Lucky This Isn't Real: MacBride Brothers Series St. Patrick's Day Fake Fiance Romance by Jamie Knight (good books to read for beginners txt) 📗

from the knees when bending was required. Unfortunately, the never be alone with him part wasn’t really possible.

He would call me into his office on the flimsiest pretense and, because of my job description, I had to go. He never outright told me to ‘do a little turn,’ but he basically did when he called me in then claimed to forget what it was about, getting a lengthy view of my ass as I crossed his large office back to the door. I could almost feel his eyes burning holes in the back of my pants. It was always such a relief to see Sean after a day in the office. A nice reminder that not every guy in the world was scum.

I tried to last, not wanting to give Mr. Chau the satisfaction of quitting. I couldn’t ask for a transfer without saying why. And such an accusation would need some pretty solid evidence, or I would be the one in trouble. It was silly to quit on the second day of my promotion, but I just got too scared. It wasn’t much at first. Just his usual leering while I was filing. Then I raised my ass a bit further than usual to get to the back of a drawer. From the way his breathing increased, I knew what he was doing. I turned around to see he’d cupped his crotch and was rubbing his hand up and down while leering at me. I shrieked and fled the office.

The clicks of my phone echoed off the tiled toilet walls as I texted Nicole, doing my best not to wreck my makeup with crying.

Me: I can’t do this.

 

Nicole: What happened?

 

Me: Need to talk soon. Drinks after work.

 

Nicole: Of course, meet me in my office.

 

The rest of the day bled together. Chau knew it was my word against his, but he seemed to know he fucked up and turned up the niceness. No doubt in case I wanted to make a complaint. With any luck, things could be resolved before that was needed.

Quitting time finally came, and I was off like a shot to Nicole’s office, doing my best not to run.

“What happened?” she asked, coming over to hug me.

“Not here.”

“Okay, I’ll get my coat.”

Sean wasn’t there to greet me, which was actually a relief. I sent him a quick text so he wouldn’t worry when I didn’t make it home at my usual time.

The shamrock on McGinty’s called up a lot of memories, all of them good. Nicole held my hand as we walked to the bar, not very professional but fuck it, we weren’t at the office anymore.

“Two shots of Tennessee Whiskey,” Nicole said, taking the lead when the waitress came by for our order.

“I think I have to quit,” I blurted.

“Why would you do that?”

“I knew Emil is a bit creepy, you warned me about that, but I didn’t think it would be like this.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, not directly. I mean, you’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Try me.”

“I have this thing, a sort of intuition. Something felt different today. I was filing like usual, except I lifted a bit higher than usual, and Emil was watching me. He’s always watching me. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. It was like I could feel what he was thinking. Not hear it but feel it, he wanted to fuck me, whether I liked it or not, and he wasn’t going to be gentle. I turned around and saw he had his hand cupped around his crotch. I ran away and hid. That’s when I texted you.”

The tears came back in their inky cascade as Nicole did her best to console me. I wasn’t sure if she believed me, but I was clearly upset, and she wasn’t about to call me a liar.

“I know what you mean.”

“You do?” I asked, blowing my nose.

“I have the same thing. It’s why I started wearing pants at work. The junior partners aren’t much better than the senior.”

“Now I really have to quit.”

“Do you want to give him the satisfaction?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Didn’t think so. Here’s what I suggest. Get one of those hidden cameras and have it on whenever you are with Emil. It won’t stand up in a court of law, but at least you’ll have evidence if you need to file a complaint with HR. Unfortunately, you need proof. It’s an old boys club in there.”

It was a good idea, if a little weird. After leaving the pub, just drunk enough to be bold enough to try it, I went to a nearby electronics store with only the vaguest idea of what to ask for. Not the best plan I ever had, but better than nothing.

“May I help you?” asked a pleasant girl in a company polo shirt.

“I hope so. I’m looking for a camera. A video camera small enough to fit in here.” I lifted my purse feeling like an idiot, but at least my plan might turn out to be a success. I was sadly glad the clerk was another female. Emil putting me off men for the immediate. At least men I didn’t know.

“I have just the thing.”

With my new camera in my purse, I headed home. I was dying to see Sean. I wanted to tell him about my day, have him hold me and kiss me and tell me everything would be alright. But I also wasn’t sure it would be a good idea to tell him, at least not right away. Sean seemed so gentle, but Maggie had told tales about what Gavin was capable of when the situation called for violence, and there was no way of knowing that Sean wouldn’t react the same way. Probably with backup from Gavin. I wanted