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Edmond snorted. “Wow. Jealousy? Seriously?”

“I’m just trying to understand the dynamics here. I presented a similar video at my first meeting. That ‘cup of tea’ phrase is written on a paper on my desk. Did I miss the memo where we were reworking my ideas?”

Edmond exchanged a loaded look with Booboo, then shot me a pitying expression. “You’re embarrassing yourself. This was my idea. If you want recognition, you’ll have to come up with something better than a woman faking it. Especially since decent girls don’t do that. Not that you’d know what decent girls do.”

Did he really just say that to my face? I laughed a loud, barking laugh that drew attention from all over the room. “Do you actually believe that?”

“This behavior is basic, even for you.”

My temper flared, and the fire in my stomach burst into an inferno. He stole from me, and now he was insulting me?

Each step was an attack on the wood floor in my march to Cam’s office. Ever the gentleman, he jumped to his feet as I burst inside, a pen falling from his hand to skitter across the desk.

“Honeycutt?”

Eighteen

I closed the door with a controlled click, even though I wanted to slam it. “What was that about, Shepherd?” He cocked his head, but I didn’t give him a chance to answer. “You rejected that same idea not two weeks ago. Did it somehow become more palatable because it was being presented to you by men?”

He opened his mouth.

“Why did you even hire me?” I asked before he spoke. “Was it just for show because of my reputation? Or was it to feed ideas to the morons in your company who are too stupid to think of them on their own?” Again, he drew breath, but I continued, my voice growing progressively sharper. “They stole that entire concept from me. Even the phrase at the end was my idea. I just hadn’t presented it yet. And instead of acknowledging that they’re a bunch of petty thieves, you complimented them and accepted their stolen proposal! What the hell was that?”

He set his hands on the desk. “I⁠—”

“I know you never liked me much.” My shrillness turned brittle. “I know you think I’m trash—you made that perfectly clear years ago⁠—”

His expression tightened. “Why would you⁠—”

“—but I thought you at least saw I had value to add to this department. I don’t understand what I’m doing here if that isn’t the case.”

“Honeycutt—”

“Did you want to put me in my place?” My upper thighs dug into the edge of his desk as I leaned toward him. “Is that what this is about? To remind me that it’s a privilege for someone like me to be working here? What is it about me that pisses your family off so much? Why is my existence so offensive to you?”

He jerked back as if I’d slapped him. “What?”

An exasperated sigh escaped my lungs as I lost my steam. “Just— Why?”

He blinked once, and his attention shifted to the corner behind me. I followed his gaze to find Bennett sitting in a leather chair, one leg crossed over the other, eyes gleaming in delight.

My chest constricted. “Oh…”

“That was a flawless speech, darling.” Bennett’s smile stretched over his face. “I might be in love. Marry me?”

Startled to silence, I was saved by Cam’s sharp, “You can go, Ben.”

Bennett stood, and some silent communication passed between the two men. Bennett glowed, his powerful smirk aimed at Shepherd, who merely glared back.

“Sure, I’ll go.” Bennett took my hand and bowed over it. “Was a real pleasure to witness that. Give him hell, then find me after. I’ll buy you coffee—the kind that doesn’t hide behind anonymity.”

“Bennett,” came Camden’s warning tone.

Bennett threw his hands up. “I’m leaving, I’m leaving. Remember what I said.”

Cam scowled at the closed door, then reverted his focus to me, expression wiped clean. He waved a smooth hand toward the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

Frozen, I had to first remember how to move before my knees bent. Only once I was settled did he resume his seat.