Page 10 of Tempt you…not!
Shortly after I’mdone with presenting, I go to the bathroom to vomit.
How could I have been so stupid, so naive, to believe that they’d give me a chance?
For twenty long minutes, I presented Bastion Communications’ innovations for space exploration to the smirks and quiet japes of the crowd.
At least Chadwick didn’t appear to recognize me. I don’t know if I would actually survive that humiliation.
Barton Mills had a couple of questions, but it’s possible he merely asked due to how the others were treating me.
His company has been mapping out space in a way no one has before, and the government has started using his projection. He’s the one that called for a collaborative effort of both government and private entities alike because space is greater than any one sum in the whole.
Fuck!I am so stupid for not listening to Slate.
The damage is done, though. All that’s left is to go home and grovel.
I exit the bathroom, prepared to make a beeline for the exit when Major Hutton steps in my path.
“Alysanne, how good it is to see you after all these years,” he enthuses.
I force a smile, vaguely remembering him at one of my father’s cocktail parties several years back. “It’s good to see you too.”
“I know how unnerving these can get. If you don’t mind, I’d love to help you out. Offer you some friendly advice. I really want Bastion Communications on board with where this is all going. I could help.”
My stomach lurches with dread, hoping I’m reading too much into the situation.
“I’d hate for you to go home and disappoint your father, Alyce.” He takes a step forward, bringing himself uncomfortably close to me. “I’d love to give him a call telling him just how impressed I am by his little progeny.”
RED ALERT! RED ALERT! Pervert confirmed.
I feel his hand on my ass, and every part of me wants to lash out, kick him in his balls, and stab my fake nails into his eye sockets.
But I’m paralyzed, unable to do a damn thing as his hand reaches lower down my ass.
“Excuse me, Major Hutton, but I don’t believe you gave me the same treatment in the conference room.”
I look over to see Chadwick Archibald glaring daggers at the major.
Something about the surprising interlude snaps me out of my frozen state, forcing me to action. I stomp a three-inch heel down onto the major’s mirror-shined shoes, causing him to jerk his leg up.
“You little—”
“I’d be careful if I were you,” Chadwick cuts in. “Ms. Bastion seems to have taken on a leading role at Bastion Communications. It would be a terrible shame if your reputation were disparaged to her father.”
Apparently, Chadwick Archibald isn’t just smoldering hot. He’s also a pretty standup guy.
“Have you lost your mind, boy?” Major Hutton rasps out. “I’m gonna have a talk with your father—”
“And tell him what, exactly?” Chadwick crosses his arms over his chest and dons a condescending smirk. “That I stopped you from groping Alysanne Bastion?”
Hutton’s face grows dark. “She wanted it.”
Chadwick’s face registers surprise, and his eyes dart from me to Major Hutton. “Oh…”
“She knew her presentation sucked, and she wanted to see if I’d put in a good word to her father. Of course, I grabbed her ass. What hot-blooded male wouldn’t?”
That fucking prick.
Chadwick nods his head in agreement, and rage threatens to consume me.
