Not with a value of close to one hundred thousand dollars.
He climbed out and walked past three brownstones until he came to Olivia’s place. He ran up the steps and knocked.
And waited.
He heard a small noise.
“Olivia, I know you’re in there. Please open up.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. It wasn’t warm at all out here.
The door slowly opened a few inches and red, swollen eyes met his.
His brows shot upward, and he pushed the door wide open, finding her in a pair of old sweats and a sweatshirt.
“What’s wrong? Are you actually sick?”
She looked terrible as she turned from him and walked further into the house.
He followed.
“Olivia. Talk to me.”
She turned and wrapped her arms around herself. “No. I’m not sick. I’m sick of my ex!”
He stood, staring. Her hair looked as if she hadn’t done anything to it except run her hands through it over and over, causing red spirals to stick out everywhere.
Something was wrong.
“What’s happened?” He took a few steps and pulled her into his arms. She collapsed against his chest, and he felt her silent tears as he ran his hands up and down her back. “Please tell me.”
Then she stiffened and pulled away.
“He rang me. He’s threatening to leak the photo to the media.” She sobbed.
Fletcher stared down at her, brushing the hair from her face, but she turned away from him.
“Don’t do that,” he said, his chest tightening at her physical rejection.
“Fletcher, for goodness’ sakes. Don’t you understand what this means? For you and for me,” she cried. “He’s going to leak the photo. Daniel, the board, HR, everyone will know. This is going to be a media disaster.Manhattan’s Playboy involved with his employee. They’ll demand my resignation.”
Fuck.
Simon would then have grounds to challenge the custody of their daughter. But it was more than that. It was his job—his responsibility—to protect his company and all their employees. Especially given this was a threat to their reputation, and he was the director of marketing.
“Jesus, when were you going to tell me about this?” he growled. “You can’t just take the day off and stay silent like this.”
She shot him a look.
“I’m serious, Olivia. Regardless of our affair, this involves Dufort Hotels, and it’s your job to raise these things with me.”
“Are you fucking joking right now? Myjobis to protect my daughter. First and goddamn foremost.”
She was right, but so was he.
She was just too damn scared to see it. Not that he didn’t understand her perspective, but Simon had fucked with her mind so much Olivia could only focus on the problem, and not a way out of it.
He ran his hands through his hair.
“I’m pulling rank. You need to tell me who this man is. Who does he work for? Tell me his name.”