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“Phoebe! I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He pulled her into an embrace.

“Let me go!” she shouted. “You must think I’m an idiot!” Phoebe shook out of his arms.

“Can you calm down for a second and tell me what you’re talking about.”

“As if you don’t know there’s a woman in your house! In your bed for that matter! She’s waiting for you to come back so you can finish what you started.” She held a shaking hand out at him. “I can’t believe you would do this to me! Never once did I suspect you would. Why go through all of the theatrics and give me a key if you were going to keep screwing other women!?”

“Phoebe, listen to me. I’m not screwing other women.” He put his hands together and step toward her, and she stepped back. “Please,” he said. “I don’t know what you saw, but we can get down to the bottom of this right now.”

“So, you’re saying you didn’t know that your assistant is in your house?”

Quentin hesitated. “I knew she was there, but she—”

“Just shut up, Quentin! How can you excuse this?” Phoebe shook her head. “I was a fool,” she uttered as tears streamed down her face. “I should have never!” she yelled. She turned on her heels and fled through the yard, and Quentin went after her again.

“I’m not letting you leave like this.” He reached for her, and she shoved him with as much strength that was inside her soul.

“I hate you!” she screamed, and he fell back, stunned by her outburst. Phoebe jumped in her Benz and pulled out of the driveway. The tires pealed and kicked up asphalt as she threw the car in drive and took off down the street.

Lost in a trance, Quentin stood there taking his thoughts over what had just happened. It was then that he turned on his heels and re-entered the condo. His heavy steps announced his thundering presence, and when he cut the corner to his bedroom, Quentin was halted in his tracks.

Cindy had not moved. She still laid relaxed across his sheets much like the way she was when Phoebe had entered the room, with her legs entwined in the covers and brown peeks of her naked body on display.

“Son of a bitch,” Quentin barked.

Cindy sat up, and her breasts bounced as she perched on her knees.

“Is there a problem?” she asked.

Quentin let out a harsh breath. Really, this was all his fault. If he would’ve had the necessary conversation with Cindy from the beginning, maybe just maybe, she wouldn’t be lying naked in his bed. But that was just his voice of reason, assuming Cindy cared anything remotely about his relationship with Phoebe.

“Put your clothes on,” his ordered. His steely voice was rough and infuriated. Right now, Quentin felt homicidal. He may have just lost Phoebe forever. But taking a little blame on himself, he decided not to throw her out on her ass.

Cindy slipped out of the bed and sashayed to him. “I’ve missed you,” she purred. She flung her arms around his neck, and Quentin peeled her off of him.

“I said put your clothes on, I’m calling you a taxi.”

“Hey,” she said, reaching out to him, “what’s going on here?”

“What’s going on here?” he murmured. “Are you serious,” his steely voice drawled. “You know Phoebe and I are in a relationship. You’re disrespectful. Now get your shit and leave.”

Cindy took several steps back, embarrassed and astonished that he would dismiss her. She grabbed her clothes from the floor and quickly tossed them on as Quentin left the room to call a taxi. As he dialed, Quentin cursed, and his thoughts shuffled on what he could do to fix this.

“Mercury,” the man on the other line answered.

Quentin gave his address and disconnected the line just as Cindy came out the room.

“Hey Quentin, I’m sorry. You’re right, I was out of line, and I promise it won’t happen again. Honestly, I didn’t know you were serious about her since you’re usually not serious about anyone.”

Quentin regarded her. “You’re right. I take partial responsibility for this. I should’ve made it clearer. But I’ve got to tell you, Cindy, you can’t work with me anymore.”

Her eyes widened. “What, no, just calm down a minute. I promise it will never happen again.”

“It’s too late,” Quentin added.

“You’re not kidding.”

“I’m sorry to say that I’m not.” He looked from her to the window. “As of tomorrow, you’ll be transferred to the westside office. You’ll be working as Courtney’s assistant. Your salary will stay the same, and you’ll be reporting to her instead of me. Turn in your company phone when you get there, and Courtney will assign you a new one.”

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