by Eliza Ellis
Anyway, it didn’t matter because he wasn’t pursuing her.
And she definitely didn’t want him.
“What do you want?” The question slipped from him as they walked along the river’s edge, taking the long way back to the hotel.
“Sir?”
“Do you think this position will help advance your career in some way? What do you want out of life now…after…”
Kori smiled sadly. “It’s a question I’ve asked myself since it all happened.”
“You don’t need to explain anything to me.”
She looked at him for a long moment. “No, I think I do. I think I owe you that much—for the raise.”
“I don’t need or want anything in return. I did it simply for a job well done.” That and he had wanted to help her. Offering her a life in Italy and then telling her it would only be for three months almost felt like a bait-and-switch. He’d felt bad for her, like he had let her down.
Sabrina had tried to tell him that what her mother did wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t let his ex down. It was the opposite. It hadn’t felt like it at the time, and he hadn’t had someone look at him the way Kori had at dinner. Like she trusted and respected him.
“Brigham was drunk—as usual—after a major party where he met some people he could do business with. The pitch was successful, and they toasted their future success well into the night.”
Brigham was drunk. Marshall inwardly cringed, remembering the first day Kori had arrived. Admittedly, he had had too much to drink. Now he understood Kori’s disdain for alcohol.
“I was never allowed to leave the parties early. I had to stay as long as he wanted to stay, because I was his assistant. Maybe he would need help getting to the car…or for me to hold a bucket so he could puke in it.”
Marshall made a noise of disgust. “Okay, that’s taking your duties a little far.”
“Not for Brigham.”
“I suppose if he had long hair he’d want you to hold it back, too?”
Kori snorted. “Yup. I guarantee that’s what he would’ve expected from me.”
“Oh, Kori…I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
She shivered. “Thank you,” she said softly, rubbing her arms.
Was she cold? Although the scorching temperature had cooled with the arrival of the moon, it was still quiet warm outside. Either way, he offered his jacket to her. Kori accepted.
“Anyway, he had sobered up some on the ride back to the hotel. We were in California at the time, and on the way back, he made a pass at me.”
Marshall watched the side of her jaw harden and her eyes fill with moisture.
“More than a pass. He…”
Marshall stopped and put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her eyes up to his. “You don’t have to,” he whispered.
Her lips twisted into a lopsided smile. “Maybe I should be the one seeing a therapist.”
He nodded. “That might be a good thing.” He cupped her head in his hands. “Did he hurt you?” Because if he had, he was going to fly to wherever that jerk was and knock his teeth in.
She let out a breath. “He didn’t succeed because the driver had to make an emergency maneuver to avoid hitting a car. Brigham got slammed into the side of the door and was so angry the entire way back. Couldn’t stop cursing at the driver.”
“Sounds like fate.”
Kori nodded. “I like to think the driver was watching us and just looking for me.”
“Maybe he was.”
“Brigham was too sloppy to even walk to my hotel door, so it didn’t go any further than the car.”
Marshall squeezed her shoulders. “Are you…physically okay? You didn’t need to see a doctor or anything?”
Her tender smile eased some of his worry away. “Yes, I’m okay. And no, I didn’t need to see a doctor. But I wish I had more evidence—not that I wanted more physical evidence.” Her lips slanted down to one side.
She groaned and then ran her hands up over her bushy hair, effectively knocking his hands off her shoulders. Marshall put his hands behind his back and moved to her side. He didn’t want her to feel trapped and that he was the one trapping her.
“Anyway, Brigham gave me an ultimatum. If I didn’t…and then he fired me.” She began walking again. “I thought I had the driver’s support. He’d seen the way Brigham was acting toward me before we got in the car.”
“Has your lawyer spoken to him?”
“She sent me a message the other day that he has since recanted his statement.”
He put an encouraging hand on the middle of her back. She didn’t flinch. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m assuming that was Brigham’s influence?”
Kori nodded. “Although I can’t say with one hundred percent certainty, but my lawyer and I think so. The driver is still employed. I remember Brigham ranting that he would be fired for almost getting us killed. I guess Brigham would rather put up with him than to fire him and have him be a witness for my side.”
“People in power wield a lot of influence. They won’t all use it for good.”
“I’m a walking testimony to that,” she agreed softly. “It’s why I wouldn’t care to see another alcoholic drink in my lifetime. I’ve seen how people behave and how vulnerable they can be when under the influence. The stories I’ve heard from women—and men—who’ve been in my situation. Almost all of them will stay quiet because they don’t want to lose their jobs. They weigh the discomfort and find it bearable.”
Marshall marveled at the woman who walked beside him. He considered her incredibly brave and strong. “And you couldn’t.”
Kori shook her head. “How could I live with myself? After what my father had said about me and my sisters? I’m the oldest. If I don’t set an example of how we should be treated, then they won’t know, will they? I know they’re grown and can make their own decisions, but I’m still their older sister.”
Marshall thought of Sabrina. Her mother wasn’t a great example, and it blew his mind that Sabrina had turned out so well. Her mother was practically a con artist—manipulative and an expert liar. He’d been blind to her need for money and how she could cast a spell over people’s emotions and bend their wills to hers. Sabrina’s antics as a teenager had warned him of trouble, but he was so taken with her, he figured all she needed was a little bit of love—and he had wanted to be the male role model she’d needed.
“And I didn’t want my father to be proven right,” she continued. Her chuckle sounded humorless. “Now it doesn’t matter because he died.”
“Kori, I get that. I don’t know about your father, but he should be proud of you. Whatever he told you, he got it all wrong.”
Kori smiled up at him, and Marshall felt proud. He quickly squashed the feeling. He had to keep his feelings professional.
“It’s okay. He died about a year ago now. I wasn’t allowed to go to the funeral, because Brigham refused to let me leave the country. We were in South Korea. Can’t fly anywhere without a passport.”
“He held your passport!” Marshall fisted his hands, the temperature of his blood shooting up. If he ever met this guy, then he’d go to jail for battery, because Marshall would beat the guy to a pulp. “He can’t do that!”
“Well, he did. And I missed the funeral. It’s been hard trying to grieve for a man who never thought I’d succeed. To let it all go, and then…”
“Then face what you did and now this.”
She smiled. Her eyes held tears, but they didn’t flow. She was trying to be strong in front of him. He admired her fortitude, and he wished she didn’t have to be so tough. He wanted to hold her and tell her she could breathe. If only for a moment, she could breathe and he would protect her. But she wasn’t his to protect.
“I’m sorry that this won’t last long,” he whispered, emotion in his throat.
She shook her head. “Don’t be. I’m enjoying the work so far. It keeps me from being lost in my own head. And I’m in Italy!” She threw her arms up
and laughed. “I’ve been here before, but only for overnighters. It’s almost like a…”
He cocked a brow when she looked away. Then he laughed. “You don’t want to say it’s a vacation, do you?”
She shook her head, the corners of her mouth twitching.
“As long as you keep me from looking like I’m taking a vacation, then it’s okay. And you have. That first day was…interesting but necessary. And I’ll make sure you have time to take a real vacation here before it’s all over. You’ll have a lot to deal with when you get back.”
He wished he hadn’t said that when he saw her downturned face.
In the elevator at the hotel, Marshall thought to move to the opposite side of the car, but he stayed near. Still feeling protective of her, he wanted her to trust him. So he kept his hands in his pockets and barely made eye contact. She stood with a straight back, her expression calm.
He walked her to her room door. She opened it and turned around with a smile. “Thank you for tonight. Thank you for the raise and…for listening and not judging.”
He could only imagine what someone in her position would’ve gone through. “Kori, thank you for being strong. For being a professional.” He took a step closer, emboldened by the admiration for the woman in front of him. “I want you to know you’ll have my full support. Whatever you need.”
A tear slipped from her eye. He caught it with his knuckle and slowly dragged it across her jaw. He cupped her cheek. “Kori…” he whispered. He willed himself not to move a muscle. The line was staring him straight in the face. He wanted nothing more than to cross it. To brush his lips over hers and take her into his arms.
But he couldn’t. He couldn’t put her in that position again.
Kori stepped forward. “Marshall,” she breathed.
Her intense dark eyes looked up at him expectantly. His mind yelled at him to back away while his heart thumped into his ribs as if trying to reach the woman in front of it. He wished more than anything to fulfill her expectations. His body swayed forward slightly, and then with more force of will than he thought he possessed, he dropped his hand and took several steps back.
“Good night, Kori. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”
She blinked a few times and visibly swallowed. “Sir.” She hurried inside and shut the door.
Marshall groaned and leaned against the wall opposite her door. It was over. He’d made a pass at her, however subtle. Another boss wielding his influence over a subordinate who wouldn’t be able to fight his power.
He was the world’s biggest jerk.
Chapter 10
It took a gargantuan effort to keep her fingernails out of her mouth. Kori had made a colossal mistake. She had to tell her lawyer. Give her the heads-up. If she got blindsided by this news—and if Brigham’s legal team heard about it—then Kori’s case was over.
Technically, it was over anyway. There was no way she could win against Brigham now that the driver had back out. Her lawyer was hungry, and Kori appreciated that she believed her, but none of that would matter anymore.
Not when she liked her new boss.
She eyed the man’s jacket, draped over a chair at the desk. Every time she passed it, she smelled him. Earth, musk, and strength…with just the sweetest hint of pine.
Kori groaned and put her face in her hands. Last night… Last night she practically threw herself into Marshall’s arms. Crying and whispering his name. It was tantamount to an invitation. After she had told him the story about Brigham? How could she have stood there, in front of her door, waiting for Marshall to kiss her? Why didn’t she back herself into her room?
Furthermore, how in the world was she attracted to Marshall? Yes, he was taller than her five foot nine frame. Yes, he had an amazing smile that was too inviting for its own good. Yes, his body looked fit beneath his clothes, like he spent the right amount of time in the gym.
And no, he wasn’t too old. Well, maybe, but the way her heart had banged against her chest last night, ordering her forward and into his arms… Her body clearly didn’t mind his age. She didn’t either, finding his company interesting, his touch soothing as she spoke about Brigham. He was so thoughtful to ask for a raise.
He wasn’t perfect—nobody was—but she could tell that he was trying. The last two weeks had been stressful for them both, but Marshall showed up to work on time, every day, and with an attitude of determination.
And most of all, he knew where the line was and didn’t cross it. That’s what made her respect for him grow. He was the one who had stepped back although she could’ve sworn his eyes had desired the same unspoken plea in her own heart. How could she have let this happen?
She woke up with a headache, having tossed and turned the night before. All day, she avoided Marshall as best she could, breathing a sigh of relief when he left a note canceling their daily morning meeting. He was already hard at work before she had set foot in the building.
Maybe he was avoiding her. Here he had hired someone with a black mark on her professional record, who could possibly damage the reputation of his company and end his career. What if he had taken his concerns to the board?
The board! They had to have known who she was. Kori was amazed she hadn’t been fired. She glanced at the clock on her computer screen. It was nearly lunchtime. Still enough time for her to be fired today.
She had to get over this…this attraction she had to Marshall. It wasn’t healthy for her, and he wasn’t in a position to be in a relationship even if he wanted to. He drank entirely too much, and he was still bitter over his divorce.
And he’s Sabrina’s father!
Kori groaned and let her head fall onto her desk. It couldn’t happen. It just couldn’t happen. What would Sabrina think if Kori told her that she’d fallen for her father? They would never be friends again. It was…icky.
Kori snapped up, took a deep breath, and gathered the file folder on her desk. She still had a job to do, and she was going to do it, no matter how embarrassing. She didn’t have to look into his gorgeous light blue eyes. Didn’t have to be swayed into la-la land when he smiled at her. Her body didn’t have to tremble when his deep voice said her name. Her subconscious wasn’t going to have any more power to torment her while she slept.
Yes, she’d spent the night dreaming about him. His laughter, his arms around her, his kiss…
Kori stomped her way to Marshall’s office. When no greeting came after her knock, she walked in and let out a breath. He wasn’t in. Probably in another impromptu meeting, which was pretty much his schedule since the start of the day. Good. Time away could make both of them forget what had happened. She’d gain the courage to smile and say “sir” like nothing was happening between them.
Her eyes caught a missing piece of furniture. The liquor cabinet that sat prominently between the armchairs near the window was gone. Replaced by a small table that displayed a plant and what looked like a pitcher of cucumber water. Kori blinked. She scanned the office and even snuck a peek behind the secret closet door. No cabinet.
Had he gotten rid of it? When? Her heart warmed and respect for her boss climbed. She’d told him what drink did to people, and had gotten rid of the booze. She found herself smiling, mood lightened.
When she returned to her office, she started to draft a quick email to tell him how much she liked the plant but stopped herself. Less communication was better. She wanted to leave little chance of her emotions growing more attached to this handsome, thoughtful man who had listened to her. No! She also had to stop admiring him and assigning positive adjectives to him—starting with handsome.
Well, she couldn’t lie. She couldn’t call him an ogre to kill her attraction. That would never work. What could she do? How could she distract herself when he was around all the time?
She looked up at the knock on her door. Thankfully, it wasn’t Marshall.
“Hey there.” A dark-haired man with a slick smile leaned against her doorframe like he owned the space. “I don�
�t think we’ve met. I’m Jarod.”
No. Another man would not be a good distraction.
Chapter 11
Marshall was exhausted. He hardly slept the night before and hit the gym at four a.m. to kill himself for two hours in hopes of clearing his head. When that didn’t work, he got into the office at six-thirty to lose himself in work.
Still couldn’t stop thinking about Kornelia.
He was in big trouble.
He just had to keep things professional for the next two and a half months. Ten long, agonizing weeks of watching that gorgeous creature walk in and out of his office smelling amazing and wearing curve-hugging dresses that made his hands itch to touch her, her sweet smile capturing all of his attention.
He should just resign right now, because there was no way this situation wasn’t going to end with Kori in his arms. He’d thought he would never find another woman who could make his heart beat as wildly as his had last night. The urge to provide and protect hadn’t been this strong in a long time. After Sabrina’s mother, he didn’t want to feel like this.
Boy, had he missed it.
But it was too soon. Seeing the therapist had convinced him that he had things to work through. Trust issues. A loss of drive.
Well, he had the drive part back. Kori had made sure of it. He was working hard either because she made him, or because he had to stop thinking about her.
Strangely enough, he trusted her. Believed her. So why was he fighting this?
Oh, yeah. The board. His job.
Her own lawsuit. How would it look if she had to show up in court and admit that she was in a relationship with her new boss?
Whoa. Relationship? Where had that come from? Marshall pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache coming on fast and strong. He hadn’t even kissed her, and now, in his mind, he was in a relationship with her. No way she’d want him now. Not only was he old, but he was crazy and old. Not a good combination.