I just got a call from a reporter from the Gazette.”

He tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling. “That’s the second fucking time they’ve called. What did they ask you?”

“They asked about my ties to you and wanted to know details about Uncle Henry’s attack.”

He threw the pen he was holding. “I’m sorry, Isabelle. You shouldn’t have to deal with that.”

“I don’t understand what they mean by my ties to you.”

Hunter chuckled. “You were seen kissing him on national television. People have questions about who you are.”

“I thought that was a gossip site story. Not something the Gazette would run with. And he kissed me, for the record.”

Garrett grinned. “The Gazette has a gossip column and I’m pretty sure you kissed me back, Doll.”

She huffed. “Do we have to do this now?”

Garrett sobered. “I’m sorry, I’m just teasing. Hunter and I were just discussing you, actually.”

“Me?” Her eyes went wide. “I’m not in trouble again, am I?”

Hunter squeezed her shoulder. “Not at all. I would like to talk to my hotel manager about changing your schedule though.”

“Is this about me working two jobs? I know Garrett doesn’t like it, but I would really rather you two not get all Domly about my work or how I take care of my family.”

Garrett scowled. “It’s not about how you take care of your family, Isabelle. It’s about whether or not you’re taking care of yourself in the process.”

“The point is, I want to have you finish your degree sooner rather than later,” Hunter said. “I know you went to school in Fort Collins, but we can transfer your credits to a closer campus and have you do most of your work online. I’ve helped fund several prestigious degree programs in the hospitality industry. I’ll pay for it, you just have to promise me two years at one of my hotels after you graduate.”

“And how does that change my schedule?”

“We’ll cut your hours in half so you can dedicate the other evenings to coursework. We’ll call it professional development and I’ll still pay you your full salary.”

“That’s too much, Hunter. I just want to be paid for the hours I work.”

“I’m paying you to go to school, Isabelle. Why is that too much? It benefits me as much as it benefits you. I’m not in the charity business if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Garrett had stayed quiet through Hunter’s spiel and now he leaned forward. “My preference would be to have you quit working here, but I don’t want you to think I’m trying to get rid of you. Not to mention, I want you around until we figure out what’s going on. That said, I’m not going to let you overwork yourself. Your plate is full, Isabelle. The things I need you for are flexible and you can do a lot of it from home.”

She blew out a breath and tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. “OK. I have been struggling to get enough sleep,” she admitted. “Just… I don’t know if I want to tell my family I’m going back to school yet. They are firmly in the college is a luxury camp. My dad thought I was selfish for leaving to go to school when I did.”

Garrett tensed, and she knew he was clenching his fists beneath his desk.

“I’ll leave that up to you to decide how much to tell them,” he said quietly.

“I want to figure out how to address the kiss. It’s a viral sensation according to my nieces. I’m just waiting for the third degree from my dad. The only reason I haven’t been ambushed by other family is because we’re at the safe house. I honestly have no idea what to tell people.”

Garrett flashed a genuine smile at that. “Tell them the truth.”

“That I’m a collared submissive at a BDSM club? I don’t think so.”

Garrett and Hunter busted into laughter.

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