Because a moment later, the door sprung open, clanging against the bookshelves. A woman barged in, steam pouring from her nostrils like an enraged dragon.
Rita appeared in the doorway, panting, her eyes wide. Noah let out a squeak and rushed to tuck himself back in his pants. I stood at my own pace, adjusting the neckline of my shirt as if I hadn’t been caught almost fucking a client on my desk.
Who the hell was this woman, and what gave her the right to barge into my office?
More importantly, why was the universe conspiring against me today? First Jake with his “feelings” had gotten in the way of my pleasure. And now this intruder was interrupting my office tryst.
“Can I help you?” I asked with what I was hoping was a serene expression.
“Yes. You can take your hands off my husband,” she spat.
I arched an eyebrow and turned to glance at Noah. He seemed frozen in place, his eyes darting between me and this woman. His wife, apparently.
The room spun, and I gripped the edge of the desk to steady myself.
“Victoria, dear,” he ground out. “I think you’re forgetting the fact that we’re separated.”
I glanced between the two of them, trying to read the dynamics. Who was telling the truth? I tended to believe a woman over a man, but I also didn’t want to admit that I’d been duped by Noah. That he’d lied to my face and I hadn’t seen it coming.
“Do you sleep with all your clients?” Victoria directed at me. “Or just the married ones?” Her words felt like a slap to the face. And that was exactly what I wanted to do to Noah—slap him.
“Victoria, don’t be nasty,” Noah chided.
She spun on him, her fury blazing. “Don’t talk to me about nasty. You were going to fuck the help.”
I blinked back my shock.The help?I wasn’t the help; I was a professional. And I had no idea he was married. Separated.Whatever.I blew out a breath.
“I hope it was worth it,” she sneered. “Because I’m going to report you to the design board. I’m good friends with Luther King.”
I bit back a laugh, finally composing myself. The “design board” held no power over the industry. It was more of an informal body that gossiped about design trends.
“There’s no rule against sleeping with clients.” I moved behind my desk, placing my palms against the surface to ground myself. “Though I never would have agreed if I’d known he was married. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a client meeting to prepare for.”
Rita ushered them toward the door, but Victoria wasn’t ready to give up yet. “You think I’m going to let this go so easily?” She shook her head, and her blond extensions trembled around her, raging with fury. “I will tell every single person I know about this. I will ruin your reputation like you ruined my marriage.”
That got my attention. My business relied on word of mouth. And a woman like Victoria Ashworth—a woman I presumed had connections, based on her husband’s business reputation—could blackball me. She could put me out of business.
I tried to remain calm, neutral, even as I swallowed down my rising panic. I didn’t want her to know how much her words had affected me. I wasn’t sure what was worse—being accused of being “the other woman” or the fact that she was threatening to ruin my company, my baby.
“I swear, I didn’t know,” I said, appealing to Victoria.
I didn’t want her to trash my reputation, but I was almost more concerned with the idea of being perceived as “the other woman.”
She paused midstride but kept her back to me. Encouraged by her reaction, I continued, sensing that she was listening. “Believe me, I have more respect for myself, for you—even though I don’t know you—than that.”
A jerk of her chin was the only acknowledgment I got before she stormed out of my office. Noah attempted to grovel as he followed her through the front door. I shook my head as I stared after their receding forms.
Unbelievable.
“You really had no idea he was married?” Rita asked as we stared after them.
They were having a shouting match on the sidewalk, and I was just grateful they’d left. Though the knots lining my stomach told me this wouldn’t be the end of it.
I shook my head. “He told me he was newly single. But I should know better than to trust a man.”
Rita blew out a breath. “Did you ever think that part of the reason you’re in this mess is because of your trust issues with men?”
I turned to her with a frown. “What is that supposed to mean?”
