Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Great. Now, I can add this visual to my spank bank for when I’m getting myself off later.
This woman is seriously going to be the death of me … unless I do something to take her down first.
chapter sixteen
ANASTASIA
Julian has been quiet. And that scares me.
I expected him to retaliate after the gay-porn incident, but instead, he left work early to work from home—where he found me in the pool, skinny-dipping.
I’d like to say it was a coincidence, but after I heard him tell Josie he was leaving, I hauled ass home. After he had pinned me up against the wall and had me all but begging for release, he’d deserved to be teased right back.
I spent the rest of the afternoon working from under his cabana since it was beautiful out, and when I finally went inside to shower, waiting for me on the kitchen counter was a note.
A bet is a bet. Your home-cooked dinner is in the warmer.
I was a little worried that he’d poisoned it, but I was so hungry, and it smelled so good. I took my chances, and it was delicious.
Yesterday, I learned from Josie that Julian was working from home again. And, yes, I’m aware it looks bad that I wasn’t even aware of that, which was why I texted him, telling him it would be nice to be kept in the loop so I didn’t look like a dumbass in the future.
He thumbs-upped my text, and I wanted to text back where he could shove that damn thumb, but refrained. I spent the day working on my idea, getting to know people in the marketing department and consulting them regarding my thoughts. I learned who was Team Julian and noted ways to win them over.
Once again, when I got home, there was a plate of food waiting for me, just as delicious.
Now, it’s Friday morning, and I’m shocked to find that Julian has already left for work. I’ve been so nervous about him retaliating that it’s been hard to concentrate, but seeing as it’s been a couple days, I feel like if he was going to strike, he would’ve already done so.
And that type of thinking is exactly why I’m not expecting what happens next. I walk into the break room at work, pull a mug from the cabinet, and pop a Nespresso pod into the machine. As I inhale the sweet aroma of blonde espresso, my eyes wander to the corkboard, and I almost have a heart attack.
Because pinned to the board is an eight-by-ten collage of scandalous photos from my past. The title, printed in the same font used for Kingston Limited branding reads, Daddy’s Princess Marketing with the Wrong Assets. And underneath it is damn near every embarrassing and incriminating photo in color.
I snatch it off the board, looking at every picture—from partying on the beach to experimenting with weed—and I relive the embarrassment and shame all over again. After I got my shit together my sophomore year of college, I put these days behind me. I retook the classes I’d failed, and I graduated with honors.
How Julian got these photos, I have no idea, but he’s going to pay for this. I put porn on his laptop, but nobody but my dad and IT knew about it. He hung this on the board for everyone to see.
And then it hits me. Are there any more of these?
I rush out of the break room and straight to Julian’s office, barging in without knocking. He’s on the phone, but when he sees me, he tells whoever is on the other line that he’ll call them back.
“Morning, fiancée, what can I—”
“How dare you!” I hiss, slamming the poster on his desk. “You took this too far!”
“Seriously?” Julian scoffs. “You put fucking porn on my computer, but I went too far?”
“It was a joke!” I shout. “But what you did was personal.”
He leans over the desk, his eyes locking with mine. “You don’t get it because you were born into this life,” he says, his voice low, like he’s struggling to contain his anger. “I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for every ounce of respect I’ve earned, and your joke could’ve easily destroyed the reputation I’ve built for myself. Porn on a company device is considered gross misconduct and grounds for immediate termination.”
Oh shit. He’s right.
“I-I didn’t think about that,” I say, taken aback by his admission. “I didn’t consider the possible consequences.”
“Of course you didn’t,” he hisses. “Why would you? You don’t have anything to lose … not like I do. If you don’t get the position, you have an entire trust fund to fall back on. All I have is my reputation. When I started here, I was nothing more than a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks, but I’ve spent years busting my ass to become something more. I’ve earned my position, and I’ll be damned if you’re going to ruin everything I’ve worked for.”