Page 33 of It Starts With A No

Seth’s lips curled. “Why do you need that lock?”

“I didn’t put it in.” She waved her hand, gesturing toward the watches displayed in ornate boxes.

“Just have it removed, then.”

“And give Hugh another reason to curse me out if something happens to his toys?” She shook her head, then gestured for him to take a seat on the black leather couch. “Besides, it’s nice to be able to lock people out of my room.”

“What happened?”

Her chest rose sharply, and she slumped back against the black leather office chair. “One of the female employees has lodged complaints with HR about her manager and some of the male staff harassing her.”

“And HR hasn’t done anything?” he asked, from the middle of the three-seater sofa.

“Oh, they did.” Clary draped her forearms on the armrest of the chair. “They buried it and even threatened to fire her if she said another word to anyone else.” She rubbed her fingers against her forehead. “I’m beginning to think it’d be easier to dismiss everyone and start everything from ground zero.”

“Do you have a plan?”

On her bandaged hand, she held up her index finger. “Set fire to the building.” A second finger shot out. “Rebuild EB Co.” Third finger. “Hire new staff. How long do you think that’d take? I’m seriously missing New York.”

Seth laughed. Clary always had a way of catching him off guard with her replies.

She groaned and tipped her head back. “I’m in way over my head.”

“You’re at war. You need a battle plan.”

She frowned and sat up straight. That was when her gaze landed on the blue jewelry box. “Everyone’s going to think we’re engaged.” She got up, grabbed the box, and walked over to him. “I don’t think your soon-to-be fiancée would appreciate that,” she said and held the box out toward him as she got closer.

“It’s for you.”

Her brows puckered again.

“You lost your ring because of me.”

“Seth, I told you my ring was fake. It’s zirconia.” She held up the blue box, discreetly engraved with the name of a prominent jeweler. “I don’t think this place sells zirconia jewelry.”

“I couldn’t possibly buy you a zirconia ring.”

“Why not?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s weird.”

“Isn’t it weird that you bought me a ring?”

“You haven’t even opened it. What if it isn’t a ring?”

She opened the box and turned it toward him. “It’s a freaking huge—and I’m assuming real—diamond ring.”

“Just pretend it’s a fake.”

She opened her mouth.

“Keep it. I shouldn’t have stalked you home.” Seth was desperate, but he shouldn’t have done that. How was he different from that disgusting man spewing those foul things just now? “And because of that, you had a gun pointed at you, then got thirteen stitches in your palm.” He stared at her bandaged hand. “Why didn’t you tell me what Elton said about your wound?”

She sat back down. “What about it?”

“That the nerves in your hand may be permanently damaged.” He knew the wound was deep, but since she hadn’t said anything, he’d convinced himself that it wasn’t serious. That was until Elton told him about it when Seth ran into him this morning.

After giving his statement to the detectives, Seth had gone back home to grab some documents. Unfortunately, he got home at the same time as Elton and was stuck in the elevator with him.

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