Page 6 of Never Fake Date the Financier
He’s not wrong. Backing out now is impossible without casualties, my ego included. But I need someone who’s completely unknown.
“And deal with the press? Paparazzi? No thanks. I’d like to stay out of the limelight.”
“Then maybe you should’ve picked a different gig.”
My jaw clenches as I meet Asher’s gaze. I shake my head and then turn back to my monitor. I’m not going to make any more progress on this, and I have more pressing matters to figure out: Another forwarded complaint from HR about Eugene.
Nothing enrages me more than letting something this big slip under my radar. It’s enough to burn down everything Asher and I built. I only found out about the complaints against him a few days ago. He’d been shuffling them around, sweeping them under the proverbial rug, and it was dumb luck that they were found in a routine audit. Thank fuck for Melvin, HR Manager extraordinaire.
I should’ve trusted my gut with Eugene. He had the vibe of a predator, but I ignored it because he performed. He brought us talent, and he had a stellar record. But I should’ve paid more attention to his inability to retain assistants, flying through them at a rate that put Asher to shame. I’d assumed he was as demanding. A perfectionist. Not this. Not… This is on me. I’ve made a mistake I won’t repeat, and I plan to put in frameworks so it never happens again.
“Forget the wedding. We need to take care of Eugene.”
Asher’s playing with his phone, and judging from the big grin on his face, he’s texting Lilah. Sexting, more likely—based on their whirlwind romance. It’s a struggle for those two to keep their hands off each other.
Asher pockets his phone, his smile disappearing from his face. “Anything new to report?”
I grit my teeth. “No, but he needs to go.”
“You’ve got my backing. Can’t believe we let this slip under the radar.”
“Both of us have been a little distracted.”
He sighs, stretching. “True, but it’s not sitting well with me.”
I nod. “It’s going to be a messy severance.”
“Not as messy as if he stays. He could tear us apart from the inside.”
When I found out about the reports, I had cameras installed in his office, so there wasn’t a single inch of it unmonitored. Mics everywhere. I wanted all the evidence I could find at my disposal to ensure this asshole never worked in the industry again. The man is everything that we’re fighting against.
“He’s in another interview now, and I’m about to check the feed.”
“I’ll leave you to it.”
“You’re not going to review the tapes with me?”
He shakes his head. “I trust that you’ll take care of it. Besides,” he says, patting his phone in his pocket. “I have some unfinished business to attend to at home.”
I sigh. “Give Lilah my best. I’m glad that her morning sickness passed.”
“Same,” Asher says with a wink before leaving my office.
I turn to my monitor and open the live feed to Eugene’s office. He’s perched on the edge of his desk, intruding on the space of the woman in front of him. The default camera doesn’t provide the best angle to see her, but her body language tells the entire story. Tension spreads in my jaw as every muscle in my body clenches.
“Temperament,” Eugene says, his voice somewhat muffled as he continues talking.
I catch bits and pieces, but it’s enough to make me rage. I should’ve monitored every interview, reviewed them at the very least before now. I should’ve made this a priority. I make no excuses—this is on me. But I’m going to make this right. For this woman and everyone who ever came in contact with him.
When I change the camera to see the woman, my heart stops. I can’t breathe. Can’t think. My head pounds. Every muscle in my body contracts and expands at once. I see stars. Galaxies. The multiverse vibrating and…
“Fuuuuuuuuck,”I rasp, clutching the edge of my desk.
Who is this angel? She’s gorgeous. Stunning. Like no woman I’ve ever seen, and she’s causing a chain reaction inside me. It’s primal, this feeling. Like something that’s finally been activated after a lifetime of disuse.
But the expression on her face ignites something just as powerful. Rage, like I’ve never felt because she looks both disgusted and dejected and…
And it’s all my fault. Eugene.Motherfu?—
