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She looks up and asks, “What?”
I usually have a strict policy of not interfering in anyone’s personal business but for some reason, I’m curious about why she lied over something so trivial. Or maybe it’s the fact that she seems to tell me everything even if I’m a stranger, but this one small fact she hasn’t mentioned and it is bothering me. It’s silly and foolish, but my mouth opens, regardless, “Why did you lie to your uncle?”
Halley stills for a few seconds and she knows what I’m talking about. Her usually expressive face shutters. She looks completely cold and unapproachable. “No reason. It’s private.”
The shut-up call is so harsh in a way that it has me mentally scrambling back. “Sorry.”
She doesn’t bat an eyelash, simply returning to her work.
Her expression is set in a way that tells me I’ve crossed a line, a line that I had started forgetting existed between us.
A little troubled, I look down at my laptop, not seeing the numbers, trying to figure out why her response stings so much.
Lost in my thoughts, I don’t hear the footsteps until it’s too late.
“What do we have here?”
Hashem’s voice reaches my ears and I stiffen, my head shooting up.
His eyes are on Halley and I see the way he drags them over her bare legs and her exposed arms. Today, her blouse is almost modest and even if it wasn’t—I feel a stirring of anger inside of me—it still doesn’t give him the right to look at her like she’s a piece of meat.
“Hashem, what do you want?” My tone is rude.
He turns to me and his eyes narrow in anger.
At least he’s no longer leering at Halley now.
Halley glances at me then she shifts, uncomfortably, as if her instincts are warning her that she’s in danger.
“Watch the tone, Hunter,” Hashem hisses. “And who’s this pretty little skirt you’ve got holed up in your office? This is a workplace, not a brothel.” His tone is deliberately insulting.
Halley flushes in shame and tugs at her skirt as if to pull it over her knees.
I don’t know why but it makes me see red. Grinding my teeth, I deliberately keep my tone casual, “Unless you want HR breathing down your neck, I’d watch what I say. This is my intern.”
“I never approved this,” Hashem says.
That strange gleam in his eyes puts me on edge. He’s up to something! I pick up the pen laying idly on the table and tap it, impatiently against the desk. “I didn’t need you to approve it. HR approved it as did Mr. Starr.” I know he hates the way I’m casually throwing around Caleb’s name.
His hands clench by his sides. “There is still a protocol you’re supposed to follow and that means informing me that you’re hiring an intern!”
“I did inform you, Sir,” I say the last part with a mocking tone.
Hashem realizes this is true. However, even as his face tightens, he steps towards Halley, and before she can move, he forces her down with his hand on her shoulder. He’s standing right behind her.
I see the way his eyes move towards her chest and I stand up, inexplicably furious. “Take your hand off her!”
“Since you didn’t clear it with me, and since interns are assigned by the HOD, I’ll be taking this one with me. I’m sure she has a lot of valuable skills that I can put to good use.”
The implication in his words is clear and I suddenly remember the female employees that left after working with some of the men that Hashem was close to. I recall the broken look in the eyes of one of those women who used to work with me. I had run into her when she had been leaving as she had fled past me and resigned that very day.
Imagining this perky, bubbly little thing with that look in her eyes, makes my blood boil for some reason, and I’m moving towards Hashem, my mind blank, only the desire to punch his fucking face in.
Halley raises her arm and then elbows Hashem in his balls.
The man crumples to the floor with a howl.
I don’t even consider my actions, just grabbing Halley and forcing her behind me. “You fucking prick. Be glad that’s all she did to you. Come near her again, and I’ll break your fucking legs!”
