Page 19 of By His Rule

“He accused me of stealing, which is absurd. All I’ve ever done is work my ass off for him and the company. Was it my perfect job? No. But that didn’t matter to me. I pride myself on doing the best I can in any situation.And as for the accusation…” I shake my head, a bitter laugh tumbling free. “He really needs to think again, because that man doesn’t have anything worth stealing.

“I earn my money. I work hard for what I have. I expect absolutely nothing to be handed to me on a platter.Everything I have, everything I have achieved, I have fought for. My life. My education. My career.Every. Single. Thing.

“If he doesn’t see my value, then fine.I have a better future ahead of me than that place and his petty bullshit.”

With my heart slamming wildly against my chest, I push to my feet and focus my attention on Martin. His eyes are wide and his lips are parted in shock from my little tirade. For a second, I think he’s going to say something, but then he just swallows, leaving nothing but silence and my previous words hanging in the air between us.

“Thank you so much for inviting me in, and for your time today. It has been an honor to even be considered for this role. I’ll see myself out.”

I nod at Martin in an attempt to convey just how truthful those words are, and then I spin on my heels and march toward the door without giving Kian another moment of my time.

Watch me walk away for a second time, you conceited asshole…

And with that, I slip out of the room, ensure the door is firmly closed behind me, and then bolt toward the elevator as if the devil is snapping at my heels.

Stepping inside the fancy mirrored elevator alone doesn’t help my unease. I stand right in the center and keep my eyes locked on the descending numbers, praying that it’ll move faster. But it doesn’t, in fact, I’m pretty sure it’s slower than any I’ve ever experienced before. By the time it hits the ground floor, I’m sweating and my nerves are shot.

And it only gets worse when the doors begin to slide open and a thought hits me upside the head.

What if he’s followed me?

What if he’s waiting for me?

With my stomach in knots, I keep my head held high as I step out and scan the virtually empty reception.

Two perfectly dressed staff members sit behind a humongous desk in the center of the vast space, and two doormen guard the entrance.

All four of them look up at me the second my shoes click on the shiny tiled floor.

Their attention puts me even more on edge and makes my skin prickle. But there’s also relief, because he isn’t here.

Silently, I chastise myself for thinking he’d have even considered following me as an option.

Men like Kian Callahan don’t chase anyone. Especially women.

Without giving any of them my full attention, or a chance to talk to me, I walk straight out of the building, thanking the doorman who makes the process as easy as possible.

Without stopping, I continue down the block and then around the corner so the Callahan Enterprises building is no longer in sight. And it’s not until I step into a deep doorway that I finally release the breath I was holding and sag back against the wall.

“Fuck,” I breathe.

I fucking told Tate it was a bad idea.

It’s why I never applied.

I just never expected…

As if she knows I’ve just left, my watch begins vibrating.

Digging my cell from my purse, I debate ignoring her. But it’s pointless; she’s like a dog with a bone when she wants something.

“How’d it go?” she asks the second the line connects.

“About as disastrous as I predicted. You never should have applied for me, Tate.”

“It can’t have been that bad,” she argues.

I can’t help but laugh.

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