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I dropped my head against my hands on the counter and groaned loudly. “It has everything to do with both!” I cried in an outburst. Bridget lifted her brow and opened her mouth, preparing her nosy onslaught of questions, but before she could, I grabbed the envelope and shoved it at her.
Bridget opened the note, reading it and scoffing as she fingered the flash drive. “Have you looked at what’s on here yet?”
I nodded. “It’s a picture of Graham and I at the shelter, and another taken through his window of me tied to the bed.” I felt uneasy thinking about how quickly I had slammed my laptop shut. Someone had been watching us.
“And you don’t know who it’s from?” She seemed confused, almost as confused as I was. I shook my head. “Who would even know you were there?”
When Bridget took another gulp of wine, I mirrored it, desperately swallowing the liquid courage. I thought about Wade and the girl at the shelter. Besides them and the radio show, Bridget was the only person who knew we were together. I pressed my fingers to my temple.
“I don’t know.” Tears welled in my eyes, and I sighed. “I don’t know who sent it, but I know it wasn’t from Graham. You should’ve seen his face when I ended it with him.” Images of the last moment I saw him crossed my mind, and I sniffled.
Bridget stuffed the note and flash drive back into the envelope and tossed it onto the counter. “Okay, so here’s my question: why is it a big deal?” She put her hands up defensively when I glared at her, and then she shrugged. “I’m serious. Why does it matter?”
“Whoever sent it wants to ruin my reputation. What does it say about me that I like being tied up and teased until I’m beggingand crying?” I cursed myself for the rush of arousal that pooled between my legs. Now was not the time.
Bridget chuckled. “It says that you’re a damn good time!” She held up her glass to cheers me, shrugging and taking a drink anyways when I didn’t comply.
“Can we be serious, Bridget?” I grumbled, rolling my eyes.
“Iam!Chelsea, a lot of powerful people are kinky. Who cares?” She emphasized the question, putting extra space between the two words.
I smacked my hand against the counter. “I do! I worked really hard for my career and for my reputation. I’m finally in line for a promotion I’ve waited years for, and nowthis?It can’t get out.” I lowered my voice. “I don’t want to know what people would say.”
“So get in front of it.” Bridget leaned against the counter.
I looked at her like she was speaking a different language and glared. “What are you talking about?”
“Tell the boss. Tell whoever you’re worried about.” Bridget clapped me on the shoulder. “Listen, you’re not doing anything to be ashamed of, so don’t hide it. There’s no blackmail if there’s no secret.”
Chapter 23
Chelsea
My boss stared at me from across his desk, looking more unamused than he usually did. Jared Stiles was not known for being a friendly man—he was part of the reason I had worked so hard to develop a thick skin. “What did you need to meet withme for, Chelsea?” He looked at his computer, as if to emphasize that I was wasting his time.
Until recently, it seemed like Jared hated me, and then he started talking about promotions. I thought maybe he was finally starting to like me, or at least respect me. What was he going to think about me now? I cleared my throat. “I just needed to talk to you about something.”
Jared rolled his wrist to urge me on with another glance at his screen. “What is it? I’m very busy.”
“I’ve recently started seeing someone.” The words rushed out of me so quickly, I almost choked on them, but as soon as they were spoken, I felt a little better.
He rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sighed. “Is it another employee? Who is it?” It would clearly not be the first time if I were. I shook my head.
“No. It’s nobody here.” I chewed nervously on the inside of my cheek.
Jared lowered his voice, dropping his hand into his lap and staring at me. His eyes were blank, lacking any interest in the conversation when he realized it had nothing to do with his newspaper. “Then why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t know how to say this.” I pressed my fingertips together until they turned white, but it didn’t stop the shaking in my hands. “I’m being blackmailed.”
“Because you have a boyfriend?” I didn’t blame him for the confusion or the irritation. When he was saying it out loud, it all sounded kind of silly. I felt as ridiculous as he surely thought I was. “I’m not following what this has to do with me.”
“It’s because of thethingsI dowithhim.” I thought about Graham’s face, and I wondered what he’d say. Would the note have bothered him? Maybe it would bother him more that I was laying everything out for my boss.
Jared’s attention peaked. “Are they illegal things?” I could almost sense him preparing himself to fire me for some heinous act I had no part in.
“No!” I waved my hands frantically. I wasn’t sure how to word the things that went on behind closed doors without going into details I wasn’t prepared to give him, but I wasn’t breaking the law. “He is into BDSM.”
His eyes got wide when he lifted his brow. He was more interested than angry. “So he likes to spank you and make you crawl to him?” The humor in his voice had replaced the annoyance, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure which was worse.
