Page 44 of Kiss and Tell
“It’s not that.” I pressed my lips together firmly, trying not to let my voice shake. “He’s been threatening to say some really horrible things.”
“Like what?” Connor asked.
I closed my eyes and ducked further into the tub, until the water hit my chin. I didn’t want to say it.
“What could be worse than being stuck doing this guy’s dirty work?” Connor said. “Do you want to be stuck working as his personal assistant forever? What’s the worst he can say?”
“He can say I slept my way to the top.”
Connor went still, mouth dropping.
“He wasn’t just a coworker,” I confessed. “I told you, he was nice and friendly when I started. He was so charming and sweet. I thought he really liked me.” The backs of my eyes burned, and it wasn’t from the chlorine. “He convinced me to let him take me on a date. A single date. And that’s when everything changed.”
Connor’s expression darkened, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he listened.
“He always used to ask me for small favors before, and I was happy to help when I first joined the company. But after that date is when he dropped it on me. He said if I didn’t do what he told me, he’d tell everyone I was trying to gain favors by sleeping my way to the top.”
Connor’s eyes turned murderous.
“That fucking rat bastard,” he cursed.
“Everyone knew he was taking me on that date. And everyone knew how much he’d helped my career. It wouldn’t be hard for people to start believing the rumors.” I ducked my head down, resting my chin on my knees.
“Can’t you tell someone?” Connor asked insistently.
“I’ve thought about doing just that a thousand times.” Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “But what do you think would happen if I did? I work for a boutique agency. We don’t have some huge HR department with policies and procedures. I’d have to convince the firm’s partners to believe me over him.”
“You don’t think they would?” Connor asked.
“Some of them would,” I agreed. “Maybe even most. But it’s a small industry. Word gets around. My reputation is at stake. I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories.” My fists clenched under the water, nails biting into skin. “Women come forward but aren’t believed. Or, even if they are believed, everyone starts treating them differently. There will be whispers and stares, colleagues gossiping about me behind my back. No one will talk about the amazing client work I did. They’ll only know my name because I’m the one who ‘got that guy fired.’ I don’t need that following me around for the rest of my career. Why do you think most womendon’tcome forward?” My lips firmed, my voice turning rough. “It’s not because we’re timid or meek. It’s because we’resmart. Every single one of us knows the consequences of coming forward, and it only very rarely turns out well for us. And Peter knows that, too. He’s betting on me being smart enough to keep quiet.”
Connor moved swiftly to cross the hot tub and sit beside me. He put a hand on my cheek, lifting my face up.
“I am so sorry, Quinn,” he said. “I had no idea you were dealing with this.”
I sniffed and wiped my cheeks with both palms, the water, sweat and tears intermingled.
“I wish there was something I could do to make it better,” Connor continued.
“Help me get a promotion by making this bar the best it can be,” I told him. “If I can rise up high enough in the company on my own, it won’t matter what he says about me. I just need to prove myself and get that promotion. Then I’ll have leverage. We need to nail the design, and get lots of media attention, and have the grand opening packed with people. If I can prove this job was a success…”
“I’ll make sure it’s a success,” Connor said. “I’m going to work my ass off for you.” He brushed strands of damp hair behind my ear then pressed his lips to my forehead with a soft sigh. “I promise.”
Fourteen
I leftthe hot tub first, telling Connor I was starting to feel lightheaded. He stayed behind to soak for a while more. I think he understood I wanted some time alone to gather myself after everything I’d just told him.
I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious and a little embarrassed. I hadn’t planned on saying any of it. I hadn’t wanted Connor to know about Peter and his blackmail.
But I couldn’t deny it felt good to confide in another person.
Connor hadn’t been able to solve the problem; not that I’d expected him to, but at the very least it was nice getting things off my chest.
And now Connor knew why this renovation was so important to me. He understood why I was taking things so seriously, why I was determined to impress my bosses. I had to rise up in the company on my own terms.
When I returned to the hotel room, I headed to one of the bedrooms and its ensuite bathroom to take a shower and wash the chlorine out of my hair.
I open the door and stopped short. The bathroom was even more ostentatious than the living room area had been. There was a jacuzzi tub and a glass-walled free-standing shower. There were dozens of little bottles and small packages lining the counter and sink. It wasn’t only the usual shampoo and soaps. There were shaving cream and razors, tweezers and exfoliators, bath bombs and scented oils. It felt more like a spa than a hotel bathroom.
