Page 60 of Untamed Protector

“Alright, Hulk, stand down,” Anita says as she strides over to me. She seems calm, but I know exactly what she’s capable of.

“Why don’t we go back inside, little mouse,” she says, smirking. “And this handsome fellow over here,” she adds, rubbing Mike’s chest as she passes, “… I guess we can leave him at the door so he can get a nice view of my ass. I’m feeling generous today, soldier.”

I give Mike a nod, hand him the box, and follow Anita back into the room, leaving the door open.

“You did good, country girl,” Anita says sarcastically, clapping mockingly. “You landed the coolest guy. I know it wasn’t part of the plan, but you caught on fast.”

I’m guessing she’s talking about Gabriel. I don’t answer. It’s best that she unleashes her venom, and I leave before it hurts me.

“I heard about your little performance for my dad in that little town of yours. I started asking around after I saw how he’s been fawning over you. People talk if you know how to ask the right questions.”

I know what she means, but it’s scary to think what she makes of it. Yeah, I showed off my memory and math skills to Peter when he visited our local factory. I pitched him an upgraded inventory system, hoping he’d promote me, or take me to HQ. Peter thought I was great and offered me my current job. But how does she know that?

“And you know, it’s pretty strange how much money he gave you for your dad’s hospital bills. It got me thinking Dad looks at you in a not-so-parental way. Maybe he’s even seen you around the factory before and overwhelmed you with his generosity, so you’d say yes to him. What other dirt will I find if I dig deeper?” she says, looking me squarely in the eye, her grin gone.

“You’re crazy. And disgusting. Only a sick mind like yours can think like that. It’s your father, for God’s sake. You and I are almost the same age.”

“Are you saying I’m wrong?” she goes on, unfazed. “And switching from Dad to Lucas was another brilliant move. Sadly, my dork of a brother isn’t capable of keeping a woman around. And when you saw Gabriel—handsome, rich, strong, and available—you batted your lashes, and that was it. I wouldn’t even be surprised if you wrote your own threats. You’d do anything for a little attention.”

“How do you know about the letters?”

“I know everything that goes on in this company, little girl. And there are other things you should open your eyes to. Trust me, I only want what’s best for you. You know, us girls need to support each other.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes and let out a snort. This is just too much. So this is where the Good Samaritan was hiding—in Anita’s cold, twisted heart. “You know Gabriel well enough to realize he doesn’t fall for this kind of crap. I mean, you tried, and it didn’t work for you,” I throw back at her. She fucking deserves it.

“Whoa, there we go. You’ve got your claws out now. That innocent act wasn’t fooling anyone. And if you’re buying into what Gabriel told you about me, you’re even dumber than I thought. Did you seriously think you were the only one strolling the beach with him, hand in hand? Or cozying up to watch the stars in his living room or snuggling in his windowless bedroom? I bet he gave you the house rules, too. No snooping, right?”

I blush, and my mouth gets dry. I wasn’t expecting this. Gabriel told me he never had anything with Anita. I specifically asked him. He lied to me! What else did he lie about?

“You’re blushing, so I’ll take that as a yes. Refusing to work for me was a mistake, mousey.” Okay, she’s obviously pissed that I said no when she came to my office in my first month here and asked me to be her assistant. Of course, I said no. My target was Lucas.

“With my connections and your mind, we could’ve ruled the world,” she says in a serious tone. She’s just wasting her time and energy on me. We’d never be on the same page.

“I don’t think you’re a good person, Anita. I could never work with you.”

“Good people die poor and hungry. Or they end up being a burden for their kids, just like your dad.”

And here she is, unleashing her venom on me. This woman knows exactly what hurts me the most.

“Get the hell out of here,” I yell, pushing her away. She’s stronger and taller than me, but I’m so angry I could push her into the wall and kick her without even thinking.

Anita grabs my hands and holds them out, getting ready to take her last shot at me. Mike walks in and stands next to us, unsure of whom to grab and pull apart. Given his size, he could easily pick us up with one hand each, but he looks a bit intimidated by our screams.

“Stay there, soldier,” she yells. “And you, country girl, you’re the one who needs to leave. I run this place. And by the way, I wouldn’t be so sure about Gabriel if I were you. Once he’s over you, he’ll find the most brutal way to get rid of you. I know plenty of women he’s dumped. His jealousy drove him overboard with my brother. Don’t let that sad, melancholic air fool you. He’s not sad or lonely. He lives a dangerous life. His buddy Damien saves his ass every time.”

I quickly pull my hands back and step away, debating whether I should punch her in the face. But I need to regroup.

“I figured you knew nothing about him, mousey. Open your damn eyes. You’re in a den of poisonous snakes, and from what I can see, you’ve already been bitten.”

18

Lexi

Anita can be a mean, twisted bitch, but even a sinner’s mouth speaks the truth sometimes. Her words kept spinning in my head long after she walked out of my office—former office. And what an exit! She dropped that bomb on me, and without giving me a chance to say anything back, she shot me a killer stare and warned me to steer clear of her. Then she just walked out past Mike, who’d silently witnessed the whole thing. I bet he’s seen catfights before, but I still caught him out of the corner of my eye, jaw-dropping at Anita’s torrent of words. She must’ve appreciated him for not interfering, so when she left, she rewarded Mike with a slap on the butt, a Well done, soldier, and a greedy smile on those pouty lips. The woman has no fear or shame.

“We’re leaving, Mike. Please. Can you take me to Gabriel?”

He nods, scoops up the box from the hallway, and steps behind me as we head for the elevator. On our way, we notice a few people who’ve probably gathered to see why Anita was yelling. Their heads swivel in sync, eyes wide with curiosity, before darting away as we walk by. I haven’t done a thing, but this feels like a walk of shame. As I get in the elevator, I hear a random goodbye, Lexi, from someone in the back row.

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