My eyes narrow. “What do you mean, ran her off? Where is she?”
“Not here,” she says a little too nonchalantly for my liking.
“She didn’t show today? Call?”
“Nope. Haven’t been able to get in touch with her.”
“Fuck,” I growl, banging my fists on the desk.
Shelby jumps in surprise, her hand landing on her heart.
“Jesus, Charles. What on earth was that about?”
I jump to my feet, pacing the floor, running my hand through my hair, searching my mind for answers. I have cocked this up more than I thought possible. Raven’s not stupid and is probably making a formal complaint to HR about my actions.
Not that I don’t deserve it.
I stopped her from leaving, demanded answers, and practically attacked her mouth. Then when that wasn’t enough fuckery, I hurled the cruelest accusations right to her beautiful face.
My hand rises to my cheek in memory of her hitting my face.
I earned any visible mark she left behind.
“What the actual fuck did you do?” she says in a voice that promises violence if I say the wrong thing.
“Nothing,” I say, waving her off.
“You’re going to stand there, hungover, and lie to me? Of all the people in your life, you don’t get to push me away.” She stands up, leaning over the desk. “You obviously caused Raven to run off.”
“You’re wrong.” The lie comes too easily, but Shelby isn’t buying it. Her body language practically screams she’s no idiot. “What do you want me to say?” I bark back.
“The truth is always the best place to start.”
“Fine! Would you like to hear how I showed up drunk at her desk? What about the part where Raven ran off after I accused her of sticking around the office to seduce me?”
“You have lost your damned mind!” she shouts.
“Shelby, please cease the yelling. My throbbing head is in agony.”
“Oh, I’ll make it ache far worse, you dumbfuck,” she barks.
I prickle at her chastising. Silently praying this stops soon, I continue to rub my temples and whisper, “You do realize I’m your boss, right? You can lose this job right this moment.”
Refusing to lower her voice, Shelby continues with the worst bollocking I’ve had in decades.
“Cut the shit, Charlie. You and I both know you aren’t going to fire me, of all people. You caused this mess with Raven, and you need to fix it. Right now.”
I close my eyes to stave off the pain caused by our shouting match.
People have started to gather outside my door, signaling we need to quiet down.
“I will handle it,” is all I can offer.
“You better because I will walk on you for this. Don’t make me keep that promise.”
I sigh deeply. “Fine. Now with that sorted, it’s time for you to please go back to your desk. If I leave today, you are the only one holding this place together.”
I just need her to get out of my office.