Chapter 40
The second I finished speaking, Adam slammed his foot on the gas.
The Aston Martin roared forward, shooting down the street like a bullet.
He pulled up right in front of Garrison Industries. Right there, at the main entrance, where everyone could see.
I sucked in a breath through my teeth. Bit back the urge to punch him.
I shoved the door open, ready to bolt—when a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Maya!"
I froze.
No. No, no, no.
Victoria Garrison.
She was charging toward me in six-inch stilettos, her face twisted in fury. Her brown waves bounced with every aggressive step.
I glanced back at the car. Adam was still sitting there, one hand on the wheel, watching through the windshield.
This is your fault, I thought viciously.
I slammed the car door. Hard. So hard the whole frame shook.
A petty little revenge.
I turned back to Victoria. Forced my mouth into something resembling a smile. Professional. Blank.
"Miss Garrison," I said flatly. "You're here."
She stopped inches from me. Her perfume—something heavy and expensive—hit me like a wall.
"Don't Miss Garrison me." Her voice was shrill. Furious. "I asked you a question. Why the hell were you in his car?"
She jabbed a finger toward the Aston Martin.
I pushed my hair back behind my ear. Slowly. Deliberately. Buying time.
Why does everyone think they have the right to interrogate me?
Victoria wasn't Adam's girlfriend. Wasn't his wife.
So what gave her the authority to stand here, screaming at me like I owed her an explanation?
I was so fucking tired of this.
I took a breath. Steadied myself. Opened my mouth to respond—
Adam's door swung open.
He stepped out. Tall. Imposing. His eyes locked on Victoria like she was an insect he was about to crush.
"Miss Garrison," he said coolly. "Is there a problem?"
Victoria's face went bright red.
"Adam—I mean—Mr. Sterling—I just—"
"If Maya gets in my car, that's her business. Not yours." Adam interrupted. His voice was sharp. Cold.
Victoria bit her lip. Her hands curled into fists at her sides.
"But… you, I—we—"
"We what?" Adam's tone dropped lower. Dangerous. "We're not friends, Miss Garrison. We're barely acquaintances. So I'd suggest you stop making assumptions about my personal life."
The people walking past slowed down. Whispers started.
Victoria's face went from red to pale. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
"Mr. Sterling," she tried again. Her voice cracked. "I just thought—"
"You thought wrong."
He turned his back on her. Looked at me.
For a split second, our eyes met.
I glared at him. Hard. Don't say anything stupid.
He seemed to get the message. His jaw tightened.
"Miss Bennett still has work to do," he said to Victoria without looking at her. "And I need to get back to my office. So if you'll excuse us—"
"Mr. Sterling, wait—"
He ignored her. Walked back to the car. Got in. Slammed the door.
The engine roared to life.
Victoria stood there, frozen. Her eyes were shining. Not with anger. With something worse.
Hurt.
She looked at me. Her lip trembled.
"This isn't over," she whispered.
Then she spun on her heel and stalked toward the building, her stilettos clicking like gunshots on the pavement.
I watched her go. Felt the eyes of everyone around us burning into my back.
Great. Just great.
I turned and walked into Garrison Industries.
---
I took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor.
My mind was already working through the pieces.
Julian didn't actually need me back at the office.
This morning, Julian hadn't been in the office. Again. I'd bet anything his father had arranged that. Sent him somewhere else on purpose.
Thomas Garrison had his own assistant. A perfectly competent one. But today, he'd specifically called me to escort Adam Sterling around the building.
Just like the last few times—always me delivering documents to Sterling Global. Always me dealing with Adam.
Thomas knew something. I was sure of it.
He was using me. Dangling me in front of Adam like bait. Trying to keep Sterling Global happy by offering up his son's assistant as… what? A peace offering? A distraction?
The thought made my stomach turn.
But I couldn't say anything. Couldn't complain. Not without risking my job.
So when Julian came back and realized I wasn't at my desk—realized where I must have been—he'd called me immediately. Summoned me back.
I reached Julian's floor. Knocked on his office door.
"Come in."
Julian's voice was calm. Controlled.
I pushed the door open.
He was sitting behind his desk, looking at his laptop. He glanced up when I walked in.
"Maya." He closed the laptop. "What do you have for me?"
I crossed the room. Set the folder he'd given me this morning on his desk.
"Finished," I said. "All organized. The way you wanted it."
He picked up the folder. Flipped through it. Nodded.
"Good work."
"Is there anything else?"
He looked up. His blue eyes studied me for a moment.
"No," he said finally. "You can go."
I turned to leave.
"Maya."
I stopped. Turned back.
"Yes, Mr. Garrison?"
He stood up. Walked around the desk. Stopped a few feet in front of me.
Too close.
I took a step back.
He noticed. Paused.
"Adam drove you here?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Do you still want to get back together with him?"
I frowned. "Mr. Garrison—"
"Don't misunderstand," he said quickly. "I'm just… concerned. As your employer. You're the only person in this company who's really on my side. I need to know I can count on you."
I looked at him. At the way his shoulders were tense. The way his voice cracked just slightly on the word need.
I felt a pang of sympathy.
"You can count on me," I said. "I won't betray you."
"Really?" His voice was soft. Almost vulnerable.
I nodded. Firmly.
"Thank you," he said. Then, after a pause: "If Adam asked you to quit and work for him… would you?"
I shook my head. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't forget who helped me when I needed it most," I said. "When I was desperate, you gave me this job. You took a chance on me. I'm not going to turn my back on you just because Adam Sterling shows up and throws money around."
"Even if I leave someday," I continued, "it won't be until you're stable here. Until you've got your footing in this company. That's a promise."
---
Half an hour before the end of my shift, my phone rang.
I hesitated. Then answered.
"Ryan."
"Maya, heard you're working in Boston now," he said.
"Yeah."
"I'm here on business. Thought we could meet up."
I didn't answer right away.
"Maya?"
"Okay," I said finally. "We can meet."
"Give me your address. I'll take an Uber over."