Page 35 of Handsome Devil

He rolled his tongue over his front teeth. “On to the next item on the agenda ofus. As I said, you can’t work directly under me any longer,” he announced. “It’s a bad look.”

“Since when do you care about what people think?” I snorted.

“Since my lawyers tell me it’d open me to potential legal issues.” He laced his fingers together. “This is nonnegotiable. You’re leaving.”

“You can’t fire me. We’d agreed you’d let me keep my jo—”

“Firing is a strong word. I prefer relocation.” He raised a palm up to stop my panicked rush of words. “I’m transferring you to the HR department, which is employed by a sister company.”

“HR department?” I scowled. “I know nothing about HR.”

“You won’t need experience for the job I’m assigning you to do.”

“Which is?”

“Terminating employees I find unsuitable.”

“You’re making mefirepeople?” My voice pitched high. I couldn’t recall the last time that had happened. I usually prided myself on my tranquility. Said tranquility was no longer in the building.

Or the city.

Or, let’s admit it, the planet.

“Yes,” Tate replied tersely.

“I won’t do it.” I collected my notebook, pressing it to my chest. “I won’t ruin people’s lives just to please you.”

He ignored me completely, sorting through the paperwork in front of him without lifting his gaze. “HR is on the tenth floor. Your new employee pass is being prepared as we speak. Oh.” He snapped his fingers. “You’ll need to find and hand over all calendars and responsibilities to Rebecca.”

Rebecca was his second assistant. She had the measurements and wheat-blond hair of a Malibu Barbie and the exact same number of brain cells.

Maybe if they were in forced proximity more often, he’d start an affair with her and leave me alone.

“Not a chance in hell. She doesn’t hold a candle to you,” Tate said regrettably. “Even if she did, the idiot would probably set herself aflame accidentally.”

Did I say that out loud? Or could this human viper read minds now?

“Tate,” I spat his name out through clenched teeth. “I don’twantto fire people. Hurt people. I don’t know what you’re punishing me for, what I’ve done to deserve this unwarranted attention from you, but if you won’t stop pushing, Iwillleave.”

“You won’t run away from me,” he said calmly. “I have something of yours you love dearly. Your mother.”

He was right. I realized I had played right into his hands. Tate helping me get Mum into the program was entirely selfish on his part. A way for him to have leverage on me.

I couldn’t run. I couldn’t hide. I was his.

“Besides, if you do run, I will find you. And when I find you…” He trailed off, giving me one of his infamously callous scowls. “Well, it’d be a crying shame. A woman so young. So pretty.”

“I’d call the police,” I threatened.

“Please do,” he encouraged. “You are complicit in every single thing I’ve done to secure your mother’s spot at the experimental treatment. Would you like to know how many laws we’ve broken together,fiancée?”

I was trapped, and we both knew it.

My knees buckled, and I became lightheaded.

I stumbled back, searching for the nearest wall to lean on. But I was so frazzled that I missed. I stumbled backward.

Tate stood up, moving so fast he left skid marks on the floor.