Chapter 55
“She”s turned into something of a pariah here, you know this right?” Gloria asked.
I looked up from my lean in against the side of her Tesla and met her gaze.
“Because she”s dating me?”
“No, because someone has managed to spin the fact that she”s dating you in the ugliest of lights. She doesn”t seem affected, though, which has greatly impressed me. Yesterday I heard some of the other staff openly taunting her in the break room. She pretended to ignore them but it stings. Did she tell you about them?”
“Of course, she didn’t. She only brought the photographs to me, and I”m sure this was because her friend was in them as well.”
“And she stopped you from firing Sandra. I understand,” she said. “It could bring a lot of trouble for you without concrete proof.”
“So… I should just wait until she’s harmed Hannah or someone else before doing anything?”
“No,” she replied. “Put precautions in place. You”re the king of doing that. It”s your job to do that. Clearly, you”re deeply attached to her, more attached than I”ve ever seen you be with anyone else. So… ”
“Yeah,” I replied and got up. “I know what to do. I only hope she”ll let me.”
Gloria laughed.
“She”s your secretary, though. Does she have a choice?”
“In this, yes, but I”ll find a way to be a lawyer about it so she”ll have to accept.”
“Women are smarter than lawyers,” she said, and I nodded.
“My worry exactly.”
Afterward, I left and returned to the office. I passed by her busy at work and couldn’t help but meet her gaze. My chest tightened at the possibility that she was in danger. As soon as I returned, I got busy with all the precautions. An hour later, I called her in, and she stood in front of my desk.
“I won”t fire Sandra,” I said, and she nodded.
“Thank you.”
“I don”t agree with you not letting me, but… in return, you have to concede to my other requirements.”
Staring at me, she released a heavy breath, and I couldn’t help but rise to my feet. I headed over to her, sat at the edge of the desk, and drew her in between my legs.
“You know how much I care about you, right?” I asked. “You know…”
Smiling, she lifted her gaze and held the corner of my face. “I know,” she said. “I won”t be difficult. Let”s hear them.”
“I have private investigators on you. They’ll watch you and be ready to intervene if anything goes wrong.”
She sucked in her breath.
“That sounds expensive.”
“Compared to your safety, it”s not. I”m just telling you, so you”ll feel just a bit safer. You”re no longer alone.”
“Alright,” she said. “But for how long?”
“Till we handle this situation with Sandra.”
“Okay, I”ll concede,” she says and starts to pull away, but I caught her hand.
“There”s one more thing.”
She sighed.
“What is it?”
“You can”t take public transportation again for the duration of however long this will be. I”ll get you a car and a driver.”
Her mouth fell open as she watched me, and I made my gaze even more stern.
“Non-negotiable.”
“Non-negotiable! This is New York. I don”t…”
“Hannah,” I growled, and her shoulders slumped in defeat. “It”s for my peace of mind.”
“Okay,” she replied. “But… I don’t need a driver. I can drive myself.”
This immensely amused me.
“You know how to drive?”
“Want me to drive you home tonight to prove it?” she asked, and I nodded.
“Yes. Yes, I absolutely do.”