Page 85 of How to Resist Prince Charming

“You know what?” Lenna snapped, not wanting to think about Braxton with other women. “My father was right about you. You got a plateful you couldn’t handle when you fell into this job.”

Braxton eyes flashed hot in warning. She knew she hit a nerve; that’s why she pushed. “Everything you know about Farris Industries couldn’t fill his pinky finger.”

He clenched his teeth into a furious snarl before grabbing her hand and yanking her close.

“One of these days, Lenna, you’re going to learn how wrong you are about me. When you leave this building, why don’t you stop every fucking person you see and ask them how many ladies I have paraded through my office since I’ve come here.”

He let go of her at the same moment she jerked away. The glare he sent her had her insides cringing as she stumbled a step back.

Realizing she’d probably just made the biggest mistake of her life, she backed toward the door, staring at Braxton with wide eyes. He glared back, features hardened and jaw tight.

Turning swiftly, she hurried from his office.

* * * *

&

nbsp; As soon as she was gone, Braxton’s knees gave out. He crumpled to the floor, sitting with his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands, and his back braced against the side of his mahogany desk. It wasn’t bleeding, but he touched his tender nose again.

Hurt like a son of a bitch.

Tasha gave a timid clearing of the throat and she peeked around the open door. “Boss?”

“Shut the Goddamn door!” he yelled.

When she did, quickly, he closed his eyes.

Lenna was gone. Probably for good this time.

It didn’t seem real.

Telling himself to get up and return to his desk, Braxton stayed rooted on the floor. He combed his hair with shaking fingers and blew out a breath. This was not the time to lose it. He was at work and needed to get himself together.

But whenever he tried to focus, his thoughts went haywire. All he saw was Lenna glaring at him, Lenna turning her back to him, Lenna striding out the door. Away from him.

No, he couldn’t think about that. He had to concentrate here. Though, oh God, he was starting to hyperventilate. He prodded his tender nose and winced. Damn, she knew how to hit.

It might be broken. But he didn’t care. The pain in his chest hurt more.

He could’ve told her the truth. He’d wanted to tell her. But what would that accomplish? She’d go to her father, force the truth from him; then she and Tom would be on the outs.

As much as Braxton would love to see that man get his just desserts, he couldn’t do it to Lenna. Tom was her father. He’d always be her father. And no matter how much Braxton loved her, her dad would always be between them in some form or another.

“Fuck.”

This was not the life he’d chosen. This was not what he wanted. If he’d had his way, he never would’ve come to Farris. He’d still be at ProTech.

He had been happy at ProTech. Content.

And he could have Lenna if he was still there.

Yet, here he sat, having a breakdown on the floor of his father’s office, all because a freak turn of events had taken complete control of his life and lost him the girl of his dreams.

CHAPTER 24

Ben Hendricks plopped into the chair across from Tom’s desk in his den. “So, how long am I going to owe you for what you did for me?” He didn’t sound like his usual jovial self, but subdued and apologetic...which was good, since Tom probably would’ve strangled him if he had tried cracking a joke about their predicament.

It’d been five days since his suspension, and Farris hadn’t called him back yet.

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