Counterfeit Connection

18. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Kaitlyn

By the time Thursday rolls around, I still haven’t seen Griffin again because work is stacking all around me. I literally have piles of files in my office that are nearly taller than me. Why do the older generations shun transitioning to digital? It’s infuriating.

Mika has been prying me with questions about my new boyfriend, and playing along has been a nice distraction. Pretending to gush over Griffin isn’t a hard thing to sell when he makes it so easy.

I knew I wouldn’t see much of him this week, but missing him wasn’t exactly on my bingo card, so when my phone buzzes across my desk with a call from him, my smile is genuine.

“Hello?” I answer.

“There’s a reporter posted up outside of your office this afternoon. I saw him when I drove by. I just want to make you aware he’s a snake and will shove a camera in your face.” His voice is deep and the vibration gives me the shivers. “And hello to you.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll make sure I look my best when I leave.”

“You don’t suffer in that department. You look incredible, even first thing in the morning. Speaking of, I miss that view. Why haven’t I had it in days?”

“Says the man who’s been equally as busy as me.” Knock. Knock. Knock. “Hey, let me put you down for a sec. Someone is at my door.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

I place the phone on my desk, not bothering to put it on mute, and walk over to open my door. Mr. Wilder is standing on the other side. “Hello, Mr. Wilder. I’m nearly finished with the reports for the Lawson case. You’ll have them before I leave today as promised.”

“That’s not why I’m here, Kaitlyn.” The creep pushes past me too close to my personal space. “I’ve seen you in the news lately. I didn’t realize your latest crush was so serious.”

“Mr. Wilder, I don’t think my private personal life should be a topic of discussion between us.”

“I don’t agree. I think your relationship with him lands it square in my realm when it could be beneficial to my, excuse me, our business. We have tried to open a conversation with the Shaw team for a few years with little success. Landing him for us could be a very advantageous opportunity for you. I’d consider it worthy of a significant promotion for you.”

Everyone tells me they can read my thoughts by the look on my face. I can’t have Wilder reading me, telling him to fuck off immediately. I need to walk a very delicate line with him. “Griffin already has a team who handles all of his contracts stateside. I’d be happy to have a conversation with him, but ultimately, the decision is his.”

Mr. Wilder steps closer. “I think you have it well within you to nudge him in a direction, if you know what I mean.”

My insides twist and I know I’m close to slapping him in the face and walking out, but I know I can’t do that. “I will talk to him.” I take a deep breath before continuing, “I have about twenty minutes left of polishing on the reports. Let me get back to it?”

“Of course. I’ll schedule time next week to review this topic. Have a wonderful evening, Kaitlyn.”

I sit in silence until he closes the door. It takes everything I have not to throw my stapler, or whatever I can reach first, in that direction.

He implied I should fuck Griffin to secure his business. What a misogynistic, inappropriate, disgusting thing to ask of me.

Griffin!

I snatch my phone from my desk and see the call is no longer connected. I dial him back, but there is no answer. I wonder how much of this conversation he heard.

It takes a trip to the restroom to splash water on my face, a quick chat with Mika, and a bite of chocolate to get myself back into the headspace needed to continue working on my case for the day. I’m finally settling into a groove when I hear a commotion outside of my door.

I hear a familiar, deep tenor coming from the lobby. “I want to speak to Duncan Wilder, now!”

Fuck.

My knee hits the side of my desk in the haste I make to get to that voice. I’m hopping up and down with the threat of tears as I make it to my office door and open it. “Griffin?” I call down the hallway. His anger buttoned up in a three-piece suit comes marching down toward me. The closer he gets; his look softens as he sees my pain.

“What did he do?” he whispers in a growl. “I’ll kill him.”

“What are you talking about? Please come to my office before you get me fired.”

“Get you fired?” he quizzes. “You’re going to walk away on your own before I leave here today.” Griffin’s right hand slides across the small of my back to rest on my hip as he ushers me behind closed doors.

As I close my office door, Griffin’s pacing slowly like a caged tiger ready to lash out. “This side of you is not my favorite, in case you were wondering.”

“That man, your boss, told you that you should sleep with me to encourage me to hire this firm.” He keeps pacing, only this time, one of his hands is gripping the back of his neck. “How often does he request that of you? Of all the women here?”

“You heard that?” I say simply. “I didn’t know if you had hung up by then.”

He laughs. “Yeah, I heard every word.”

Before I can respond, my door opens and Mr. Wilder strolls in without even knocking first. “What seems to be the problem here? Mr. Shaw? Has Kaitlyn done something to upset you?”

I jump to my feet to diffuse the situation before he says or does something insane. “It’s all a misunderstanding, Mr. Wilder.”

“It’s hardly a misunderstanding at all,” Griffin says. “I’ve come here to let you know that this will be Kaitlyn’s last day.”

I stare at Griffin like he has three heads and six feet. The use of my mouth seems to be not an option at the moment. “I’m sorry?” Mr. Wilder replies.

“Listen to me very closely, you disgusting pompous pig. I was on the phone while you were encouraging Kaitlyn to fuck me to gain business for your so-called firm. Good thing I record all my calls. I have a feeling my personal attorneys would have a field day with the evidence I’ve collected in such a short time to bury you.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Wilder blusters.

“I wouldn’t? Try me.” Griffin stands over Mr. Wilder’s small stature in a pissing match I’m not sure who will win. After the room remains silent for a few seconds, that felt like years, Wilder lowers his gaze away from Griffin and takes a step back. “That’s what I thought. Here are the terms, you will offer Kaitlyn six months of full benefits and severance, and you will put in writing that you will never approach another woman in this firm with your indecent proposals ever again. If the terms are not adhered to, this recording will be given not only to the press, but the authorities and last, but not least, your wife. Do I make myself clear?”

“Mr. Wilder,” I move to stand between them. “This isn’t…”

“Kaitlyn,” Griffin says in a tone that makes me stop in my tracks. It frightens me a little, but it also makes me want to fight back. “Stop.”

“I underestimated you, Shaw,” Wilder says, adjusting his tie. “Both of you.” He looks to me then back to Griffin. “I’ll give you forty-eight hours to change your mind, Kaitlyn. If you don’t, Mr. Shaw’s terms will take effect.”

“I…” I stand here, seething in anger, trying my best not to scream or cry and watch as Duncan leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

“Kaitlyn,” Griffin says in a sigh.

“Don’t!” I growl, pointing at him. “You don’t get to just come into my job, throw your weight around with my boss, threaten him, and quit for me.” I place my hand on my chest. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“Who am I? At this moment, I’m rescuing you from this hellhole. He works you too hard, then speaks to you like he’s your pimp. I won’t have it. I absolutely won’t.”

“I am not yours to rescue nor am I your property, Griffin Shaw.”

“I hate to remind you, Kaitlyn, but to the world I am your boyfriend and as that boyfriend, I will not allow any human on this planet to denigrate my girlfriend. Your mind, body, and soul are mine to preserve. This little prick is not even worthy enough to breathe your same air. Could I have handled things better? Of course. Will I apologize? Absolutely fucking not. If you want to yell at me, fine. Let’s take this somewhere private and you can scream your lungs out at me. However, that will not change what is happening here.” He stands tall with his shoulders squared and his chin held high. Like a knight in fucking shining armor I didn’t even ask for.

I want to stomp my feet like a petulant brat because that’s how he’s making me feel right now, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. I simply snatch my bag from the drawer, slip my feet back into my heels, and march out of my office without saying a word to him.

I stop by Mika’s desk and give her a quick hug, whispering in her ear, “I’m okay. I’ll text later to explain.”

She looks past me and must see Griffin following behind because her eyes widen. “You better.”

I hug her once more then cross the reception area and exit through the front door.

It’s barely after lunchtime so the streets are bustling. I nearly run into two or three people who are trying their best to get wherever they are going. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath then turn to head toward the subway station, my usual route home.

I’m stopped by a strong hand around my arm.

“My car is waiting. Let’s go back to my hotel room. It’s closer.”

I’m acutely aware of the fact people are looking at us. There are even a couple phone cameras raised in the air. There always are when Griffin is around.

So, I don’t fight him on this. I simply nod and allow him to guide me to the large, black SUV waiting for us. Even though I want to slam my purse to the floor, I pull it into my lap, squeezing it so tight I’m certain my nails are leaving marks in the leather. I don’t even acknowledge his presence. I watch out the window. Person after person going by. Vehicle after vehicle going by. Reflection after reflection in the buildings.

I know he’s staring at me. If he’s pissed at my reaction, what did he expect? Oh yes, I’m so glad you handled things for me yet again. Look how well that worked for you the first time. “Are you not speaking to me?”

I turn my head slowly toward him. His eyes have a look of fire mixed with a dash of guilt. “Trust me. Anything I would say to you right now would involve a lot of words you’ve never heard me say before.”

“I can accept your anger. I can’t accept your silence.”

“Oh, trust me, Griffin. I’m picking my moment. Saving face and all that. We must protect your chest-beating persona to the public, right?”

Griffin recoils in slow motion. “That was low. I change my mind. Silence is better.”

I give him exactly that. I don’t speak again for the remainder of the ride back to his hotel. I acknowledge the concierge with a small smile, but that’s all.

I back into a corner in the elevator, trying to stay as far away from Griffin as possible. He seems to be doing the same. I fear we may be reaching a very stubborn stalemate.

When he unlocks his room, I move past him to go in first and immediately head to the bathroom, locking myself behind the privacy of the wooden door. I need a minute to compose myself or I’m going to explode on him. I expect to hear glasses rattling or a fist pounding on the door, ordering me to come out. I hear none of that. Did he leave?

After a splash of cold water on my face, a deep breath, and a long stare in the mirror, I open the door fully prepared for whatever comes next. I turn the corner toward the living room to see Griffin sitting still on the couch with his elbows on his knees, hands folded in a prayer position, and his eyes lowered to the floor.

My heels click once, then twice on the marble tile when it’s joined by his voice. “I’m sorry, Kaitlyn.” He’s apologizing? On the list of things I thought would happen once we got here, that didn’t even make the top ten. “When I heard what that loathsome pig said, it flipped a switch inside me. It was different from that patron at the restaurant. This man, and I use that term loosely, asserted his power over you. No one should be treated like that. I couldn’t let him go unchecked.”

“Griffin, you came in like a lunatic. I don’t give a shit about any contract. You don’t have the right.”

His head snaps up. “You think this is about some unwritten handshake of a contract? This is about you. Only you.”

“Exactly.” I place my hands on my chest. “You came in and ripped my job to shreds. The one thing I’ve worked my ass off for. You barely know me, Griffin,” I say truthfully, even though it hurts to leave my mouth. “Yes, he’s a piece of work who had no right to do what he did, but neither did you.”

He closes the distance between us and I back up until I thump against the wall. His big, strong hands cup my face, holding me still, and keep my eyes locked on his. “I refuse to let you think you can only succeed by allowing a man to treat you disrespectfully.”

I swallow the knot forming in my throat. “You mean like you did?”

“You mistake disrespect for protection. Nothing and no one will hurt you, not while I’m around.”

Griffin

I have an inferno of emotions raging inside me. I don’t have words I can put to them. The only thing I have are actions. Kaitlyn’s body quivers in my hands. I pray it’s not fear, at least not a fear of me.

I shift my body, pushing myself even closer to her until her back is completely flush against the cold plaster wall. She inhales sharply at the sensation, but her chest, and the rest of her, are warmed by my fire.

“I don’t want to be protected,” she whispers. Our lips are so close, I can feel the warmth of her breath and smell the sweet mint of her toothpaste.

“You say that like it’s going to change the fact that as long as I have any say… I’ll always protect you.”

Her hands come up and grip the front of my shirt. I think, for a moment, she’s going to push me away but she doesn’t. She anchors herself to me instead. Even in her anger, she doesn’t want to let me go.

“I’m so angry at you,” she says, tipping her head back, offering her lips to me subconsciously.

“Good.” I smash my lips to hers, fiercely claiming her, showing her that, even for only a few weeks, she’s fucking mine. I break away only for a short second. “You have no idea what kind of power you possess, do you? Today infuriated me. You infuriated me.”

Kaitlyn’s fingers slide down to open the three buttons of my vest. She slides my jacket and vest off to the floor in one fluid motion. I can finally take a full breath. My fingers wind through her blond waves, sometimes taking a tug or two. When I do, she inhales and exhales slowly.

“Give me your permission,” I whisper. “You need to say it.”

Her petite digits weave their way into the opening of my shirt, tugging all the buttons open roughly. I can’t be sure, but I think I even hear one or two bounce off the marble at our feet. I walk backward, pulling her with me. We make our hasty way toward the king-size bed in my suite.

I spin us around so the backs of her legs feel the softness of the fabric. I’m hungry for her. Starved. “I don’t like being on edge like this, Kaitlyn. Remember, he can’t, no one , can treat you any way he wants.” I feel completely taken by her in ways that are shocking to me in the worst and best ways.

“That sounds…possessive,” she breathes.

“For right now,” I give her a gentle push so her body lays down in front of me on the mattress, “it absolutely is. Understood?” I growl.

She giggles. “Yes, sir.”

I grip her behind her knees and yank her roughly to the end of the bed so her ass is just at the edge. “Careful with that. I might like it too much.”

“Yes, sir,” she says again, this time reaching down to fist the sides of her pencil skirt to start inching it up her thighs.

With a growl and renewed desire to rip this temptress apart, I kneel before her and shove her skirt the rest of the way up before tearing the thin lace of her panties away. “I think you enjoy pushing my buttons.”

She gasps when my thumb gently circles her clit. “I doooo, but you make me just as angry. You push mine too.”

I flip my hand over, palm up, and slide my middle and ring fingers into her body, pressing my palm flat against her mound. “Keep those pretty legs open for me, baby,” I command when her thighs start to close. “We are just getting started.”

After a passing kiss to the soft skin of her thigh, I sink my tongue deep between her folds. Her entire body tenses. She’s completely responsive and at my mercy in the best way. Her beautiful mane rotates from right to left with each taste I take. Her thighs become rigid in my palms. Oh no, we can’t have that.

I massage them with my fingertips as I continue to feast. Each divine pattern I trace brings a different noise. Sometimes it’s a deep breath. Sometimes it’s a soft moan. My favorite is the curse words that fill the air when it’s too much for her. “Mmmm.” I allow my lips to vibrate over her core. Kaitlyn quickly gasps. We don’t know each other that well, especially in this arena. I can honestly say, I’m enjoying every second of every new thing I learn.

Kaitlyn reaches forward, taking her fingers through my hair and even praises me with a gentle tug. My cock is as hard as it’s ever been seeing her like this, being in command of her like this. I pulse my tongue across her clit over and over. I can feel the growing energy surging through her body. She’s wanting a release. Who am I to keep that from her?

I feel like a savage the way I’m devouring her. Her vocalizations are nearly constant. I can tell she’s ready. “Oh, God. Griffin. Griffin.” Yes, beautiful. Let it go.

She reaches her peak. The gorgeous high-pitched tones to her voice nearly send me as well. But that’s not what I want. I want to be inside her when that happens.

Her back is still arched when I rise to my feet and begin to unbuckle my slacks. “Look at me.”

She opens her eyes and they are glazed over in a post-orgasm haze. “I feel like I’m floating.”

I retrieve a condom from my wallet, slide the latex down my shaft, and position myself, standing at the foot of the bed. “Then hold on tight, baby.” I lift her legs and prop them up onto my shoulders. “I’m not finished with you.”

I wrap my arms around her calves, hugging them close to my chest as I thrust my hips forward and push my cock into her.

“FUCK!” she cries out then it bleeds into a long, sexy groan. “Griffin… more.”

I slid so easily inside her. Her walls did everything to invite me in. My motions are soft and slow. She feels so extraordinary. Control of desire is one thing I’ve always prided myself on. This woman takes that control and completely disintegrates it. I could come on command if I let myself. God, I want to. I also would love to make this last for eternity.

I focus on the grip of her legs. It allows me to keep my impending orgasm at bay. Without realization, my pace increases. Even the focus on my fingers can’t stop what’s about to happen. Kaitlyn’s delicate hands fly up to grip my forearms. She’s holding on by a thin thread. My need to please her wins over my desire to make this last.

I alter my weight slightly to give her clit the attention it deserves, and that is what pushes her past the point of no return. “Let go. Fuck. Please.”

With one final, “Oh, fuck,” her high-pitched cries fill the space around us as she tightens around me.

The pressure is too much. I growl her name, or at least that was the intent, as my own orgasm courses through my entire body. I see stars in my line of sight. I find it hard to even take any air into my lungs and by the limpness of her body, I’d find it hard to believe Kaitlyn doesn’t feel absolutely the same way.

I’m shocked that I didn’t receive a call from the front desk due to the noise coming from my hotel room. We didn’t care who heard us today. It was like a dam breaking and we needed to flood one another.

I don’t want to question what just happened, but I don’t want her to either. Kaitlyn’s limp body lies half-clothed on top of mine. Our legs still vined together in an abstract way. I can feel her lungs contract and expand against my skin. She’s still with me.

“Kaitlyn?”

“Hmm?”

“I am sorry. I feel like I’ve said that more to you than anyone I know. Can we talk about this?”

“As long as you listen as much as you talk,” she adds.

“I promise I will. Would you like to speak first?”

I hear her throat when she swallows. Her mouth is probably dry, but I don’t want to move. I don’t want to take anything away from this.

“I appreciate what you did. I’ve never really had someone stick up for me in that way, outside of my family… but… you really crossed a line. You came into my job and beat your chest like an animal until you got your way. What if he blackballs me? I may never get another job in my field again because of this.”

“That isn’t what I was trying to do. I only saw red. He needed to be put in his place, and I was in a position to do it. I just hate that you were caught in the crosshairs.”

She pushes up a little so she can look down at me. “So now what happens? He said I had a couple of days to fix things if I wanted my job back…”

“Tell me you aren’t considering that. I don’t want you to work for him anymore. He doesn’t respect you. What he suggested to do with me won’t stop here. I meant what I said. I want you to come work for me.”

“Griffin, that feels too close. I don’t want the lines blurred so far that I get hurt in more ways than one in the end.”

I take her chin softly between my fingers, tilting it up just enough so she can see my eyes. “I would never hurt you intentionally. This would not be part of our other contract. This is a real position within Orion. Tobias has even been hounding me to get someone in the States. If he’s on my ass, you know it’s a true need. You’re massively intelligent, mega intuitive, and you can’t deny we work well together.”

“I don’t want a job simply because you’re fucking me, Griffin.”

I grip her face in my hand, holding her still with a bit more force than I had thirty seconds ago. “I’m offering you a job because I think you’d be great for the position. What we do privately has nothing to do with it.”

“That’s not what everyone else will think.”

“Since when do you care what anyone else thinks? I told you not to worry about any of that, and it holds true even more now.”

“Can I have it in writing? Formally, I mean. I want everything written out so I know what I’m getting into. I don’t want to be blindsided… again.”

Her request, while logical, pains me more than I care to admit. I’ve broken a bit of her trust and I don’t know that I’ll be able to get it back. “If that’s what it takes for you to trust me again. I’ll do it.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. I need to trust myself. Blurred lines and all that.”

“Name your salary, responsibilities…all of it. I know you’ll be fair. There’s one thing you do need to consider however.”

“What’s that?”

“Travel. We’ll be doing a fair amount of it, not only around the States but back to London as well.”

“Oh.” She pauses. “Oh shit. You won’t be able to go home without us being in front of your father and likely your mother too.”

“Exactly right. Can you handle that kind of closeness? It’s easier here because we have an ocean between us.” I know I have to confess something to her. Honestly, she’ll find it quite enlightening. “I have to be honest with you. I don’t just know Wilder; I know others like him. They use women as toys. They treat them like dolls…posing them and making them do things they wouldn’t normally do, all in the name of business. I watched it my entire life growing up.”

Kaitlyn’s hand goes from mindlessly toying with my fingers to sliding up my rib cage to rest over my chest. “Jesus. Everything makes so much sense. You should have told me this before.”

I pull her comforting hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “As you’ve said many times, we’re still getting to know each other. It’s not something I tell just anyone. Family dynamics and baggage are more of a trust fall. I know I can tell you the truth and you won’t use it or hold it against me.”

“Never. Thank you for trusting me with it.” She leans down and presses a kiss to my lips. “I still want to have a formal job offer in writing from you. I have rent and health insurance and bills I will still need to worry about.”

I nod. “I’ll talk to Tobias and have him work with our HR department on some things and we’ll make it official.” I smile. “I do like the idea of being your boss.” She pokes at my rib cage and I gasp in pain, but laugh. “Ouch!”

“I’m still mad at you,” she says. “But now I’m hungry. You worked up my appetite. I’ll forgive you if you feed me.”

“Anything you want, but first… I meant what I said about London. With this new development, we will have to go there. I wasn’t sure if we’d have to go at all before, but now it’ll have to happen.”

“Fine, but under one condition.”

“Name it.”

“We stop down in Virginia on the way so I can see my dad and Rocket.”

I feel a pang deep in my core. I’m going to meet her family. We’re the only ones, besides her sister, who will know it’s a lie. I hate the veil that will linger over our entire stay, but I’d be lying to myself if I’d say I wasn’t excited to see Kaitlyn riding her horse, being with her dog…simply being the country side of her.

“I think that can be arranged. We may have to make a show of it at the airport. Think you can handle that?”

“Is it weird I’m used to the cameras already in many ways?”

“They’re like gnats. You know they’re there and serve a purpose but genuinely want to swat them away. Only one or two are worth their weight.”

“Maybe make it an exclusive? I’m just thinking out loud here. If it’s in print, your father can’t really deny it, can he?”

“Bloody brilliant. Should I be worried you can game as well as I can?”

“Didn’t you just say we work well together?”