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“She doesn’t need you to protect her from ex-subs.”
“Probably not.”
“Would you expect her to tell you if something similar had happened to her?”
“Absolutely.” He would kill any man who tried to influence her in such a way. “But I handled the problem. I saw no reason to involve Kayla.”
“Yet you’re disturbed by your omission. What does that tell you?”
“Our whole relationship is built on trust and honesty. I expect it from her, but I didn’t reciprocate.”
“It isn’t too late.”
“I suppose not.” Julian shrugged. “I do have to tell her. Just not tonight.” After the scene and the punishment, she had endured enough. “She’s already asleep.”
“You do what you think is right. Don’t underestimate her. She’ll surprise you.”
He didn’t need Martin to tell him that. He also didn’t need Martin to tell him that he should tell Kayla what happened with Angelina. He’d been so angry over it that he didn’t think he could articulate the audacity of that woman.
Angelina hadn’t been back to the office after what she had done. She’d called in sick today. That worked for Julian. He still wasn’t sure how he was going to manage a professional relationship with her. He never should have mixed business with pleasure. He only had himself to blame.
* * *
Kayla hurriedinto the lobby of the penthouse before the storm approached. It was quiet. Just Joe, the security guard, sitting at his desk, watching the monitors.
“Hello, Ms. Quinn,” Joe said. “It’s nice to see your shining face on this dreary night.”
“Hey, Joe.” She stopped at his desk. “How are you?”
“I can’t complain.” The older gentleman leaned back in his chair. “I’ve got my coffee and my banana bread, and I’m settling in for an uneventful evening.”
“Sounds good.”
“Mr. Anders has been keeping some late hours, huh?”
“He’s a workaholic.” She wished Julian didn’t work such late hours, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. “I’m getting used to it.”
“Well, I’ll have a talk with him. If I had a pretty girl like you waiting for me, I’d be there when she got home.”
“You can talk to him about it, but he’s not going to listen.” She laughed. “I don’t mind. He gives me his undivided attention when he’s here.” She recalled just how undivided his attention could be.
“He better.” Joe searched his desk. “A package arrived for you a few minutes ago.”
“Me?” That was odd. She hadn’t had her mail changed over. As far as most people knew, she still resided in her own apartment. A detail she was going to have to resolve soon. Julian wanted her to make his address her permanent address.
“Kayla Quinn,” he said. “Came by messenger.” He handed her the large manila envelope. “I signed for it myself.”
“Thank you.” She took it from him. “Have a great night.”
“You too,” he called as she stepped onto the elevator. “I hope that man of yours doesn’t keep you waiting too long.”
Me too.As she rode the elevator, she noticed there was no return address on the package. Maybe Judge Cooper had sent her some stuff to proofread. She had mentioned to his secretary that she stayed most nights at Julian’s place.
Once she approached the door to the penthouse, she punched in her code and dropped her bags in the foyer, eager to see what was inside her mysterious package. The naughty side in her hoped it was some kind of kinky instructions from Julian. Maybe he wanted her in the secret room, naked and waiting for him when he arrived. Perhaps she would surprise him and do that anyway.
Opening the package, she took out photographs. Who would send her these? Her hands shook as she studied the vile pictures before her. Julian and Angelina were splashed across the photo paper in various poses. First, her bound to some sort of apparatus attached to the ceiling, then him touching her wrists as she looked up at him. Another shot where he had her backed into a corner. Had he restrained her? As she flipped through the stack, Julian had eventually released Angelina. In another shot, she was close to him as he held her forearms, her naked form clinging to his suit-clad body, undoing his tie. Kayla couldn’t continue for fear she might vomit.
When the penthouse door swung open, her heart beat erratically. A fury somewhere deep from within rumbled through her system, bubbling to the surface when Julian approached her.
