Page 27 of Broken Boss

She slips from my hold and into a chair. Her shoes fall away and she pulls her feet up under her body, tightening the dress around her hips as she does so. Her arms wrap tightly around her waist and she tucks herself as far back as she can, pressing away from me.

I kneel on the ground in front of her. The feel of the carpeting against my knees drains away the hot rush of anger I felt before.

I remember Louise’s words again. She seemed so surprised!

“Autumn. You’re okay. The door is shut, it’s just you and me. Here?—”

I stand, stride back toward the door, lock it. The sound of the click is loud in the room and catches her attention.

Before going back to her, I assess the situation.

Everything about her posture right now screams that something is very wrong. She’s in protective mode; I’ve seen victims act the same in court. Trying to take up as little space as they can. Tightening in on themselves. Going blank.

Walking back over, I get on my knees again and take a chance. “Autumn. I’m not mad, okay? You’re safe, but you need to tell me what’s going on.”

Reaching out, I let my fingertips graze her knee. She doesn’t pull away and her eyes meet mine. A little color stains her throat, at least, so she’s not so pale.

“Who did this?” The question is direct, though this time I’m not asking out of jealousy.

“My ex.”

“Your…ex. Your ex bought all these flowers and had them delivered to your office. You don’t want to see him?”

Immediately, she shakes her head. Her arms are still wrapped around her waist. I let my fingers cover more of her, wrapping under her knee, holding her gently but firmly.

“Okay. Do you want to talk to security? So we can make sure he doesn’t come here again?”

Her eyes snap to mine. “He’s not a good person, Chris.”

I let that sink in. The tone she said it in was serious, lacking the fuzzy disjointed feeling of her earlier words.

“I don’t want to tell security. It’ll just make him angry, and he’ll do something—” Autumn shuts her mouth, frowning as she chooses what to say next. The lawyer in me is on high alert now. Whatever’s happening is serious.

“Here.”

Getting a better hold on her, I tug Autumn toward me, and out of the chair. She looks confused, slightly distrusting, but obeys. I sit down and pull her into my lap crosswise until she’s pressed against me. My hands are on her now, though they don’t roam.

I just want her to know I’m here. I want her to feel safe.

After a moment, she leans against me. I wrap an arm around her waist, willing my body heat to warm her out of whatever shock she’s in. Her feet are bare and her toenails are painted a pretty shade of red that makes my heart ache.

In this moment, she seems so vulnerable, and I have to ask.

“Autumn, it sounds like this isn’t someone you’re going to be able to take care of yourself. Is that right?”

Even though I’m expecting her answer, it still surprises me.

“No. Nothing I do will scare him off. He’ll just…”

She trails off.

I rest my chin on top of her head and mull this over. Autumn Cavendish, the woman who stormed into Sharpe Law and practically demanded the position of partner, doesn’t think she can handle whoever this guy is.

And judging by her reaction to this weird, borderline stalker situation…she might be right.

Right away, I feel a rushing need to protect her. My brain fills with different scenarios and possibilities.

“You need to tell me his name. And I know you don’t want security on the lookout for him, but it’s what’s best. If he shows up again?—”

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