“Keep the money. It means nothing to me. I just want to keep you safe.”
“I feel like it’s more than just that,” I sniffle.
“It became more, yes. I know you feel the attraction. You are just scared.”
“I don’t want the money. Not like this anyway. I never earned it.”
“Take it anyway.”
I shake my head frantically. “No, I can’t.”
“It’s very sexy to me that you went through all the trouble to call this meeting. You are very ambitious, and your feistiness is a quality I look for in employees. Come work for me at Hoffman Headquarters. You can do better. Why are you so set on staying here? I can give you a better job. Pay you just as much.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because I know how ruthless the business world can be, and forgive me if I would like to protect you from it.”
“But it’s not for you to decide.”
He hoists himself up from the floor in one fluid movement. His hands clench into fists as one slams onto the table. “I could wring Claire’s neck for getting you involved,” he snarls.
“It’s not her fault!” I defend.
“The hell it isn’t!”
“She would have never suggested this job if the bakery I used to work for was still operating.”
“This is one hundred percent her fault,” he insists.
We glare at each other in a standoff. Graham turns his back to me, running his fingers through his hair.
“Is that what it is?” he asks, whipping his body around again.
I look into his blazing blue eyes with confusion.
“The recruitment bonus?” he demands.
“What?”
“Her bonus for bringing on new employees. She gets a hefty check,” he explains. “I’m sure it’s in your contract.”
I feel the blood washing out of my face. “This isn’t about bonus money.”
“Hell, I can pay her triple the bonus if that’s what it takes to get you to not feel guilty about quitting.”
“She didn’t force me. She quite frankly likes the line of work. She thought that if I were to put myself out there in a noncommittal way, I would—” I stop before I say too much. I take a deep breath and wipe at the wet trails of tears.
“She’s also more experienced than you. Less innocent.”
“How the hell do you know?”
He gives me a look of disgust. “Men talk just as much as women do. Her name gets around.”
I am dumbfounded. “Wow. Just wow.”
“Don’t try to act surprised.”
“She’s not a slut! She’s way stronger than I’ll ever be,” I interject.