Page 45 of The CEO

“You should have filed a complaint,” I added. Instead, he took on the work she hadn’t been doing.

“Life is never boring with you.” Ty laughed.

King laced our fingers together. A look of worry crossed his handsome face. “Right now, I wish it was, but whatever happens we’ll get through this.”

I only hoped he was right.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

kingston

Goingby the look on everyone’s face as I walked the distance from the elevator to my office, it was safe to say everyone knew about me and Pria. I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep from firing my fucking secretary. Her time with Avery Capital Holdings was limited. If she filed a folder wrong, I was going to fire her ass.

Normally, I was the first one to work, but I had an early meeting out of the office that prevented me from appraising the situation. I hoped Pria wasn’t getting the side looks and snickers I was getting. One look and they all cast their eyes down and went back to work. Last night, after we got home, she had slumped down on the couch and deteriorated before my eyes. I didn’t care what anyone thought about me. They all already thought I was an asshole, but I understood why Pria felt the way she did. No one wanted to be known as the one who fucked their way up the ladder, and it would make her job difficult if no one took her seriously.

The problem was once it was out there, I couldn’t do anything about it. The rumors had started, and they wouldn’t stop anytime soon. If we had come out as a couple beforesomeone heard us fucking in my office, it might have changed the way they looked at us. But no one wanted to announce to the world they were in a relationship until they knew it was going to last or out of its infancy.

I typed out a quick message to Pria.

King: You should probably stay in your office today.

Pria: Too late.

King: I’m sorry my dick got us in trouble. You can work from home until this blows over.

I knewas I typed it, it wouldn’t blow over anytime soon, but I wanted to shelter her from the scrutiny. I knew if I caught anyone saying anything bad about her, I would likely fire them. I guess it was a good thing the head of my HR department didn’t let me fire people for such things.

Pria: So you’re saying for me to never come back?

King: All I can say is I’m sorry and I’ll try to fix this mess.

Pria: I know you are, but you can’t fix it.

King: I guess I shouldn’t ask you to lunch?

Those three littlebubbles appeared showing that she was typing. They went away and came back a couple of times before a new message finally showed up.

Pria: I’d love to have lunch with you.

King: Meet me downstairs at 11:30 and we’ll hit this amazing sandwich place I know of that’s not too far from here.

Pria: See you then.

That was easierthan I thought it would be. Maybe I could convince her to work from home the rest of the day while we were at lunch. But if she stopped coming to work wouldn’t that mean they’d won? Even though I hated this for her, Pria wasn’t weak and could handle them. That was her job.

A knock sounded and I didn’t bother to look up as my secretary (no use finding out what her name was now since she wouldn’t be around much longer) opened the door and peeked her head inside.

“You have a package,” she said timidly. Her hands twisted together as she waited for me to speak.

Lifting my head, my eyes narrowed at her. I hoped she could feel my wrath and realized how much she had fucked up going against me. I’d make sure she never worked at any credible office again once she was out of here.

Getting back to work, I hit send on my email. “Sign for it.”

“I already did.”

“Then bring it in and set it down over there on the table.” It wasn’t like it was the first time I’d gotten a package since she worked here. If she was trying to test the waters to see if I knew it was her who spilled the proverbial beans, she was doing a shitty job.

“Yes, sir.” It was quiet for a few minutes when I felt someone looking at me. Glancing up, I saw her in the middle of my office, her eyes trained on me.

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