“You clearly knew who I was. I can see it all over your face.”
His harsh words and cold demeanor have me forgetting all about our time together. Right now I just want to slap the arrogant ass upside the head. “You have a very high opinion of yourself, Mr. Lancaster. Not everyone wants to snag a tycoon brother with a family that keeps the majority of New York’s local tabloids alive.” I roll my eyes, sarcasm oozing from every pore of my body.
“But yet just the other day you were panting all over my hand, asking me to fuck you,” he lashes out.
I’m too shocked to speak, my mouth hanging open, unable to form words.
“You’re just like all the other women. You knew it was me, so you tried to seduce me to get what you wanted. You use people for their money. You use people to get ahead in your life while you sit back and do nothing.” His vile words snap me out of my stupor.
“Have you lost your mind?” I yell. “You are the one who kissed me, remember? I hardly even registered your existence. You offered me a drink. You took me out. You kissed me in a goddamn dumpster—thanks for that, by the way, way to boost a girl’s ego. This is all on you.”
Grant pulls at his hair, clearly frustrated. “As far as I’m concerned that night never happened. Do you understand?”
“I couldn’t care less. That’s a night I’d rather forget.” The lie tastes sour on my tongue. “For the record, I didn’t ask to be your assistant. I’m barely getting paid for this. I’m just a temp, and this is only to build my résumé so I can get a job worth having.”
“So The L isn’t good enough for you?” he sneers.
“Right now no. You’re making it damn difficult for me to actually do my job. This was just assigned to me. Paige sent me up here herself. She said they’re desperate, so when I quit in five minutes, you can deal with that shit show.”
“You expect me to believe this is some ridiculous coincidence?”
“To be honest, I don’t give a damn what you think. At this point, I’m pretty sure you’re certifiable, and I don’t have time for this.” I turn to stalk out when his words stop me short.
“Stay.”
Is this man on drugs? Between his insults and accusations, the last place I want to be is anywhere near him, but I stop despite my better senses. “Why? Tell me why I should stay to listen to anything you have to say.”
“I just need to figure this all out. You’re right, we are desperate for help, and Paige might kill me if I release yet another assistant.”
I huff. “So you make a habit of pissing people off.”
He lifts up his hand to stifle a long, drawn-out groan. “You’re just like my wife. No wonder you’re driving me insane.”
My wife.
My wife.
My wife.
He has a wife.
He was married while he took me out to the back alley. When his hands touched me, he had a wife. A wife who might have been there at the lounge. A wife who probably had been there. Oh my God. A wife.
What did that make me?
Holy shit. This man—this adulterer—is angry at me for coming up to his office today. An office I was hired to work at. One in which I most certainly did not know he’d be.
“Are you even listening to me?” he asks.
I snap out of my reverie and look at him. He’s glaring at me, but at the same time, his forehead is furrowed in confusion.
“You’re married.” There’s no mistaking the bite in my voice. It drips over my words, making him flinch.
“Well, yes, but—”
“Every action that night you instigated, and now, somehow, you’re mad at me? Is that really what’s going on?” I speak with a calmness that surprises even me.
“Listen, you don’t know anything. You have no idea what—”
“I don’t know who you are. You might be a big shot here, but that doesn’t mean everyone in the outside world knows who Grant Lancaster is. I wasn’t meant to work at this hotel. I had another job all lined up, but they canceled it at the last minute. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“None of my business? I think it is my business how you ended up in my hotel.”
“My options were slim, so when I got the opportunity to work at this hotel, I grabbed it. I literally ran over for the interview without even a chance to do my research. So I’m sorry if I don’t know who the great Grant Lancaster is.” I stand and shake my head. I don’t need to be treated like this. “I’m leaving.”
“Sit down,” he says. “I need an assistant, and you need a job. That’s all there is to it. Yes, I’m married. I’m also your boss, but I don’t owe you anything more. So what’s it going to be?” His words are like a million daggers slicing at every part of my being. They tear me down and leave me bleeding, but what can I do? He’s giving me an option to stay regardless of what happened.
Closing my eyes, I consider my options. I could leave. I could. But then where will I be? I won’t get another shot with Karen. And truth be told, this is my best bet in proving how different from my sisters I am.
I’m not different at all.
The bitter irony hits me in the face. No matter how I try, no matter what I do, I’m destined to be exactly like them. Case in point, bumping into the stranger from the bar. The parallels are uncanny, this is what happened to Lynn. I’m a cosmic tragedy. Every time I try to be different, I just cement how similar to them I am.
No. I am different.
I can stand on my own two feet. My future is dictated only by me.
My chin lifts, and I meet his stare. The venom I just witnessed is replaced with another expression. One I can’t place. I barely know this man. All I know is that he’s married. He cheated on his wife with me, but I’m probably not the first or last. What happened that night was his fault, not mine. I’m not married, and I most certainly didn’t know he was. He’s in the wrong, and I can live with that knowledge.
“I need this job, and you need an assistant. Let’s leave it at that.”
I dial the human resources department.
“Hello, Mr. Lancaster. How can I help you?” Paige says through the phone. Her voice is low, timid, as if she knows I’m a ticking time bomb.
“Bridget Miller, who hired her?” The aggression in my voice is evident.
“Is there a problem with Ms. Miller, sir?” she squeaks.
“How did she come to work here?” I snap.
“Mrs. Lancaster hired her.”
What the hell? Why would Chelsea hire Bridget Miller?
A sinking feeling rushes through me. Does she know about Bridget and me? Did she find out what I’ve done, and if she does know, how will she make me pay?
“Is everything okay, Mr. Lancaster? Do you need me to—”
“Everything is fine,” I cut her off, hanging up the phone call before she can get a word in edgewise. I need to get to the bottom of this. How does Chelsea know Bridget, and why would she hire her? Slamming the phone down, the sound echoes through the room. Without a moment to waste, I head toward her office.
“Why are you hiring me a new assistant?” I shout as I slam the door behind me.
“Well, you needed one.” She purses her lips. “Is she not to your liking?”