Page 155 of Fighting Mr. Knight

Thankfully all the report says is that there is a second man in for questioning. No names given. There’s not much coverage because it’s a ten-year-old crime—people get stabbed all the time in London. But thisisJack Knight’s dad we’re talking about.

Anything about Jack makes the news.

Including the apparent fling he had last Friday night that went wrong, i.e.me.

It’s always the woman that the media makes out to be desperate, crazy and running after the guy, especially if he’s a billionaire and she’s a nobody.

So, if my dad’s crime doesn’t rob me of the design role then having a ruckus on the street with the client CEO will.

My phone lights up. Max. I told him about Dad yesterday. To be fair to him, he was pretty supportive.

“Hi, Max.”

“How are you today?” he asks.

It’s the most excruciating time of my life, thanks for asking.

“Fine,” I say because that’s what he wants to hear.

“Bonnie,” he starts hesitantly, “there’s no easy way to say this. I had to tell the partners.”

“I’m off the project,” I finish for him. “It’s fine, I can’t work on it anymore anyway. Not after . . . everything.” I let out a small laugh because there isn’t much else to do. “Bit of a conflict of interest.”

I hear a heavy exhale. “Just a little.”

“Does everyone in the office know?”

“Bradshaw and Brown don’t want a scandal so only HR know about what’s happening with your dad. The last thing they want is for that to get out.”

Nice to see that they care so dearly for their employees after years of service.

There’s a long stretch of silence until he finally clears his throat. “But everyone has seen the social media story. Are you going to explain it to me? Did Jack harass you because of your dad? That’s not on, Bonnie.”

“And if he did, what would you do about it, Max? As my mentor and my boss?”

Silence.

Empty words, Max. Now I realise that all the words you ever said to me were just gas.

“No,” I say firmly. “Jack’s a good man. That’s not why we were arguing. We . . .”

“Bonnie.” His voice turns cold. “Pleasetell me you didn’t sleep with Jack.”

I don’t reply. This is the last conversation I want to have with Max.

“Jesus, Bonnie!” he snaps. “You actually had sex withJack Knight?”

He sounds so disgusted I wonder if it’s because I’m his ex-fiancée rather than his subordinate.

“I thought you had more self-respect than to become his one-night stand! What the hell?”

“It wasn’t a one-night stand,” I say, my voice cracking.

“Come on, Bonnie!” he says down the phone. “I didn’t realise you were this naive. This makes things even more complicated. No wonder Jack wants you off the project.”

For some stupid reason, this hurts the most, and my eyes fill with tears.Again.

Why am I surprised? Of course, Jack wants me off his project.

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