Page 111 of Daddies' Captive

Only where to hide? She glanced around. There was just one place that she could get to that would work.

She pushed her chair back and stood.

“Uh, Effie? Are you all right?” Grady asked.

She crawled under the desk.

“What is she doing?” Steele asked.

“I think she’s getting under the desk.”

“Did she drop something?”

“Uh, no. She appears to be sitting under it.” Grady peered down at her, so she buried her face in her knees. “And hiding.”

“Hiding? Who’s she hiding from?” Steele asked in that gruff voice of his.

“My thought would be us. Since we’re the only people in here.”

“Why would she need to hide from us?” Steele asked in an incredulous voice.

“I’m guessing she’s embarrassed about the porn talk.”

God. Would they just stop talking?

“That’s ridiculous.”

It was not ridiculous! It was not silly to be embarrassed and hide.

Of course it’s silly. You’re being an idiot and embarrassing yourself more. You’re hiding under your desk.

While your bosses are in the room.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Effie, don’t let people know you’re different.

They won’t like you if you don’t smile and pretend everything is all right.

She clasped her hands over her ears as though that would actually keep Nan’s voice out of her head.

Crap. Thirty-five years old and she was still hearing her Nan give her life lessons.

Life lessons that she really didn’t want or need.

Deep breath in. Let it out slowly.

“Effie? Effie, if you don’t answer me soon, then I’m pulling you out of there,” Grady said.

Get it together.

Another breath in, then she squealed as she felt the desk move. She glanced up to see that Grady had one end and Steele had the other.

“What are you doing?” she asked. “Be careful with the computer.”

“Fuck the computer,” Steele said gruffly. “Are you all right?”

Damn.

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