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Derek’s ranting is cut off with a grunt, and he doubles over. “I’ve got it, sir.” Julian calls back to us, pushing Derek ahead of him and out the hallway.
Sophie squeezes my shoulder. “Is that true?”
I look wildly between her and Mr. Sutton. “Where did you guys come from?”
Sophie blushes and points to a door to my left marked “storage.” Mr. Sutton clears his throat on my other side. Lauren giggles, sliding down the wall until she’s sitting.
There’s an awkward silence between us, broken by Lauren snorting, then clasping a hand over her mouth. “Did you ask Julian to be your fake date because of Novak?” Mr. Sutton finally asks.
I nod. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You could have spoken to HR. That’s what they’re there for, Frankie.”
“I didn’t want to make a fuss, sir.”
Sophie pulls me into a hug. “Frankie, you idiot. That’s not making a fuss. That’s called reporting inappropriate behavior.” She pushes me back. “Is there anyone else he’s made uncomfortable? HR will need to document it.”
Mr. Sutton runs a hand over his face. “This is going to be a shit show. Dammit.”
I wince. The last thing I wanted was to be the center of office drama. “Sir, I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for his actions. You did nothing wrong, Frankie.” Mr. Sutton lays a cautious hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “You should talk to Tina. And maybe Jess in Accounting?”
Lauren starts counting on her fingers. “Hannah in Marketing, and remember that girl Natalie? The pretty one with the big—”
Sophie cuts her off. “I remember. Jesus, Lauren, how much did you have to drink?” She reaches out to pull Lauren to her feet. “We should get you home.”
“Stay, stay. You and Theo are obviously having a good time.” Lauren takes a few wobbly steps toward the party. “I’m not ready to go home anyway. Frankie owes me a story.” She points her finger in my face to emphasize her words.
“I do?”
“I want the story about you and Julian. Not the fake story. The real, real story.”
Sophie follows us back into the ballroom. “Hang on, I want this story too.”
I pull out a chair for Lauren at a table in the corner, away from the crowd. I crane my neck but can’t see Julian anywhere. I hope he’s okay. “How about I go get us some water, then I’ll tell you?”
Twenty
Julian
The single jab I got to Derek’s midsection wasn’t nearly enough to relieve the rage building up inside me. If Sutton hadn’t already got in one good sucker punch, I would be tempted to add my own. But with the threats of lawsuits and filing charges spewing from this shitnugget’s mouth, I don’t dare give him another reason to include me on his list.
“Get your fucking hands off me.” He’s squirming and pulling away, but I don’t let go until we’re outside the building. I release him with a shove toward the valet stand.
“Go home, Derek.” I turn to go back inside, but his next words halt me in my tracks.
“She spilled the beans, loser. Did you go and fall in love with her like an idiot when you were just the hired help?”
He’s bluffing. Frankie’s not like that. I know her. “Shut up, man. You don’t know anything about it.”
He smirks. “I know she’s too smart for you. And she spent the last week with me, not you.”
“She was fucking working.” I storm back, getting in his face. A brief look of terror flashes across his face before he schools his features. Good, the fucker better be afraid. “Do you know where she went after you scared the shit out of her last Friday? She called me, terrified. Is that how you get women? You stalk them? Pursue them until they’re too afraid to say no? How’s that working out for you?”
He ignores my taunt but backs up a step. “Then why was she so quick to admit that it was fake, huh? She’s embarrassed for Sutton to think she’s with you.” He spits the last word out, and it takes everything in me not to punch him right in his smug, smarmy face.
