Page 42 of Love to Loathe Him

“Or, at the very leastpunish you.”

A shiver races down my spine at his implied threat as he continues. “Perhaps I’m feeling generous today. Or maybe I’m just too entertained by this glimpse into your depraved psyche to cut you loose. Either way, I’m not going to give you the axe. Not tonight, at least.”

Not tonight. The unspoken implication hangs heavy in the air between us.

But it doesn’t matter. Fired or not, I can’t live with this. It’s too mortifying. I’ll have to resign immediately.

I squirm in my seat, palms slick with sweat as a sudden, gut-churning realization bitch-slaps me across the face. One of my entries this week . . . oh . . . god . . .

I would rather he fire me right here, right now, than have him readthatparticular passage. Because there’s no way I can ever look him in the eye again. Not afterthat. I’ll have to flee to the Himalayas with the ex-marketing head, where no one has ever heard of Liam McLaren or Gemma Jones.

“Did you . . .” I swallow convulsively. “Did you read all of the entries?”

Liam’s grin is positively wolfish. “I did.”

“Oh god,” I moan, burying my face in my hands as I rock back and forth, wishing the plush leather would open up and swallow me whole. “Oh god oh god oh god.” I legitimately think I might vomit, faint, or shit myself. Right here, in the Executive Lounge.

McLaren has read every single sordid, cringeworthy detail about me furiously rubbing one out while fantasizing about him.

AboutHIM.

I want to evaporate into a cloud of mortified vapor. My career at Ashbury Thornton is utterly shagged, the coffin nail well andtruly battered in.

“You knew it was personal,” I blurt out, anger momentarily overriding the dread churning in my gut. “You knew that entry was shared by mistake. But you didn’t tell me, didn’t flag it. You just kept reading, letting me embarrass myself in the most unprofessional way imaginable. How could you do that?”

He arches a brow. “Are you seriously trying to take the moral high ground here, Gemma? Are you actually attempting toscoldme right now?”

I jut my chin out. “What you did was unethical. Continuing to read my private thoughts, then toying with me like this.”

“Is that so?” he drawls, his eyes sparking with that dangerous glint I know all too well. The one that says he’s seconds away from snapping his leash and going full-on alpha wolf.

But I don’t even care anymore. I’m beyond caring.

I’m exhausted. Barely sleeping, hardly eating, thanks to his never-ending demands. I’ve been dancing like a monkey for McLaren’s approval for years now.

Finally, it’s over. And I feel sweet, easy relief.

“You know what?” My voice is remarkably steady as I set my glass down. “Screw you. I quit.” I shove upright. “Enjoy the rest of your party, Mr. McLaren. I’m clearing out my desk.”

CHAPTER 13

Liam

I’ve come down onher so hard, I’m about to lose her for good.

Few people manage to catch me off guard these days, but Gemma has done it multiple times in the span of a week. Surprised doesn’t begin to cover how it feels watching her quit on the spot, right to my face.

“Sit down, Gemma.”

“No. What’s the point?” She tugs on her dress strap, all wound up. It’s a good look on her. I let myself enjoy the view for a second before getting back to business.

As much as I’ve gotten a kick out of watching those cracks form in her polished armor, I’ve got to hand it to her. It takes some serious balls to stand there and try to turn the tables, toscoldme about my “ethics.”

But I’m not in the business of losing.

And right now, losing Gemma is not an option I’m willing to entertain, despite her moment of temporary insanity. I didn’t mean for her to up and quit.

“The point is you’re not going anywhere.”