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“But I don’t—”
“Like that one. We know,” Theo said flatly. “But it doesn’t mean you can monopolise my girlfriend.”
Why was I here?
What was the point of it? I couldn’t get a word in for the life of me. I was merely a spectator with a ticket for a front row seat of whatever show this was.
“She was my secretary before she was your girlfriend. You met her thanks to me.” Charles pouted. “You can’t monopolise her, either.”
Theo stomped across the office and sat down on the other side of me, also wrapping his arms around me. “She’s mygirlfriend. I have more of a right to monopolise her than you do, old man.”
“Old man? I’m still young enough to whip your arse, you little shit.”
“You’d have to catch me first, but snails aren’t that fast.”
“Why you little—”
“Why is my office always the site of your spats?” Alastair rubbed his temple. “And please let Chloe go. You’re yanking her about side to side, and I think she might throw up.”
I sighed, dropping my chin to my chest. “I just… wanted my water.”
They both released me and reached to grab my glass. They touched it at the same time, and the opposing forced knocked the glass over, spilling the water on the floor in front of me.
“For Gods’ sake,” Alastair said, standing up and storming over. “Chloe, come here.”
I put my hand in his, and he pulled me up, then pushed me across the room towards his desk.
“Sit there,” he said, pushing me down into his chair in a way that brokered no argument. He pushed a button on his intercom and said, “Cassidy, can I have some more water in here, please? And can you find something for my father and son to do that doesn’t include harassing my dear Chloe?”
“I wasn’t harassing her,” the duke huffed. “Theo was, though.”
“How was I harassing her?” Theo argued. “You’re the one who wouldn’t let her go.”
“Your existence is harassment in my eyes.”
Alastair leant in towards me, resting his hand gently on my shoulder. “Take a good look, dear. This is your life now. I won’t blame you if you run.”
I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my laughter. “It’s all right. They mean well.”
The office door swung open, and Cassidy walked in, a water bottle in one hand and a rolled-up newspaper in the other. She crossed over to hand me the water with a smile, then spun on her heel and approached both Theo and the duke on the sofa.
Then she bonked them both on the head with her newspaper.
“Your Grace, if you continue, I shall call your wife,” Cassidy said stoically. “And you, young Mr Black, I will call your mother.”
I raised my eyebrows at her simple threat.
“Neither of them will be pleased to be dragged away from their business,” she continued. “One more word of harassment out of either of you to my sweet Chloe will get you in a world of trouble, do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Theo mumbled.
“Why am I always in trouble? This is my company!” Charles banged his fist against the arm of the sofa. “I need to come back. My authority is waning.”
Cassidy narrowed her eyes at him. “I see you’ve chosen darkness. Very well.”
“No. Wait! Cassidy!” He hauled himself off the sofa and shuffled after her as she headed out of the office. “Don’t call my wife. I won’t be able to play golf this afternoon if you do that!”
The door clicked shut after him, but the echoes of his pleas to save his afternoon of golf still rang clear.
