Page 28 of His Plaything (Slade, Inc.)

Marcie's arms shook as she pushed herself up, standing from the booth. She stood very close to Connor, and he looked down at her like she was a piece of gum stuck to his shoe. She reached up, touching his elbow. Connor didn't flinch or move.

"Mr. Slade, she's not your type, and, quite frankly, I think your work was suffering some. I'm just looking out for you." She squeezed his arm. "Like I always have."

"So you think it's best if Shay is around?"

"Well, Shay understands that she is just there to serve a purpose. She's not trying to become your wife or some shit like that."

The word “wife” seemed to hang in the air. Connor held back a shiver. The thing he couldn't hold back much longer was his growing anger. He reached down and removed Marcie's hand from his arm. It was true. Shay was just a fuck-toy. Morgan was different, and even Marcie could see that.

"That private message from Morgan's ex-fiancé was fake. You set it up. And what about that file? You made sure it was easily found."

This time, Marcie had a proud glint in her eyes. "Yes. The file box was moved because of the remodel. Easy. The errand, well … I told her to get your suits, and well, it just worked out."

The mix-up with my meeting schedule. Marcie messed that up on purpose.

Shay then stood from the booth. She immediately wrapped an arm around Connor's waist, rubbing her face on his arm before speaking. "Yes, and Morgan came back to see what she needed to. You kissing me in the parking lot. You don't need a girlfriend, Mr. Slade. You need an office plaything. I can be that for as long as you want. No strings."

A mental movie of Morgan watching him and Shay in the parking lot played in his head. No wonder she fucking quit. What hell has she been going through?

Connor knew that if he didn't end this conversation very soon, he would do something he regretted. He didn't know himself or trust himself right now.

"Marcie, when are you supposed to get my suits?" He clenched his jaw.

"Oh, that's funny. I told her to meet me next door at the club in about ten minutes. I thought if she saw you guys leaving together, it would really solidify the situation."

"Solidify, huh?" Connor ran his hand through his hair before grabbing Shay's arm. He pulled it off himself and held it out to the side. He swiftly grabbed Marcie by the arm and held it in a similar fashion on the other side of himself. "Fuck both of you."

"What?" Marcie twisted in his hold.

Shay didn't resist.

"Screw you for thinking you know what's best for me and screw you for messing with Morgan. You're both fired. Don't return to my building, ever. I will send any personal items by mail."

Both women now pulled on their arms. Connor didn't release them right away. He wanted them to feel his strength.

"Mr. Slade, you don't mean that. If you just give it a day or two, you'll see we're right." Marcie whimpered as he squeezed both of their wrists a bit harder.

"Both of you are lucky that firing you is all I'm going to do. Don't let me ever see your faces again."

Shay was starting to get turned on by his harshness. Connor could tell by the way she was trying to press her body into his. She moaned quietly as her free arm came up to his waist.

Connor turned his head toward her. "Never fucking again."

He flicked both of their arms away from himself before abruptly turning away from them and the booth. Marcie stepped forward and tried to grab his arm. He swiftly pulled it away from her, still walking.

"Sir, you can't just fire me. Please."

He spun around, almost causing her to fall backwards. "I can, and I did. I don't need this kind of shit in my company." His eyes flicked up to Shay, who looked like she was on the verge of crying. "Shay, find yourself another temporary boss. I'm taken."

With that, Connor exited the bar, heading to the one place he was needed the most.

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