Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“You’ve got some nerve, Kelly,” I snapped, my eyes flaming with anger as I stared her down. “Just where do you get off?”
Kelly smiled wide and vindictive. She held a pen between her hands and twirled it around idly. “Well, well, well, looks like the mousy secretary has finally grown a pair, eh?” she remarked snidely. “It’s a shame for you that you’re picking a fight with the big dog on the block. Are you sure you’re ready for that?” She stared me down with narrowed eyes, but I ignored her lousy intimidation tactics. I was far too pissed for that.
“I’m sick and tired of this attitude of yours, Kelly,” I began in loud voice. “We’re supposed to be professionals in the same working environment, but look at you! All you’ve been doing for the last few weeks, no, months, is torturing poor Griff and holding his job hostage for your own sick pleasure! The stunt you pulled today was the last straw. I mean, did you really go to all this effort just to try and seduce an engage man?”
Kelly laughed. “Yeah, yeah, cut the crap, sweetheart. Everybody knows your whole relationship was fake, just like you. You were the ones trying to pull a fast one, not me.”
“Is that why you showed up to our hotel room in nothing but your underwear?” I snapped. “To try and catch us out? Or were you just after Griff’s money and status?”
Kelly rolled her eyes and tossed her red head behind her shoulder. “Either way, it doesn’t matter now.”
“Of course, it matters. You—”
“It doesn’t matter because you and Griff just don’t fit the Anderson Group culture. You’re fired,” Kelly revealed with a sadistic grin.
My mouth dropped open. “W-what?” I spluttered. “You can’t do that! You’re being ridiculous. You can’t just fire people because they haven’t fallen in love yet, what kind of business is that?!”
“A business you’re no longer a part of,” Kelly pointed out. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
But I couldn’t move my feet. I needed to say something – anything – to try and salvage this. I knew how much this job meant to Griff and I wanted to at least try and get him to keep it, even if I was planning on leaving anyway. “Now wait just a minute, Kelly,” I continued in spite of her efforts to kick me out. “Right now, Griff is racing to the bedside of his father who is dying from cancer. If that doesn’t show his commitment to his family then I don’t know what does!”
“Remy, I’ll be calling security if you don’t leave, so—”
“The Anderson Group must be comprised of total hypocrites if they’re planning on firing a man who is so devoted to the company and his family and his friends. Griff has done nothing but show his loyalty, so if you guys still think he should leave then Mr. Anderson must be the world’s biggest ass hole.”
Kelly laughed and leaned forward like a snake ready to lunge at its prey. “If you really think that way, I guess you can tell him how much of an asshole he is to his face. What do you think, Mr. Anderson?” She looked over at the older man who was still sat at her desk, watching the whole argument.
I froze as I looked over at the shocked look on the CEO’s face. Oh God, I’ve really done it now, I thought as I realized all the things I’d said in front of him. I’d never felt so mortified in my life.
29
Griff
The journey to Boston was shorter than I’d expected, but as I sat in the train carriage staring out of the window at the passing landscape, it felt like an eternity. We passed houses and busy highways and my thoughts went to the people there. What were they doing right now? Did they have a family like I did? Was their father good to them or abusive like mine? Just what was it like to be in someone else’s shoes? It was a futile exercise, but I couldn’t stop myself. It was a nice distraction from my current situation.
When we finally pulled into the station in Boston, my mind began reeling with thoughts of what I’d say to my father once I saw him. After all, it wouldn’t be long now until I’d confront someone who had impacted my life so much, someone I hadn’t seen in almost two decades now. A part of me was desperate to chew him out and give him a final ‘fuck you’ for the pain he’d caused my mom and me, but I knew I’d never do it. I wasn’t the type to pick on the vulnerable—unlike him.
I hailed a cab to take me to the hospital since I didn’t know my way around Boston at all. The driver was silent which I was grateful for. I wasn’t sure I could manage small talk with the way I was feeling. It felt like my body was a volcano on the verge of erupting and I wasn’t sure what method I was going to use to get these feelings out. I tried to shy away from anger usually in fear of becoming just like my father, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to cry for the man either. Instead, I ground my teeth together and kept my eyes on the window as we drove through the city.