Page 13 of My Hired Valentine

“Girl, please,” Tiffany jumps in, shaking her head as she leans over her desk. “We can see it written all over your face. Not only do you have the hots for Dr. McDreamy, you’re in love with him.” She sighs dramatically. “I can’t wait till it happens to me.”

“Love?” I blink, the word hitting me like a slap of cold water. “No, no, no…”

Seth abandons his own desk, sliding onto the edge of mine with a sly grin. “Honey, face it. You’ve found your soul mate.”

Soul mate? My chest tightens, and for a second, I can’t breathe. His words echo in my head like a bell I can’t unring. I think about Dex—the way he looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world. How safe he makes me feel. How his touch unravels me completely. My throat works as I swallow.

“We haven’t been dating all that long,” I stammer. “You can’t fall in love that fast.”

“And who makes the rules on love?” Seth counters. “My parents met on a Monday, married on a Wednesday, and they’re celebrating their fortieth anniversary next month.”

“Forty years?” I ask weakly, trying to wrap my head around that.

“Yep,” Tiffany chimes in, nodding. “So, it’s possible, Violet. Don’t fight it.”

“You’re going to be a beautiful bride,” William says with a wink.

I burst out laughing, unable to stop myself. The absurdity of the conversation—combined with the truth simmering just beneath the surface—makes me dizzy. Are they right? Could I really be falling for Dex?

“Violet,” a voice cuts through the laughter like a knife.

I freeze.

Wayne Harris stands in the doorway to the office, his oily grin in place. “I’d like a moment alone with you.”

The room falls silent. I glance up at my friends, who have all gone still, their gazes bouncing between me and Harris. Seth frowns and doesn’t budge. “You good?” he asks quietly.

I force a smile I don’t feel. “Yes. I’ll see you in a minute.”

Seth doesn’t look convinced, but he, Tiffany, and William gather their things and file out of the office, throwing suspicious glances over their shoulders.

As soon as the door closes, I stand, my pulse jackhammering in my chest. Harris doesn’t move. He just stares at me, his smug expression making my skin crawl.

“I have a proposition for you, Violet,” he says, his voice low and measured.

“Yes, sir?” I answer, my throat dry. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to run.

“You go on a date with me,” he says, raising a hand when I start to protest. “And I won’t sue your doctor friend.”

I blink. “What?”

Harris’s smile grows sharper. “He bruised my ribs. I saw my doctor again yesterday. Medical records don’t lie, Violet.”

“Bruised your ribs?” I choke out. “You wereblue.You couldn’t breathe. He saved your life!”

“And yet,” Harris shrugs, “he was a little too rough about it. I’m a partner at Sterling and Chase, Violet. We have endless resources. If I take this to court, Dr. Faletti’s reputation will take a hit… along with his bank account.” He tilts his head, the fake sympathy in his voice making me want to scream. “You wouldn’t want that, would you? A hero like him, taken down because you couldn’t manage one simple date?”

My knees feel weak. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can.” He pulls a card from his pocket and tosses it on my desk. “Dinner with me tomorrow night, or I’ll file the paperwork by the end of next week. And don’t get any ideas about telling anyone about this conversation.” He takes a step closer, and I instinctively step back. “If you do, I’ll just find something else to go after Dr. Faletti for. Maybe he x-rayed the wrong leg? Maybe he misdiagnosed someone? The possibilities are endless.”

I grip the edge of my desk to steady myself, nausea rolling through me. “You’re a monster.”

Harris chuckles darkly. “Think what you want, Violet. But you’ve got a choice to make. Text me your answer.” He saunters toward the door, pausing just before he leaves. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

The door shuts behind him with a finality that makes my stomach sink. I stare at the card on my desk, my heart pounding so loudly I can hear it in my ears.

I sink into my chair, my hands trembling as I clutch my phone, Harris’s threats replaying in my head.

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