Miles

Chapter 1

ONE

KAYLA

“Hey, girl, heeeyyy!” The sound of Marissa’s voice brings a smile to my face as I shuffle into our shared office. I huff as I set my purse, briefcase, lunch bag, and coffee tumbler down. Women can do absolutely fucking anything, but one thing they do one million times better than men?

Carry shit.

Marissa giggles. “We need to start getting you a cart or something.”

I turn to my assistant with a faux glare. “I’m a strong, independent woman.”

She props her hands on her hips. “Riiiight. Why am I here then?”

I turn my head left and right, acting as though I’m a scale. “Because being a strong, independent woman equals acknowledging when I need help.”

“You’re such a bullshitter.”

My face grows warm as I smile again. “I know.”

Rounding my desk, I stare at a to-do list stapled to a manila envelope labeled August Promotions with a mix of shock and mortification. Collin and I leave for two weeks, and this is what I have to come back to?

What’s even the point of taking a vacation?

I pick it up and turn back to Marissa. “What the hell? I take it back. I don’t want to be independent anymore.”

A laugh bubbles out of her before she can stop it. “I knew that was coming.”

Sighing, I sit down. “Remind me why I chose being a Social Media Strategist for a company that has an internal balance of seventy-five percent men? Why is ‘unfollow Greene’s Wheels’ on this list? Could they not have done that themselves? And what the fuck is Greene’s Wheels?”

Marissa bites her bottom lip. “I don’t know if you want me to answer that question.”

Uh-oh.

I raise an eyebrow expectantly. “Go on.”

Marissa sighs before sitting down and crossing her legs. “Our CEO and the CEO of that company went to a meeting to discuss a merger, only for Whimsy Willow’s CEO to demand our social media strategist,” Marissa points to me, “was fired due to being a porn star and it looking bad on the company.”

Instantly, my heart stops.

What the fuck?

How could anyone possibly know that?

Collin and I are anonymous.

I force a laugh out of me, bullshitting my way forward. “Who the hell is this CEO?”

She shrugs. “Some guy named Rick. Never heard of him.”

With the smile still painted on my face, I turn toward my monitor and login to my email, even though Rick’s name is playing on repeat in my head—almost as if someone said it in a cave and the echo is surrounding me.

Greene’s Wheels.

Rick Greene.

My ex-fiancé.

My ex-fiancé, who I have under a restraining order for stalking me.

My ex-fiancé, who must have fucking found me on KinkFlix.

Fuck.

Okay, Kayla, I remind myself. Find a positive. No panicking.

Positive: The CEO told me to unfollow him. That means he thinks Rick is full of shit.

“Uhm,” Marissa speaks. “Are you okay? I’ve never seen you look… gray before. Do you know Rick?”

I shake my head as I lie through my teeth. “Nope. Never heard his name in my life.” My eyes keep combing the emails, looking for anything that could make me draw an Oh, I’m fucked conclusion.

I don’t need to look at Marissa to know she’s doubting me. The silence in the room speaks for her. She stands and rounds my desk before sitting on the end of it. “Kayla…”

My facade instantly breaks. I’ve never been a good liar, and the words come out of my mouth in a rushed exhale. “He’s my ex-fiancé.”

Marissa’s eyes widen into saucers. “Ex-fiancé? What the fuck? Sue that fucker for defamation, girl.”

My eyes fall downward.

Her voice trails. “Unless… it’s not… defamation…”

I only nod.

“Shit,” Marissa breathes.

My tone is clipped. “Yeah.”

In this day and age, porn and camming are generally more accepted. I felt confident doing it anonymously. No face, no case, or whatever that saying is.

Not when you work in a field that caters to children’s media, though.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

How could this happen? How did he even find me?

Marissa’s voice is careful. “Kayla…”

I turn toward her, hesitant. My anxiety only grows when I see her complexion is paler than a ghost. “Yes?”

“Jordan re-ran background checks on us last week.”

My heart nearly stops. With shaky hands, I push away from my monitor and stand, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. “What? That’s not in my email.”

“He… he told me in the break room. As a precautionary to the rumor.”

Right at that moment, my email lets out a ping. I turn my head to look at it, and any remaining strength I had crumbles entirely when I see the subject line.

To: Kayla Jones, Lead Social Media Strategist

From: Jordan Rink, CEO of Whimsy Willow

Subject: Termination Effective Immediately

Hi, Kayla,

I want you to know that I am truly sorry to send this email.

I find you to be a wonderful asset on our team, and your sunshine personality has lit up our company as a whole.

However, it has come to our attention that you are involved in adult entertainment.

Unfortunately, this directly conflicts with the message behind our company.

Due to such, I have spoken with the board, and we believe it is best to part ways now before this news spreads to donors or beneficiaries.

You can return your key card and badge to your locker. We will be in contact with Marissa soon for additional training.

Thank you for everything you have offered this company. Whimsy Willow wishes you the best in your future endeavors.

Numbly, I reach for my phone.

I need to call Collin.

Except, I pause when I see three text messages back to back. Marissa moves back to her desk as I open them one by one.

Collin

I was just fired. Call me when you can.

Mom

*attached image* Why am I learning this from Rick? What the fuck? I raised you better than this!

Unknown Number

Checkmate, Princess. Marissa fed me all the info I needed on you.

At the last text, my head snaps up to Marissa… only to find her smirking in my direction. “That Rick? I gave him your latest number.”

The world spins around me as I look at her. I utter the only word I can. “Why?”

She shrugs as she tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder. She goes to walk out of our—no, her—office, but pauses to say, “I deserved that promotion. Not some slut who moans for a camera and cheats on her ex-fiancé for fun. Karma is a bitch, huh?”

As she walks out of the room, my phone buzzes continuously with notifications.

Mom.

Dad.

Collin.

Brianna.

Monica.

Jay.

I ignore all of them.

I’m stuck staring at the empty space no longer occupied by Marissa, completely and utterly heartbroken, with my world turned upside down all before 10 A.M.