Anger rushed through his body. He wanted to pummel the ungrateful bastard. “I suggest you clear out your desk and get the fuck out of my building now. You’re obviously not a team player.” He picked up his phone and dialed security. They were informed that Marvin was to be out of the building within ten minutes.
“You’re making a big mistake.”
“No, you’re making a big mistake for thinking anything poorly of Alora Harris, even for a second. She is ten times the person you are. Get out.”
Marvin rushed from his office, but Adam knew a lot of damage could be done in the short time it would take him to get out of the building. He dialed Alora’s private office number.
No answer.
“Fuck.”
He tried her cell phone.
Again, no answer.
He attempted her private line again, and as it rang, he left his office, going to the elevator, which of course was in use.
This wasn’t good.
Alora worked her ass off for his company. He’d noticed her, but he’d never acted on it. She had no right to have her work questioned.
She’d been so paranoid about dating the boss at first, terrified of being talked about or judged wrongly.
This wasn’t how he wanted the day to go. The engagement ring he’d spent all morning choosing sat in his jacket pocket, waiting for the right moment.
She would be so upset if people thought she didn’t deserve her place. Arriving at the art department, he heard Marvin shouting his nonsense. Alora’s name was yelled, and he went to her office. There was no sign of her.
Panic filled him. One look around the floor, and he saw people glancing at him, pointing, and it only pissed him off.
Marvin had done his damage.
“Get to work,” he said.
His cell phone rang and he answered.
“If you’re looking for Alora, she was last seen entering the ladies’ bathroom on floor three,” his PA said.
“Thank you.”
Hanging up his cell phone, he used the stairs to get to floor three, taking two at a time.
The gossip in his office was ridiculous. Even as he entered floor three, he saw people in groups, talking, and he knew what they were discussing. The gossip never bothered him, but his need to protect Alora from the bullshit was overwhelming.
He entered the bathroom. No one was there, but one stall door was shut.
“Alora,” he said.
“Go away.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I need you to come out so I can see you.”
She sniffled. “I’m not coming out. Did you hear what they’re saying?”
He sighed. “Alora, I’m not going to talk to you through the bathroom stall.”
“I can’t go out there. They all think the worst. I can’t even—”
“I don’t give a fuck what they think, and you shouldn’t either. Alora, please, come out, talk to me. I can fix this.”
The door opened, and there was Alora, tears falling down her cheeks. She rarely wore makeup, and today was one of those days. Her face was puffy and her eyes looked slightly swollen.
“What the hell happened?” Alora asked.
He told her everything. What Marvin did, his threats. “I do not submit to threats,” he said.
“No, but now people are looking at me like I don’t deserve to be here, and I don’t think I do. They probably think I’m a whore. A gold digger. We never should have—”
He cupped her face and slammed his lips down on hers. “Don’t say that,” he said. “You’re the only thing I’ve done right.”
“Thing?” Alora asked.
“You’re my woman, Alora. Mine completely.”
“I can’t stand them looking at me like that.”
“And I will fix it, I promise,” he said.
Chapter Six
She’d worked hard all her adult life. Everything she’d accomplished had been completely on her own. For people to think she’d slept her way to the top was the worst thing that could happen. The stares. The accusations. It was all too much.
Alora just knew something like this would happen.
Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to regret going home with Adam the night of the Christmas party. If she were completely honest with herself, she was falling in love with him. He made her feel safe, wanted, and beautiful. She didn’t want to give him up, but she also didn’t want the company he’d built from scratch to come crashing down because of unfounded accusations. He didn’t deserve this any more than she did.
Maybe love wasn’t in the cards for people like them.
She wasn’t mad at Adam, but she’d wanted to leave the office building and have some time alone to think. Being back in her little apartment didn’t have the same appeal. Her eyes had been opened to so much more. Settling for her fantasies and daydreams of the perfect life would no longer do after having a taste of what life with Adam could be like.
Alora flopped down on her sofa. It felt even lonelier in her apartment with Burt missing. Since she’d been sleeping at Adam’s condo, her cat had gone along with her. They were a package deal.