Page 56 of Keep My Secrets
“I—” I cut him off before he could backpedal.
“So let's see, he makes your yearly salary every week. He has a penthouse in one of the most exclusive buildings in the city. His friends all run Fortune 500 companies.”
“So it all has to do with money?” He smirks.
I smile. “Oh, and there is also the fact I don't have to teach him where the clit is.”
Jonathan’s eyes shift from me to someone standing behind me.Fuck.I look over my shoulder to see Mr. Castin leaning against the wall behind me, with his arms crossed.
“Mr. Castin—”HR, here I come.
“Ms. Mason.” He nods in my direction before focusing on Jonathon.
“I would be careful what you say about Mr. Reeves. He will be attending the executive meeting today, and you wouldn't want to piss him off.” I smile at the thought Theo will be in this building. Just the idea of being near him sends lightning through my core.
“I’m not scared of that old man,” Jonathan retorts. He really isn't making himself look good in front of our boss, not like I have much room to talk.
“You really should be. But I personally would be more concerned about pissing off Ms. Mason.” Both their eyes flick to me. “She seems the type that would sacrifice her own family if it meant protecting those she loves.” Mr. Castin winks at me, and I smile back. He knows. I don't know how he knows, but he does.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I need to head to a meeting. I look forward to seeing what things you have to discuss in our end-of-day meeting.” Mr. Castin walks against the back wall to the executive meeting.
I swear he had already walked past with all of the board of execs. I must have been mistaken; it's not like he could be in two places at once.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Aria
I try to refocus on my work. We only have an hour left before our meeting. Meaning. I have two hours before I can head home and find out what Theo has planned for us tonight.
“I still don't get it. I mean, money is nice, but I don't see the draw,” Jonathon continues.
“What I don't understand is how you could go to a private investigator, make some outrageous accusations, and still think I care about anything you have to say,” I snap. I can't do this with him anymore. He is not getting the hint. He is not listening to anybody around him, telling him to tread lightly. Maybe he needs it point-blank.
“What PI?” he asks.
“Don’t try and bullshit me. I know a PI was poking around and asking my coworkers for information on my relationship. And I know you told him you thought I was being beat.”
“I did not! Someone asked about you, and I said I don't give out information about my coworkers. I wasn't going to just hand over personal information to a stranger. I may be jealous, but I am not stupid.”
I look at him and, for some reason, I believe him. If he didn't talk to the PI, who did?
“Your friends wouldn't even speak up for you when they were concerned for your safety. You really do know how to pick shitty relationships, don't you?” Elle pipes up from her desk.
What the fuck?
“What are you talking about?” I ask. What does she have to do with any of this?
“The PI was poking around. Your mom was concerned that you were in an abusive relationship. Jonathon had refused to tell him anything, even though he specifically asked you on your first day here.” She looks at Jonathan in disgust. “So when he asked me about the whirlwind relationship, I told him everything I know.” I just stare at her. I cannot make my brain process what she is telling me. She spoke to the PI and made the wild accusations of me being abused? Why? What did she even say? We don't talk, we barely even look at each other, and we haven't even worked on any of the same projects. Half the time, I forget she even exists.
“So you told him I was being manipulated and abused on what grounds?” I snap. The anger finally floods through my body.
“You think we don't see the bruises you hide under your watch and bracelets?” I look down, I don’t have any now, but when I did, I tried my best to cover them. I didn't want questions or assumptions. But that is exactly what I got. “Or the fact that you never wear your hair up because of the marks that show out the top of your shirt? How have you never worn anything less than tea length? You have been hiding bruises and scratches since the day you got here. Do not get me started about how on your first day, he came in here making demands, and when you said no, he got angry. I am sure the things he whispered in your ear weren't ‘have a great time’ or ‘I hear the chicken is good’.”No, those weren't what he said, but he never threatened me or did anything I didn't consent to or want. He has been so worried about taking advantage of me, but no one sees that side of him but me. All they see is the intimidating and domineering man. I can see why she thinks this, but it still doesn't give her any right to go to strangers and state this as fact.
“Elle, I don't usually bring my personal life to work. I am here to do a job, one I am damn good at. But because you made false accusations to the PI, I was actually put in danger.” I stand, if she wants to say someone is intimidating, let it be me. “Because you told straight-up lies to a private investigator who was hired by my mother, I had to get a restraining order to stop her harassment.”
“You got a restraining order put in place because your mom actually cared about you?” she scoffs.
