Page 166 of Lust

"I guess we'll find out soon."

I debate going up to my office while I wait, but my feet refuse to move. Kiara and My-Linh make room for Clarissa and me in the office next to the boardroom, saying that they'll be back with coffee. Kiara shares a look with me and mouths "good luck."

Emotions swirl in my stomach as I think over everything that's happened today. First, reuniting with Clarissa, now, sitting outside my own boardroom wondering if ten minutes from now, I'm still going to have my job.

Clarissa rubs my back in circles. "Just breathe. We'll do it together, okay? After three."

The gesture, mirroring all the actions I'd done the same for her, unravels the knot of tension in my chest. I rest my head on her shoulder with a sigh. "Can I come work with you? If I get fired?"

She chuckles softly. "Sure, I need someone to stand outside and do crowd control."

I laugh and kiss her neck. "I think I'd actually like that. I can use my brainpower to think up ways to spoil you."

Her fingertips brush through my hair as she whispers comforting words. It makes the waiting slightly more bearable.

Almost an hour after I've left the boardroom, the door finally opens, and the board files out, none of them meeting my eyes.

Finally, Damien steps out first, followed by Kylian and then Kingsley.

I can't tell from the looks on their face what's happened. Which is surprising in Kylian's case. Kiara must've been teaching him to work on his poker face. Either that, or they're just really trying to hold back showing the bad news on their face.

They walk over to me, my heart in my throat.

"The vote was nine to ten," Kingsley says, without elaborating.

Clarissa touches my back.

"You're safe," Damien finally adds.

Relief blankets me like a warm cocoon and a single sob bubbles out of me. "Oh, my god."

They give me a moment to celebrate before the serious look is back.

Kylian leans in an says, "There's more."

"Gerry?"

Kingsley nods.

Before he can tell me what else was discussed in the meeting, Gerry storms out of the boardroom and makes a beeline for me, his face contorted with hate.

"You. You are going down for this. We're not done, you little fucker. You think you're so smart, but I'm smarter."

He looks behind me, sees Clarissa, and lunges for her. In the background, I hear My-Linh shout, "Clarissa, watch out!"

I push Clarissa out of the way. Reaching for Gerry's shirt, I shove him to the ground. "When are you going to learn? I keep my promises. Stay away from her."

He scrambles to his feet and leers towards her. "You made a grave mistake, sweetheart. You'll realize that soon enough." When he turns to my brothers and me, his eyes are wild and red. "You all are about to realize you've messed with the wrong person."

"We're ready," I say. "Let's settle this once and for all."

His nostrils flare and then he hurls himself towards the elevator.

"What the hell was that about? What happened in there?" I ask once he's gone.

Damien fills in the holes, his face grim. "The board voted nine to ten to suspend him over that tape. They said that it was hearsay. But I know a lot of them are looking at him differently and definitely are going to do some digging. He's going to take things up a notch now. It's coming close to the CEO vote. He's going to think like he's got nothing to lose."

Kylian comes around and hugs me from behind. "Then let's give him a fight."

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