38. Aggressive Timeline
Madison
I had enough time in the car to clean up with some wet wipes. I also fixed my hair and lipstick. Blake’s hand settles on my lower back as we walk through the dining room. My heart does little flips from his touch. The restaurant has cloth napkins and tablecloths. The waiters wear white dress shirts with black slacks.
His hands are finally at ease instead of clenching. I’m glad I could help relieve some of his tension.
Seth stands as we enter the private room. “They’re arriving.”
Blake nods and puts me in the chair between him and Seth. I didn’t have time to discuss my plan with him. Maybe on the way back. Tingles shoot through me, remembering his anger and aggression as he spanked me, took my pussy, and fucked my face.
Blake doesn’t like the idea of me with other guys. Fuck, the feeling is mutual. I don’t like the idea of them with other women. Even in the past tense. If I ever met Andrea, I might need Noah to tie me down and restrain me from going after her for what she put them through.
“Smaller room this time?” Hunter asks as he struts in like he owns the place. His handsomeness can’t outshine his shit personality. Or the way his eyes linger on my breasts before he grins.
“Fewer people expected.” Seth smiles but there’s a flatness to it. “We don’t like to waste resources.”
“I enjoy a good meal.” William walks in, completely unaware of his son’s inappropriate behavior, and sits at the table next to Seth. Not that Hunter has done much yet, and he wouldn’t dare to in front of his father. William turns to Seth with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. Your team is hard at work.”
“We like to make sure we’re in and out so you don’t have to worry about accommodating us for too long.” Seth glances my way briefly before returning his attention to William.
Hunter sits next to Blake and throws me a smile like he knows something I don’t. I don’t like that look.
We all settle in and order our food. Blake and Seth discuss the current status of the project while William asks questions. Hunter just watches me. It’s creeping me out enough that I almost want to yell, What!
He’s doing it on purpose to put me on edge. To let me know he has a plan and is confident he’ll get what he wants from me.
I’d rather die than give in to him.
“So I know this isn’t business as usual,” William starts. He smiles and looks at me for a moment.
The hair on the back of my neck rises as Hunter’s grin becomes more certain.
“What is it?” Seth asks.
“We were wondering if it might be possible to hire Madison for a special project.” William’s words cut into me. This has Hunter written all over it. “Not long-term, of course.”
My insides churn and solidify into a lump in my stomach. My chest tightens like a fist is wrapped around it.
Hunter smiles charmingly at the guys. “She was pretty integral to this project when she interned with us. It would be so much easier on our timeline if we could just borrow her for a few days.”
Blake stiffens beside me. Seth’s mouth tightens.
“I know it’s a lot to ask,” William says, “but we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think she’d be perfect for the job.”
No. No, no, no, no, no. My breath catches in my throat. I try to swallow around the lump blocking it. My chest tightens. I can’t. I can’t. Oh, fuck, I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I can’t.
“Are you okay, Madison?” William asks.
Blake stands abruptly and hauls me to my feet. “Excuse us.”
He leads me through a back door in the room. We’re in a hallway with waitstaff hustling through it.
“For fuck’s sake. Breathe, Madison.” He tips my chin up, and his worried green eyes search mine. He brushes my hair out of my face. “Breathe, love.”
I take a gasping breath in. He pulls me in tight against him.
“It’s not happening,” Blake says into my hair. His hands stroke my back. “There’s no way we could give you that time off. There’s too much to do at the office. And I would never let you.”
My chest eases and my breathing slows. My arms wrap around Blake like he’s my lifeline. Just the idea of working for Hunter again made me panic.
The door opens and I flinch, worried it’s Hunter and he’ll pry me away. I don’t release Blake. Fuck the fact that I’m supposed to be dating just Coop. Coop isn’t here.
“Are you okay?” Seth steps behind me and runs his hand over my hair.
“I’m sorry about the meeting,” I say quietly as I turn my face to look at him.
“Fuck the meeting.” Seth draws me into his arms and tucks my head beneath his chin. “You’re more important.”
That startles me. That’s not right. I’m not more important than the business. Not more important than the customer. I lift my head to search Seth’s eyes.
His finger traces over my lower lip. “Taylor’s couldn’t begin to offer what you’re worth. It doesn’t make good business sense. Besides, we’re not willing to let our assistant go for even one day.”
My insides warm again as his blue eyes hold me captive. His soft scent of sandalwood helps calm me. Resting my head against his chest, I take a deep breath. I’m fine.
“We need to finish out this meeting. Then I want you two to gather your stuff and come back to the office.” Seth presses his lips to mine. When he lifts them, I smile up at him. My heart slows slightly from its rapid pace.
If we’re leaving, then I might not get a chance to figure out?—
“Wait. I have an idea.” I turn to look at Blake. “What if Hunter is my stalker?”
Blake’s lips press into a thin line. “He is obsessed with you.”
“What are you thinking, princess?” Seth asks.
“You won’t like it,” I tell Blake.
“Let’s hear it,” Blake grumbles.
* * *
I’m so nervous my hands shake. We pack up our computers and put away our things. Courtney gives me a few glares at the noise we’re making. Theo gives me a smile. Peter just looks constipated.
“I’ll be right back.” As the words fall from my lips, I think of every horror movie I’ve seen with that exact line. It’s not really reassuring.
Blake waves me off and finishes a text he’s sending. I draw in a deep breath. It shouldn’t take long for Hunter to realize I’m not being guarded. I go into the bathroom but just wash my hands, staring at my pale reflection above the sink.
I just have to evade him long enough for Blake to come. It’s simple really. Hunter is a bragger. If he’s behind the stalking, he’ll tell me everything. I think about the shower and the file room. Whoever did it had the opportunity to do more to me, which doesn’t seem like something Hunter would pass up. Unless he was trying to make me quit and come work for Taylor’s.
I shake my head. I just need to eliminate someone or figure out who my stalker is. Now or never.
Taking a deep breath, I pull open the bathroom door and stroll down the hallway to the copy room. As soon as I step through the door, my breath catches. It’s the same as the last time I was in here, when Hunter had me cornered. The feeling of being trapped overwhelms me, and I almost bolt back through the door to freedom.
“You’re pretty slippery, little bird.”
My breath catches at his voice.
This door doesn’t have a lock on it. As long as I can reach the door, I’m safe. I take a deep breath. “What are you doing, Hunter?”
“What we should have done a year ago.” He closes the distance between us, and I retreat to keep the space.
“I already told you no. I don’t want you. Why can’t you accept that?” The presence of the wall closes in on me. He’ll have me trapped again if I’m not careful.
“That Courtney chick doesn’t like you much. She says you’re fucking your boss.” His eyes darken as he stops right before touching me, just as my back hits the wall.
“I’m dating Cooper,” I toss out, knowing it’s not enough to stop him.
He laughs. “I knew we should have hired you. Didn’t know you were the kind to slut it up for rich guys. You know, I’m worth a lot of money if that’s what gets you wet.”
“Fuck off, Hunter.” I go to brush by him, but he shoves my shoulder into the wall. His gaze trails over my open neckline.
“Did he leave all these marks on you?” His fingers dig into my shoulder next to one of the marks Coop left. “You could have had me gentle, little bird. But now I have to get rough with you because apparently you like it that way.”
His hand draws closer to my neck. For a second, I freeze, not knowing which way to go, but then I remember. “What about the recordings you sent me?”
His brow pinches together. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
His confusion seems so genuine that it might be real. Fuck, this was a bad idea.
“The texts with the videos of the bathroom and the file room.” I duck under his arm and hurry toward the door. Just as I get it open his hand slams it shut, and he traps me against the door, pressing his front against my back.
“You want to make a film, little bird? We could record right here in the copy room. I’ll fuck you so hard that guy won’t want your sorry pussy back.” His words fill me with dread. He draws my hair over my shoulder, sending a chill down my spine. “But I’ll still want you.”
I jerk my elbow into his stomach, surprising him more than hurting him. But it’s enough for me to get away from the door. “If you don’t stop this right now, I’ll scream.”
Laughing, he straightens. “Scream all you want, little bird. I made sure I’d get enough time with you after being interrupted the last time.”
I back behind a chair. “What do you mean?”
The door is the only way out, and Hunter stands between me and it. I swallow down my fear. Blake is coming.
“I made sure my dad would keep Blake occupied while my friend watches the door, so no one saves you this time.” His grin is as evil as my nightmare version of him. For a minute, I get trapped in that dream where Blake never shows up.
I know Blake won’t let me down.
“You haven’t been texting me and sending pictures?” I straighten my spine and look in his eyes, needing a direct answer.
“Fuck, no. Why would I waste any more time on you than I have to? I knew you’d walk in here begging for it. Looking for any excuse to get me alone so you can choke on my dick.” He grabs his bulge. My stomach turns at the thought.
“I don’t want anything from you, Hunter.” I glance at the door. Where is Blake?
“Fuck, Maddy.” Hunter closes in on me again. “I’m going to get a taste of you today before you slip out of my hands for good. You’re going to love it and want me so badly you’ll be begging me to let you come work for me. So I can fuck that pretty pussy every fucking day.”
“What is going on here?” William asks.
The door opened right when Hunter started his little speech. William stands with Blake behind him. The tightness in my chest eases.
Hunter swallows and smiles before he turns to his father. “Maddy and I were just messing around. Isn’t that right, Maddy?”
He glares at me when he turns back around.
I look Hunter dead in the eyes when I say, “I’m sorry, Mr. Adams, but Hunter has been sexually harassing me since I worked here. I didn’t tell you because he’s your son. In fact, none of the women tell you. I’m not the first he’s cornered in the copy room, and I won’t be the last if you don’t do something about him.”
Hunter’s face turns red and his fists clench at his sides. He jerks forward like he’s going to grab me. I don’t dare cower from him. Not this time.
William blows out a breath. “Hunter, go to my office.”
He glares at me. “But?—?”
“But nothing. Go.” William steps out of the way and Hunter stomps past the men. William takes a deep breath in, and as he releases it, some of that happy energy he always carries leaves him too. “Madison, I’m so sorry you didn’t feel you could come forward and tell me. We’ve lost a lot of really excellent employees that I thought had better offers. Now I need to review what really happened.”
“I should have told you.” Just because I got away doesn’t mean some other woman did too. “I didn’t want you to think less of me.”
He gives me a partial smile. “Never, my dear. I’m just sorry you thought you had to endure that.”
I give him a smile as my gaze meets Blake’s. One thing is certain: Hunter isn’t the stalker, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t just create an even more potent enemy.