Page 14 of Texting the Possessive CEO
“Yeah.”
“And you think that’s good enough? I just caught you sexually harassing a coworker. Go the fuck home.”
“Whoa, wait a sec!” Kenny bleats.
I glance at Izzy. She’s looking at me with a mixture of fear and appreciation. There’s some outrage in there too, like she’s pissed it took me coming to her defense to make him stop.
“Am I going to lose my job?” Kenny asks.
“We’ll decide that after I gather a few facts.”
“But—”
I spin back to him. He backs against the wall with a small whimper. “Butwhat? Don’t force this.”
“What’s going on?”
I turn to find Ethan striding toward us, a concerned look on his face. My assistant is staring at me as though I’ve grown a few extra heads.
“Kenny was just leaving.”
Ethan looks at Izzy, then at Kenny. “Christ, Kenny,” he says, when he realizes what’s going on.
“I was just being friendly!” Kenny whines.
For a second, maybe two, all I know is bloody fury. It’s like something else takes over. When I come to—and that really is what it feels like—I’ve got a fistful of Kenny’s shirt in my hand.
“Boss,” he snaps. “Boss,please.”
“Dominic!” Izzy exclaims.
She gazes at me with concern in her eyes. She’s more worried for me than herself. It’s beautiful and dangerous.
“Go home, Kenny.”
I let him go and stride into the office, ignoring the looks aimed at me. In the elevator, I try to slow my breathing, force my fists to unclench.
In my office, I drop into the chair and bury my head in my hands. I’ve never shown so much emotion in front of my employeesbefore. I technically justassaultedKenny. If he wants to press charges…
A knock comes at my door. “Yeah?” I grunt.
Ethan walks in, running a hand over his mop of brown hair. “Kenny has agreed not to press charges. I convinced him it would financially ruin him because you could counter-sue on sexual harassment claims in your workplace. Honestly? That might be bullshit. But he seems to have bought it.”
“Hell, it definitely could be harassment.” I grind my teeth.
“Dom.” Ethan sits opposite me. “What was that? I’ve never seen you like that before.”
“I’ve never caught some bastard hitting on one of our employees before.Aftershe said no.”
“Some bastard,” Ethan repeats. “You mean Kenny, who’s worked for you for three years?”
“He needs to keep his goddamn hands to himself.”
Ethan raises an eyebrow as if to say,You’re one to talk…
“I’ve got work to do, but keep me looped in if Kenny makes a fuss.”
Ethan sighs and leaves. I try to work for the next two hours, but my mind won’t stop ruthlessly analyzing the scene outside. I was in the right because, really, what right does he have? But I didn’t handle the situation the correct way either. More and more, it’s like my PR persona is the real me. Savage, cold, and ferocious.
