Page 29 of If You Could Only Imagine
I nodded. “It is,” I reaffirmed. “But it will not affect how things operate around here, I promise.” Then I remembered myself. “I mean, it won’t affect how things operate around hereagain.”
“Denise…”
“No. Please,” I interrupted. “I take full responsibility for what happened and I’m not going to excuse my unprofessional behavior, because there is no excuse.” I still believed that. “I crossed a line, and once I speak with HR and Mason Buchanan, I can only hope to still keep my job.”
“But…but that’s not fair,” she cried.
“It might not be fair,” I agreed, “but it’s just, Sarah. Iwillinglygot involved with Aiden Buchanan and whatever comes of it, I have no one to blame but myself.” I couldn’t believe how heartbroken I was over all of it. “He didn’t force me or bribe me, Sarah,” I whispered the truth.
Sarah just nodded and looked resigned to accept the fallout every bit as much as I was. “Okay,” she muttered. “And…and I’ll do my best to…stave off some of the speculation.” She raised her head and propped her shoulders back as if she was going to war. “I am not going to let them crucify you or think they can speak about you in any disrespectful manner.”
The first warm smile of the day crossed my face. “Thank you, Sarah. Thank you, so much.” She gave me a brisk nod, and I watched as she opened the door and walked out of my office.
I dropped into my chair and wondered what the fuck to do. The problem with quitting is that no one quit Buchanan Industries unless it was for upward growth and opportunity. BI was one of the best-run conglomerates in the nation. No one left their employ just to go work somewhere else doing the same thing. My reasons for quitting would follow me and I’d be a laughingstock no matter where I applied.
This was everything I feared. I had done everything right in my life until now. I had stayed in school, gotten good grades, stayed away from drugs and gangs, avoided unwanted pregnancies, worked hard…and all to just throw it all away for a man who looked good in a suit and could fuck like a stallion.
I deserved this. All of this.
After a few rough seconds, I picked up the phone and dialed HR’s extension. Marcy Lorrel picked up on the second ring. “Good Morning, this is Marcy.”
“Good Morning, Marcy,” I greeted back. “This is Denise Hart. I…uhm, I was wondering if you have time to see me today?”
Her silence spoke volumes. “I can see you immediately, Denise.”
Chapter 16
Aiden~
I don’t know how Mason knew, but he did.
I had received a text at six this morning telling me he heard that me and Denise had a fight in my office last night and he wanted to make sure I was okay.
He didn’t text to yell or lecture me. He texted to see if I was okay. And then he texted asking if Denise was okay.
I loved my brother.
When I got to work, I had headed straight to his office, and that’s when he told me the rumor mill was based on a meeting that had been going on down the hallway and the attendees had seen Denise storm into my office and they could hear our raised voices.
I had immediately wanted to reach out to her, but I thought it would make things look worse if I approached her personally after what was being said. So, instead, I sent her a text asking her if she was okay. She hasn’t responded.
I was pacing my office when I heard the door open, and turning around, I expected to see Mason or Shane. Hell, even Denise. What I wasn’t expecting to see was my father.
Motherfucker.
Harold Buchanan waltzed right in and didn’t even work his way up to the reason he was in my office. “Aiden, what is this I hear about your involvement with an employee?”
I had to admit I was rather shocked. It wasn’t even 9 am, and word had gotten around even to him?? My father wasn’t even an active partner in BI anymore. Mason was in control of everything and he let our father make appearances in the building to make Harold feel better about himself. Not that Mason cared about our father or his feelings, but ever since Mom came to our defense when that shit was going down with Shane, Mason tried his best to make life a little easier for her. And that meant keeping Harold busy and away from home.
I stopped pacing and turned to face my father. “Not really caring what you’ve heard, Dad, but what I do personally or professionally is none of your concern,” I answered, coldly. Harold needed to remember we weren’t kids anymore. He was dealing with grown ass men now.
He scoffed. “Of course, it’s my business,” he argued. “You’re a Buchanan. How do you think it’s going to look to have my son consorting with the employees?”
I raised a brow. Consorting? Really? “Well, seeing as how I’m notconsortingwith employees, you have nothing to worry about,” I said, smoothly.
Harold placed his hands on his hips and did his best to stare me down. Little did he know, that shit didn’t work anymore. He had no power over me, Mason, Michael, Gabriel, my mother or Buchanan Industries. “Aiden, you know damn well what I mean,” he snapped. “And if it wasn’t bad enough that you’re dipping your dick inside the goddamn help, you had to pick a girl who’s…”
I prayed he wasn’t going to say what I think he’s going to say. “Who’swhat?”
