Page 20 of In Charge

Chapter 10

Robbie

The information I leakedon Dad’s clients had disseminated as planned. First the senator was exposed, then two high-profile executives Dad managed. It was just enough dirt to cause a stir and bring into question Dad’s ability to protect their images.

The only thing I hadn’t planned on was a visit first thing in the morning from Dad. I’d expected him to be holed up in his office all day on the phone doing damage control. These were his top three longest-running clients. The ones that helped him jumpstart the business. Dad was supposed to panic, beg them not to leave the firm, and give him a chance to fix it. Instead, he showed up at my door this morning and confronted me.

“How could you,” he said. “I know you dislike me, but I never imagined you hated me this much.”

Hearing Dad say the words, accepting for the first time just how much I despised him, hit me hard. Dad deserved everything he had coming to him, but I hadn’t expected the emotional turmoil that followed. I felt exactly like I did that time when I was ten, lost my temper and kicked the dog. I’d never felt so sick over my actions again, until now. What kind of person did this make me?

In the end, I was no better than him, and I hated this sick feeling in my gut. I’d stooped to his level, and now I may have lost the only woman I cared about because if it. Now who’s the asshole?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Stop. I know it was you. And I guess I deserve everything you’ve done.”

“Dad, I—”

“I don’t even want to know how much you’ve released, but I’m guessing it’s enough to sufficiently hang me. I just hope it’s not enough to destroy PenTalent completely.”

“You’ve always cared more—”

“I’m leaving for a day or two while Maya fixes this. We’ll discuss my role in the company when I return. Good-bye, Robbie.”

With that, Dad left, refusing to give me a chance to speak. His reaction had thrown me for a loop, I couldn’t bring myself to face anyone. I knew I should go to the office and help Maya deal with the backlash, but I didn’t know how she would respond. If she knew I was responsible, she’d hate me, and I wasn’t ready to let her go. Not when I’d been so close to having her. I doubted Dad told anyone he knew it was me, but then again, he didn’t have to. Maya was smart enough to figure it out on her own as well.

In all honesty, I knew Dad would figure out it was me. I also knew no amount of denial would change his mind about who was responsible. Look at how I stormed out of his office yesterday afternoon. Only a fool would’ve been blind enough to miss the connection.

If I didn’t want to get caught, I should have waited a few days—better yet, weeks. But I was angry and lost all self-control. Jake tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. I was too angry to care, and the alcohol made it worse.

So when Dad showed up at my door before eight this morning, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

What did surprise me was Dad wasn’t angry. He was disappointed, yes, but not angry. He was somber, almost sad, when he arrived at my apartment. The compromising pictures of Senator Thomas hit the tabloids long before the sun came up, and Dad was at my apartment before the calls even began.

So instead of facing the music, I hid in my apartment like a coward.

I need a drink. Opening the liquor cabinet, I weighed my options. I reached for the bottle of whiskey, then stopped. This was a cognac kind of day. Grabbing the bottle of Hennessy and a glass, I headed to the balcony. I tossed back my first glass in one gulp, not even tasting the spicy liquid burn as it slid down my throat.

A thunder cloud rumbled in the distance as I poured another glass. The sky darkened and a light rain fell from the sky. Fitting considering my current state. I kicked up my feet, with my cognac in hand, and wished the rain could wash away the damage I’d done.

***

IT WAS AFTER SEVENwhen I decided to go to the office. Everyone should have already left for the day. I needed a few hours in the office alone to figure out how to fix this without losing Maya. I needed a plan before I dealt with the backlash, because the backlash was sure to be harsh.

I stepped off the elevator and froze. The rest of the floor was empty, but Maya was still in her office. A pounding drum sounded in my ears at the sight of her standing beside her desk in a snug white sweater and a deep red pencil skirt that hugged her curvy hips. The matching red spiked heels added three inches to her height and made her already long, slender legs irresistibly sexy. Hot damn, I can’t take it.

The draw of her beauty forced me to make a beeline for her office. I had to get this over with now. If she hated me and never wanted to see me again, then so be it. But if there was even the slightest chance I could get to be with her, then I had to risk talking to her now.

I hoped like hell she’d still have me after this.

I stepped into her office and shut the door. Maya spun around with an initial look of fear on her face, but her expression softened when she saw it was me. Dammit, she looked so sexy with glasses on. Since when did she wear glasses? I’d never seen her with them on before, but it made me want her more. I leaned against the handle and turned the lock. The click broke the silence.

“Did you just lock my door?” She sat the papers she was reading on her desk and faced me, her expression unreadable.

“I did.” My hands itched to touch her, and my lips burned to feel her soft plump lips against them again. She leaned on the edge of her desk and crossed her legs at her ankles. I couldn’t stop my eyes from roaming down her body. The way she leaned on her hands screamed come fuck me, and I nearly lost my mind restraining myself.

“Where’ve you been all day?” Her words snapped me back to reality. I needed to get my head out of the gutter. Jumping her may not even be in the cards anytime soon. Or ever.

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