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I stand tall and take a deep breath. I haven’t had many encounters with Thor since he broke me all those years ago. I do everything I can to avoid him, but now I have no choice. Chase is in trouble, and I’ll protect him with everything I can. He was there for me after Rowan died and my parents abandoned me. He is family to me. His mother not only took me under her wing and helped me form my company, but she also supported me as I got my multiple degrees and became a single parent. Yvonne had been more of a mom to me than my own mother, and I miss her every day since her passing. Orion even called her Grandma. So, for Chase, I’ll do anything.
“Are you really sure about this, Bri?” Chase’s stepdad asks. He married Yvonne a few years ago, and he’s been a great support through the years too.
“I have to protect Chase. It’s what needs to be done.”
We step out of the elevator, and I see the open door for the conference room, where Thor is squaring off with Chase and Laya. Okay, so sleeping with one of his students wasn’t Chase’s brightest idea, but they had met before he became her professor. He loves her, and I’m sure she loves him too.
“Wait here,” I tell my entourage and move toward the door.
“You can stop right now, Mr. Prentrick. No actions will be taken against Chase or Laya,” I say before I drop a ream of paper onto the conference table. Just like every time I see Thor, my body trembles and the fine hair on my arms stands at attention. I loved this man the moment I first saw him, but he broke me when my heart was already shattered from the death of my beloved brother, Rowan. Thor took my virginity and told me things I thought were true. What I didn’t know at the time was that not only was he drunker than I had thought, but he was also engaged to another woman.
“Bri—Briar, this is a private meeting. You can’t help Chase anymore. He sealed his fate.” Thornton stands tall. He’s one of the few men who makes me feel feminine and small. He’s not as wide as Chase, and he’s about an inch or two shorter, but he’s still a force of nature when he walks into a room. “Your boyfriend was screwing around on you with a student.” His words are bitter, and Laya gasps.
Most people think Chase and I are a couple because they don’t understand our connection. He’s like a brother to me. He’s my best friend, my person. And I won’t let Thor ruin Chase’s career.
I straighten my spine. The fabric of my silk camisole strains across my breasts, and I watch as his eyes drop to my cleavage. “Thornton, sit your ass down. Now. You have no idea what you are talking about.” I can’t keep the venom from my voice. For a moment, I thought he actually sounded jealous, but that would be ridiculous.
“Briar.” He raises his voice and remains standing. “This has nothing to do with you.”
“Yes, it does. As legal counsel for BUTEE Corporation, I represent both Ms. Laya Clark and Professor Chase Ryder.” I swing my arm back to them as I stand over the board of directors and face off with Thor. My heels almost bring me up to his height and allow me to look him directly in the eye.
“How? When did you start working for them? I would have hired you, Bri?” I can hear the hurt in his voice, but I must be mistaken again. He doesn’t care. He only wants to look good because he and Rowan were such good friends.
“I’ve worked for BUTEE since the beginning.” I can’t tell him the truth. It’s not time yet. “Now, back to the matter at hand. Chase came to me months ago and disclosed that he and Ms. Clark were involved before she became his student. He doesn’t grade hers or any student’s coursework. There is no way you can say he did anything wrong. Yes, he should have disclosed their relationship with the university. But I don’t see why you have to know everything.”
Thornton slams his fist onto the long table. “Briar, you can’t walk in here and save the day. Chase screwed up. She probably faked that attack to get his attention.”
Laya gasps, and Chase moves around me and pushes between us to get to Thornton. His long legs quickly eat up the distance.
“I quit,” Chase growls before he slams his fist into Thornton’s nose.
Laya screams his name, and he moves back to her. I turn and watch them argue. She denies that she loves him, but I know what she’s doing. My heart clenches because I hurt for both of them. I suspect there is more going on here. Maybe her attack has something to do with her past and wasn’t random like she tried to make us believe.
Chase falls to his knees hard when Laya bolts from the room. Tears spring to my eyes for him and his broken heart. I know what rejection feels like.
I move toward him and put my hand on his shoulder, but he’s still staring off after her. I have to get his job secured before I figure out what she is up to.
“Chase, get up.” I lean down and whisper in his ear so only he hears me. “I have more to tell you. She’s probably lying.” His head whips toward me so fast I need to step back so he doesn’t hit me. He stands up and takes me in his arms and holds me tight to his body.
“I’ve had enough. You’re fired, Chase,” Thor growls.
Chase lets me go, and I quickly move around him because I know he’s going to go after Thor again.
“No, he’s not. I’m sick and tired of you bossing everyone around. I’m tired of you jumping to conclusions. You sit your ass down in that chair and listen to me for once.” I point at the chair at the head of the table. I’m ready to give him a taste of the pain he’s caused me.
“The board voted on it before he even stepped foot into the room. He no longer has a position here, and because he was never really an employee, we didn’t have to give him this notification.” Thor raises a brow and smirks at me.
Refusing to back down, I stand in front of him and look him in the eye. My hands are on my hips, and we’re standing so close my breasts brush against his chest. I try not to sigh at the contact. His jaw tightens as if he’s clenching his teeth.
“If you voted with this board, it’s moot.” My smile is deadly and serious. “Four of the members of this board have been replaced.” I step away from him because the contact is almost too much. I point at the four and address them, “Get up and leave, now.” My entourage that was waiting in the hall all step into the room and take a seat as the old members file out.
“You can’t be in here. You aren’t a member of this board.” Thor advances on Elora as she reaches her chair. She’s an inch taller than me and slimmer with a slight curve to her figure.
“I have every right to be here, Mr. Prentrick. I’m a board member as of last week.” Elora smiles at him and takes a seat.
Thornton starts to sputter until he sees Elias behind her. Chase’s stepdad would do anything for me. When I went to him with my plan to save Chase, he said he was in but only temporarily. He’s hoping to retire soon and leave the company to Chase to run like he’s supposed to.
“What are you doing here?” Thor turns to Chase when Elias doesn’t answer, but Chase doesn’t know. I did all this behind his back because I knew he’d stop me. “What is going on, Chase?”
