Chapter 243: The Crazy Ex

Holly’s POV

She catwalked straight toward my desk like the hallway was her personal runway, heels clicking sharp and loud enough to turn heads from three cubicles away.

Tight red dress…way too tight for daytime…hugging every curve like it was painted on, neckline plunging so low it was basically a suggestion rather than clothing. Black hair tossed over one shoulder, lips glossy and red, perfume hitting me ten feet before she did. Over-the-top seductive, the kind of look that screamed “I’m here to cause chaos and I’m proud of it.”

I smelled trouble from a mile away. The kind of trouble I’d normally chase off David’s doorstep with a fire extinguisher. But right now? Right now I was going to let her in. Hell, I’d roll out the red carpet if it kept him busy long enough for me to sneak out and deal with Amber’s piece-of-trash ex.

She stopped right in front of my desk, one hand on her hip, giving me a slow, jealous once-over like I was competition she needed to size up. I put on my sweetest, most professional smile…the one I save for people who think they’re God’s gift.

“Good afternoon,” I said brightly. “Do you have an appointment?”

She smirked, flipping her hair. “Do I look like I need an appointment to see David?” She leaned in a little, voice dripping honey and venom. “Just tell him his girlfriend is here.”

Girlfriend. Right.

I kept the smile glued on. “Of course. One minute, please.”

I stood, smoothed my skirt, and walked straight to David’s office door. Heart pounding a little…because yeah, I was basically serving him up to a piranha…but I reminded myself this was for Amber. I cracked the door just enough to peek my head in.

He was hunched over his desk, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, completely buried in spreadsheets. The second he heard the door, his head snapped up, and his whole face softened when he saw it was me. Just for a second. That tiny look hit me right in the chest, but I shoved it down.

“Someone is here to see you,” I said softly.

“Who—”

Before I could reply, the woman brushed past me hard enough to almost knock me off balance, strutting into the office like she owned the place.

David shot to his feet immediately, concern flashing across his face…probably thinking I’d been shoved…then his expression went stone-cold when his eyes landed on her.

“Get her out of my office now,” he growled, voice low and lethal.

I was already stepping back before he finished talking, pulling the door closed with a soft click.

Out of my hands now.

With that look on his face? He wouldn’t lay a finger on her in the fun way. But she’d definitely keep him occupied for a while. Perfect.

I walked back to my desk, grabbed my phone, and fired off another text to Amber’s ex: Hey handsome. I can’t wait till closing time to have you. So, let’s do lunch hour. Same address.

He replied with a perverted emoji that made me almost barf.

I’d barely set the phone down when Amber came skittering around the corner, eyes wide, breathing fast.

“Where’s the crazy witch?” she whispered urgently.

I blinked. “What crazy witch, Amber?”

She stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “The one who just came in! Black hair, red dress, looks like she’s auditioning for a music video? I was running to warn you not to let her in! She’s the one I told you about…the psycho who shows up and causes massive scenes whenever she wants attention. The ex who won’t let Mr. Hunt breathe!”

Oh.

Oh no.

That one?

My stomach dropped straight to the floor.

What the hell had I just done?

Amber leaned closer, voice hushed and panicked. “Find a way to get her out of there fast, Holly. If not, Mr. Hunt is going to lose it…and he’ll take it out on whoever let her in.”

She hurried off before I could reply.

I sat there frozen for a second, guilt and panic fighting for space in my chest.

I’d thought any distraction would do. I didn’t know it was her…the actual crazy ex Amber had warned me about. The same one that has been terrorizing David for years. That thought alone killed off every hesitation or coldness gripping my heart towards him.

This was bad.

Really bad.

I checked my watch. Still hours until lunch. I’d been counting on the woman dragging David out of the office to “talk.” Now? He was trapped in there with a ticking time bomb.

I couldn’t leave him like that.

David was mine.

Mine alone.

I stood up, fixed my hair, unbuttoned the top two buttons of my blouse…just enough to show a little cleavage…and marched straight back to his door.

One soft knock. Then I pushed it open and walked in like I belonged there.

They were both standing. David behind his desk, arms crossed, jaw tight. The woman was right in front of him, mid-rant, finger pointing.

They both stopped and turned when I walked in.

I didn’t say a word at first. Just walked straight to David, hips swaying a little more than usual, and gently pressed my hands to his chest. He let me push him back down into his chair without resistance, eyes locked on mine the whole time.

The woman gasped. “Hey, you!” she snapped. “How dare you act so brazenly in front of me? I’m his girlfriend Ashley. You’re just an assistant, so fuck off!”

I ignored her completely. Slid right onto David’s lap, straddling him, and wrapped his arm around my waist like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I leaned in close, lips brushing his ear. “Do you need me right now?” I whispered, soft and teasing. Then quieter, just for him: “Or would you rather I let you two be?”

His eyes went dark…deep, hungry black…and I felt the hard proof of what my little move did to him pressing against my thigh.

His voice came out low, rough, full of heat. “Get out now.”

For one horrible second, I thought he meant me. That I had just made a fool out of myself again.

“You heard my man! Get out!” Ashely yelled.

My heart stuttered.

But then his hand tightened on my waist, pulling me closer, and he looked straight past me at Ashley.

“I’m talking to you,” he said, voice like gravel. “Leave. While I’m still being nice.”

I turned my head slowly, victorious smile spreading as I met Ashley’s shocked, furious face.

“You heard him,” I said sweetly. “Door’s that way. We’re about to get busy.”

Ashley’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. “Is this how you’re going to treat me?” she finally shrieked. “I was there for you when no one else was. I only made a mistake a few times and I have been apologizing all these years. Is this what I get? After everything? After I waited for you all those years? Even after that vile woman threw you in jail—”

Everything in me went ice-cold.

Ava. She was talking about my sister.

No one gets to do that.

I was off David’s lap in a flash.

He reached for me… “Holly—” but I was already moving.

I stepped right up to Ashley, voice low and deadly calm.

“You don’t get to say her name,” I said. “You will never be half the woman Ava Miller is. Not a quarter. Not even a speck. You’re pathetic. Clinging to a man who doesn’t want you, making scenes, thinking a tight dress and tears will fix what you broke. Have some decency and leave him the hell alone.”

Ashley backed up, eyes wide, until her back hit the door.

I reached past her, turned the handle, and shoved her out into the hallway.

She stumbled, caught herself, and immediately started banging on the door, screaming his name, cursing us both.

I locked it.

Turned the deadbolt.

David was already on the landline.

“Security,” he barked the second someone answered. “Third floor. There’s a woman banging on my office door. Remove her. Take a good look at her face…this time for real. If she ever sets foot on this floor again, you’re all fired.”

He slammed the phone down so hard the desk shook.

Silence.

I walked over to the window, pulled the blinds aside just enough to peek out.

Minutes later, two guards appeared. Ashley fought, kicking, yelling, calling David every name under the sun as they dragged her toward the elevator. Her voice echoed all the way down the hall until the doors closed.

I let the blinds fall back and exhaled, long and shaky.

All done here. Time to go. I had a douchebag to meet.

I turned…and nearly jumped out of my skin.

David was right there.

Silent. Close. Too close.

His eyes were dark, intense, and unreadable.

“What,” he said quietly, voice dangerous soft, “were you trying to do earlier?”

And he waited.

Right there.

For my answer.