Page 37 of Bad Duke

“I’m sure it’s nothing, just Chinese whispers.” She looks regretful as I try to figure out why Lewis would lie. I’ve always known he’s had a crush on me, but I’ve also made it clear it wasn’t reciprocated. I’ve kept things professional and to think that he’d make something like that up about me upsets me as much as it makes me mad.

“Olivia. It was months ago before I left to have Millie. Just forget about it.”

“I will not. You just said people think we’re a thing.” I stand up and carefully place her precious, little bundle back in her arms, then picking up my handbag, I rush for the door without saying goodbye. Each step I take back towards the studio adds to my rage, and when I slam my way through the door into Madame Riverty’s office, both she and her son look shocked to see me when I interrupt them eating their sushi together.

“I’m quitting!” I tell them both, hardly able to believe the words that expel from my mouth. “I’m quitting, because you are a liar.” I point my finger at Lewis, managing to hold in my tears as I spin around and head back out the door again.

I wait till I’m out on the pavement before I take out my phone ready to call Alex and ask for a ride back to his, and Lewis comes racing out the door chasing after me

“Wait. Olivia, what did you mean when you called me a liar?” he asks, acting like he doesn’t know.

“I heard what you told Leon, about the night of the Christmas party!” I yell, wondering why I didn’t call him out in front of his mother. He sure wasn’t considering my feelings when he was lying to all the people we work with.

“Olivia, I never…”

“Don’t come any closer.” I hold my hand out when he starts stepping towards me.

“If you do, I'll go in there and tell your mother the real reason I’m leaving.”

“Olivia, this is a silly misunderstanding, you don’t want to lose your job over it.” He laughs it off like it’s no big deal.

“I’m not losing my job, I’m quitting it,” I correct him, trying to remember a time when I’ve been more furious.

“I know what this really is. I’ve seen the headlines just like everyone else.” He shakes his head. “You don’t need a job because you have a rich fiancé, now. You don’t want any of your dirty, little secrets coming out. And you're going to give up all your opportunities just to be a rich man’s wife.” I shake my head when I consider that this man actually believes his own lies.

“That's not true, and you're avoiding what you’ve done wrong here. You can’t lie about things like that.” I shake my head some more, and when he reaches out his arm like he’s about to grab me, a huge guy comes out of nowhere and shoves him back.

“Who the fuck are you?” Lewis yells as the man, who’s wearing a black suit, pins him to the wall. “This is none of your business.”

“We’re Miss Adams’ personal security team, and you need to get back inside the building.” I look to my left at the bald guy who’s standing beside me, also wearing a suit. He takes my elbow in his hand and starts steering me across the road towards a white Range Rover.

“Wait, I don’t have a personal secu?—”

“We have her, sir.” He talks into a mouthpiece that's clipped to his jacket like he’s some kind of MI5 agent.

“Were you talking to Alex?” I question as he opens the door to the backseat.

“Yes, ma’am, please get inside.”

“And how long have you been my security?” I snatch my arm back off him.

“Since you moved into Mr. Stanley’s home,” he informs me, and when my phone starts to ring and I see Alex’s name flash up I quickly answer.

“Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on here?” I snap.

“How about you tell me? Who’s the guy that's thinking he can touch you?” he asks, sounding pissed.

“He’s my boss's son and I had it handled,” I assure him.

“Get in the car. Spence and Hugo will bring you home to me.” His voice is gravelly and I can hear the tension in it.

“Alex, you’ve had people watching me?—”

“You're making it sound weird. They haven’t been watching you, they’ve been looking out for you. Just get in the car.”

“We are talking about this when I get home.” I hang up, rolling my eyes at the hefty man waiting beside me and doing as he says.

ALEX

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