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“Honestly, I’m not sure. He’s really good at hiding his emotions.”
“Not lately.”
I nodded. “And that’s probably good. Better he vent than let his anger build up. I just don’t know how much anger he has toward me, or us. If this is just venting and bluffing, then it’s nothing to worry about.”
“But he’s been verbally abusive in the past?”
Aithan turned right on Montlake and accelerated.
I sighed. “Yeah, I guess he was. I mean, you get accustomed to being belittled. It’s not something that starts on Day One of a relationship. It just kinda creeps in. It doesn’t mean he’s suddenly turning into a monster though.” I watched Seattle flash past the window, Craftsman and modern homes worth millions of dollars blurred by the rain that had started falling as we drove toward Stevens. “He was never physically abusive. I can’t imagine himhurtingme.”
Aithan said nothing for a long moment. The SUV’s tires splashed through puddles and its windshield wipers kept up a steady, squeaking rhythm. “Threatening to humiliate you and jeopardizing your work contracts isn’t hurtful?”
I glanced at him. He was right, and I hated it. I shook my head. “I don’t even know if this video really exists.”
“You’re making excuses for him.”
Fuck. “Yeah. I am.” I looked down at the black screen of the phone in my lap. “It’s just that I hate to think I’ve been so completely wrong about him. You know?”
“I know. And I understand. I’m not sure what to do about his employment, either. I sent an email to my attorney yesterday.”
I looked back at him. “Oh, crap. Really? I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this. I don’t want Tristan fucking up your business.”
He shook his head. “Us dating isn’t why I contacted him. I told you his behavior is contrary to Blue Water’s policies. I need to understand my rights as his employer, regardless of my relationship with you.”
That made sense. Employment law was tricky. We rode in silence, each consumed by different sides of the same problem.
Aithan circled Tristan’s neighborhood until he finally found parking a block from the house. He shut off the engine and turned to me. “So you don’t know if he really has a video of you?”
“No, not that I know of. Definitely not that I gave him permission to film. Honestly, I think he’s just trying to embarrass me. He knows my dad’s a lawyer and will demand to see these messages.”
He leaned closer, his gaze holding me in place. “And if you’re wrong?”
I swallowed. “I could lose my contracts with four major publishers. He could cost me a hundred thousand dollars.”
Aithan’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s not a minor threat, Zel.” He shook his head. “That’s a huge financial blow. You need to bite the bullet and send those messages to your father if you think he can help you shut down Tristan.”
I blew out a slow breath. “I’m sure it’s the smart thing to do, but would you want your dad to read messages about you giving head?”
“If it meant protecting my career? I wouldn’t hesitate. It’s not like your dad doesn’t know you’ve had sex, right?”
I laughed humorlessly. “Right. He knows I’m not an innocent flower. But, still.” I held up my phone. “Deep Throat? Skull Fucker? It’s humiliating.”
“Exactly. And it’ll enrage your dad. Hell, if it was my dad, he’d break Tristan’s kneecaps and knock his teeth down his throat.”
I gaped at him. “Your dad sounds charming.”
“My dad’s a retired Army master sergeant.”
“I guess that explains his charm.”
He laughed. “Yeah, Mama and Babcia didn’t let him discipline us the way he really wanted to.”
“Babcia?”
