“This is my Executive Assistant,” I snap. “I’m still a happy bachelor, thank you very much, and that’s the way it’ll stay.”
Willis shrugs at me, making an exaggerated wince like I’m the one being ridiculous.
He doesn’t dare lower himself to an apology.
“No need to be uptight, Mag,” he says, looking down as he swirls his drink in his glass. “Just meant you’ve got a nice young piece.”
“Watch how you talk about my employees, idiot.” It flies out like a bullet, harsher than the biting November wind back home.
Willis stumbles back, doing a double take, his lips moving.
“Christ. Calm down, boy. I golfed with your dad. No shame in your game; it’s how we all do things, isn’t it? The hot ones ought to be good for something more than pushing papers and typing.” He laughs. “Don’t you think?”
Fuck no.
I want to drag this braindead clod into the parking lot and break his nose, but that might cost me my career. I’m not sure which part of this is worse—the fact that he finds it funny or that he thinks I’m just like my father.
Another one of the boys with money and a reputation ruled by his dick.
“Final warning, Willis. If I ever hear you talk like that about one of my people ever again, I’ll hire the attorney to file the harassment claim myself.”
His bushy eyebrows almost leap off his face. “Now see here, I don’t know what you’re on, kid, but it’s pretty goddamn rude of you to get all up in arms over—”
“Over a despicable old worm who’s cheated on all four wives he’s ever had? Yeah,” I snarl, closing the space between us so I’m in range where only he can hear. “Also, you’ll be damn lucky if I don’t beat the shit out of you.”
His mouth drops. “Listen, I—”
“Don’t,” I growl, looking over my shoulder as I break away, heading in the other direction.
It’s for the good of everybody in this room.
One more second in his presence, and I will follow through on promise number two. Bruised knuckles and blood.
I hear Sabrina’s heels tapping and the rustle of her dress behind me.
“Mr. Heron? Wait up! Hey. Hey, Mag?” she tries, her voice laced with fear, confusion, and so much uncertainty.
I hate it, but she can’t follow me out of this room. Not now.
If she does, rumors will be lethal. They’ll already be bad enough coming from anyone who saw me get up in Willis’ face.
Stopping, I throw up my hand, spin around, then grind out, “Stay. Don’t follow me.”
She looks horrified.
I can tell from the way the clicking ceases that I’ve stopped her in her tracks.
Maybe I should have let her, though.
She already didn’t want to be here, and after this shit, neither do I.
I’ll find my own ride back to the hotel the way I prefer.
Alone.
11
Omens, Omens Everywhere (Sabrina)
Heron’s tone was a knife to the heart.
He left me all alone. Dizzy. At a party I don’t even want to attend.
I get it. He’s obviously upset, but I just wanted to make sure he was okay.
I’m still trying to figure out what just happened.
Yes, the old guy’s words sting. Not only do I know I don’t belong in this room for certain, but I’m aware everyone else views me as a prop. His little accessory.
And Mag’s overreaction only drew attention to it. Awesome. Thanks a lot, boss.
That said, I can’t forget the pep talk in the hall, the way he touched my face. What even?
He’s never been...gentle before.
Until tonight, I didn’t even think gentle and Magnus Heron shared the same universe. I totally didn’t think he’d wind up defending me from a pig oinking far worse things than he’s ever said.
It’s so crazy, so unexpected, it’s hard to breathe.
I scan the room, shaking my head.
Everyone’s still watching me, leaning in, whispering under their breath. A couple of women across the room point, thinking I don’t see them.
I want to die.
The HeronComm entourage looks frozen. Angie’s face is blank, and Hugo’s eyes are full moons behind his glasses. But neither of them make an effort to come talk to me.
I thought we were friends? Guess I can’t blame them for processing, though.
That’s all I’m going to be doing for the next month.
Finally, I spot Ruby tucked in a corner across the room, a martini in her hand, immune to the drama talk rippling around us. She stares at me, her face unreadable, assessing.
Ugh. What now?
I draw in a breath and cross the room.
“Wh—what was that all about? Any idea?” I ask.
“You tell me, Brina. What did Jake Willis say to kick things off?” Ruby asks.
“You know him?”
She rolls her eyes. “Every woman in this industry knows Jake. We’re never in a room alone with him.”
I glance back to the bar.
“Is he dangerous?” I ask quietly.
He looks like a grandpa, but he talks like an open sewer.
She sips her champagne. “He’s fairly harmless. For now. But he’s disgustingly handsy. He’s more reserved when other people are around. A lot of men his age like to get loud and stupid and grabby at the more casual events, especially when the liquor flows like water.” She pushes her hand away as if she can sweep the thought aside just as easy. “What did he say to you?”
I shake my head. “He didn’t say anything to me. He told Heron he brought the right accessories and that I was a ‘nice young piece.’” I make finger quotes around those last three words, my tongue flicking out in disgust.
Ruby glares at the bar.
“Jackass,” she mumbles, then she looks at me, taking a thoughtful sip off her drink. “Let me give you some sage advice. Magnus doesn’t tolerate rumors about his dating life. You’d be wise to keep a buffer because people come to these events to talk.”
“Talk?” I bite my lip. “To talk about people? Like gossip mills?”
Ruby shrugs. “Gossip gets more interesting with every zero tacked on to your net worth, and a lot of the people here come with many Zs.”
Rich people. Go figure.
“What rumors, though? And what behavior? Magnus didn’t do anything wrong.”
Her lips form a tight smile. “I can’t say much, but...there was an internal scandal years ago. It had nothing to do with Magnus. It happened while his father was CEO. Mag just cleaned up the mess.”
“Then why would he take the blame?” I ask.
Ruby surveys the room.
I follow her gaze, and I’m looking directly at the rest of the nervous HeronComm group gathered around the bar before she speaks again.
“We don’t talk about this—”
Her words remind me of Armstrong’s that first morning on the job, and Hugo and Angie’s reactions to a bad joke a little while later.
“This scandal actually involved our former CEO, Baxter Heron,” Ruby says. “What started as a family matter for the Herons soon involved the entire company.”