Page 57 of Keep My Secrets
I walk over and stand in front of her desk, and place both my hands on either side of her laptop. “Whatever make-believe abuse you have convinced yourself I am receiving is nothing compared to the trauma I went through growing up. I finally got away and was finally safe until you opened your mouth. You wereso worriedthat a man you don't know said a mean word to me, you actually put my life in danger.”
Elle stands, putting us eye to eye. “And I would do it again.” My fist tightens against the table.
“Aria.” Theo’s voice catches my attention. Mr. Castin and Theo are standing by my desk.Great, something else to talk to HR about.
I start walking back to my desk when Mr. Castin speaks, “Let's go talk in my office.”
I walk into his office, expecting to be fired.
The door closes behind me before he asks, “What was all of that?”
I take a deep breath, but shouting at my boss won’t help.
“I am not sure how much you have been made aware of, but by your comment earlier, I assume most of it.” He looks at me, confused.
“You had said I seem like the type that would sacrifice my family to protect those I love.” I look to Theo, who is leaning against the back wall, making sure I am not crossing any boundaries.
He nods, so I look back at Mr. Castin, who just mumbles, “Right, right.”
“Well, a PI has been snooping around trying to make a case that Theo is manipulating and abusing me.” He looks back at Theo for confirmation before looking back at me.
“I had assumed it was Johnathon who had spoken to him, but Elle piped up and said she was the one who told the PI that Theo was hurting me.” Mr. Castin looks at Theo while sitting back against his desk.
“So I told her, I wasn't in any danger until she opened her mouth and fed the PI lies. Now, because of her actions, my mom has dug her heels in further, and is now threatening The Co-” I quickly shut my mouth and look to Theo, my eyes wide. I may have just fucked up.
“The Court,” he finishes for me. Castin doesn't react at all, so this is not new information to him. My body relaxes.
“I understand why you got heated. But I need you to take a step back. I’ll talk to Theo, and we will figure out how to handle Elle.”
“Shit, don't kill her,” I say. She's a bitch who needs to learn to keep her mouth shut, but I don't want her dead. The men laugh, which puts me at ease.
Theo walks up behind me and places his hands on my shoulders before kissing the top of my head. “We're not going to kill her.”
“Ok,” I whisper, slightly embarrassed.
“We just need to keep an eye on her without tipping off her dad,” Castin explains. Of course, I had to have an issue with the one coworker whose dad helped build the company we work for.
“Let us handle it, but go pack up your stuff, head home for the day, and cool off.” I nod.
“I am sorry. I didn't mean to cause a scene.”
“Just don't do it again. I would hate to not be able to hire my best intern because she has an attitude problem,” Mr. Castin jokes.
“Fuck, does she have an attitude problem,” Theo growls into my ear.
Mr. Castin has a knowing smile on his face when Theo walks me out to my desk.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Aria
TWO WEEKS LATER
I am just about done curling my hair when Theo walks into the bathroom.
“Going to see me off to work?” I smile, putting the curling iron down on the counter.
