Page 228 of Labor of Love

Her knuckles produced a sharp rapping on the glass door. “Mr. Coryi? Are you in there? It’s Mallory.”

“I’ll, uh, be out in a minute. Have a seat,” Char called out.

I took the fastest shower of my life. The water barely had time to hit my skin before I was drying off, and dressing. “I got it, love,” I said as I passed a very naked Char on the way out of the bathroom.

Our love affair and subsequent mating were no secret. Both of Char’s parents were thrilled Char had finally selected someone to settle down with, and Char’s brothers were tickled because now there was hope Char would be stepping down as CFO sometime in the foreseeable future.

Therefore, I felt no hesitation at all in slipping out of the office to greet the woman who waited at my desk.

Behind my desk.

As if it were hers.

“Hello. May I help you? I’m Mr. Coryi’s assistant, Josh.”

She was a thin woman, with sharp eyes and blood red nails, dressed in a vintage Chanel suit. She eyed him up and down. “Oh. Yes, of course. It stands to reason he’d have replaced me by now. It’s been a month, after all. But I’m back now, so yourservices are no longer required.” Mallory stood and faced off with me.

I blinked. “I… I beg your pardon?”

“You’re let go, dear. Discharged. Laid off, if it helps you in a quest to collect unemployment.” She sighed heavily and riffled through a few files. “I can see I’m back just in time. How did this office ever keep from falling apart while I was gone? I notice there are no appointments scheduled for the afternoon hours all week!” She glanced at me. “You’re certainly not very good at being an assistant if you’re not utilizing Mr. Coryi’s time efficiently.”

“Oh, I’m utilizing him just fine, thank you. And, just to point out the obvious, you can’t fire me. You don’t work here.” I lifted my nose and put on my best airs. “Will you leave, or shall I call security and have you escorted out?”

She had the audacity to laugh. “I think not! I was Char Coryi's best assistant, and he knows it! What do you ever think you can do for him that I can’t do better?”

“I can think of two things right off the top of my head,” I muttered.But both of them are NSFW.

Just then, the door to the office opened, and Char stood framed in the doorway, hair still wet from his shower. “What is going on here? Mallory? What are you doing here?”

“I’ve decided you’ve been punished long enough and have come back to work,” she said. “I only left so you would understand what an asset I am to the company. I need an office, Mr. Coryi. Not just a desk anymore. And I need my own assistant. A new title might be in order as well. Perhaps a vice presidency.” She waved five lacquered fingernails at him. “We can talk later. Please tell this ill-equipped man he is no longer needed here.”

Char blinked. “This man? Oh! I see you’ve met my lifemate, Josh. Josh, this is Mallory, myformerassistant.”

Mallory’s pale skin bleached even lighter. “Your lifemate? Oh. I see. Well, I guess there are a couple of things you can do better than I for Mr. Coryi,” she spat at me.

“Mallory, you no longer have a position with this company. You left without notice, leaving me in the untenable position of having to hire a temp.” Char said.

“It seems to have benefited you,” Mallory countered. “Perhaps I’d better have a word with the Chairmen of the Board and see what your parents have to say about it!”

“They already know, and they’re thrilled, not that it’s any of your business,” I said. This bossy, egocentric woman put me off, and I wanted her to leave.

“I wasn’t speaking to you!” Mallory hissed.

“ButIam speaking toyou. Leave, Mallory, or I will call security.” Char insinuated himself between me and Mallory.

I figured Char must’ve thought my leopard might take claws to Mallory’s smug face.

And he would’ve been right.

“Well, I never! Don’t think you’ll be able to lure me back when this office goes to hell in a handbasket, Char Coryi! I wouldn’t work for you again for all the money and position in the world!” She grabbed her purse from where she’d placed it on the desk and stormed toward the elevators.

I watched her with absolute delight as she nearly turned an ankle in her haste, and a stiletto heel snapped off one of her Jimmy Choos.

She swore as she removed both shoes and walked in stocking feet to the elevator. It was waiting for her when she pressed the button, and she hurried inside it. Her grimace was one of pure hate, and I was both thrilled and relieved when the doors slid shut on it.

“You said she was a really good assistant,” I said, turning to Char and leaning my head against Char’s broad shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want her working for you?”

“Nope. You’re the best assistant I ever had, not her, and not just because you’re the best piece of ass I’ve ever had. I love you. You’re my lifemate, and you happen to be quite the efficient assistant, too. I have the best of all worlds.” Char wrapped strong arms around me, holding me close.

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