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“Again,” he said, “you’re going to report me to HR again. I know all about you running to HR about me. What did you tell them again? Oh, yes, that I made unwanted sexual advanced to you. If I remember correctly, you agreed to have dinner with me, and you seemed just fine with my behavior before your boyfriend stopped by and ruined our evening.”
“I was never all right with what you did to me. The only reason why I accepted your dinner invitation was that I thought that we were going to be working on my last article. As for Ford, he’s none of your business. Our living situation is none of your business either. Am I clear?” she asked. He took another step toward her, his smile mean, and she realized that she had nowhere to run. She was trapped in his office with him, and no one was going to come to her rescue.
“You know, it’s cute when you act all bossy,” he whispered. “But you and I both know that HR won’t believe a word you run to tell them, right?” He was right, even if it made her sick to admit it.
Her world started spinning and she closed her eyes, trying to remain upright. She really didn’t want to pass out in front of her boss, especially when he was practically on top of her. “I need some air,” she whispered.
“You can go get your air, but we’re not done here,” he promised. Andrew stepped to the side, letting her pass as she ran out of his office. Journey ran out of the office, practically plowing down the guy who was walking in the front door.
“Sorry,” she said over her shoulder as he grunted his response.
She pulled her cell phone from her pocket to call Ford. “You okay, honey?” he answered.
“No,” she breathed, “I’m not okay. Can you come to get me?” she asked.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Andrew,” she whispered into her phone. “He found out that I moved in with you and he’s angrier than usual.”
“I’m on my way,” he promised. “I’ll be there in less than ten minutes. You wait outside of the building. Don’t go back in there,” he ordered.
“I won’t,” she said, “but, my bag is in there.”
“I’ll grab your bag when I get there. You just stay safe and wait for me,” he ordered.
“I will,” she assured. “See you soon,” she breathed, ending the call.
* * *
Ford pulled up to the front of her office building minutes later and looked mad enough to kill someone. Journey worried that he’d do just that if he went into her building to get her bag. He got out of his truck and rounded the front, pulling her into his arms as soon as he reached her. “Get into the truck and wait for me,” he ordered.
“Ford,” she whispered. “Don’t go in there and do something stupid. It will give Andrew what he wants. You’ll play right into his hands.”
“I’m not going to touch the asshole,” he assured, though Journey didn’t believe a word he was saying. He looked about ready to beat Andrew into a bloody stump.
“You promise?” she asked. Two police cars pulled up to the curb and parked behind Ford’s pickup. “What have you done?” she asked.
“What had to be done?” he growled. “I won’t lay a hand on him, but you’re going to press charges against him. It’s only right,” he said. “You need to make this stop, Journey. You’re the only one who can do that. If HR won’t do anything about it, you need to. File charges against that fucker so that this can end now.” Ford looked so desperate, she couldn’t tell him no. How could she do that to him? She needed to start thinking about him and their baby—the family that they were building together. It was the only way to have the future that she wanted with Ford. She was holding onto a dead-end job, and she knew that sooner or later, she’d have to give up on it. Her whole life, all she wanted was a future with Ford. Now, she was finally going to have that and she was foolishly throwing it away to do puff pieces for a news organization that didn’t take her word that her boss was making unwanted passes at her.
She nodded, “I’ll file a complaint against him, but it might not do any good. His side of the story is that I wanted him to touch me and ask me out. He just said as much when he trapped me in his office. How can I fight a man like that?” she asked.
“With me by your side,” Ford offered. “I won’t let him touch you again. Hell, I’ll quit my job and camp out here if I have to,” he promised.
“That won’t be necessary,” she assured. “I’m going to quit my job.”
“You can’t quit your job, honey,” he insisted. “You love your job.”
“No, I love the idea of my job. I hate that the company that I work for doesn’t believe a word that I say because my boss has called me a liar. I hate that I’ve worked my ass off trying to get ahead, and never make any leeway. I’m ready to move on,” she said.
“What will you do?” he asked.
“Well, I think that I’m going to concentrate on the baby for now. Then, I’ve been looking into freelancing. I think that I’d like to write articles for magazines, but I’ve really not given it much thought. If you don’t mind me taking some time to consider my options, I’d like to think things over for now.”
“I don’t mind at all. In fact, I think that it’s a great idea. It will give you time to plan our wedding and everything before the baby gets here,” he said.
“Our wedding?” she squeaked. “Are you asking me to marry you, Ford?”
“I am,” he simply answered. “I’ve loved you forever, Journey. Say that you’ll marry me and let me spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
