Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 113717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
“What the fuck is going on here?” I kept my eyes on her as I made my way to the corner where she was hiding as if trying to disappear into the wall.
Everyone started talking at once and I had to whistle to get them all to shut up. I lifted my hand to her and she came running. I squeezed her shoulder reassuringly after I’d assured myself that she hadn’t been harmed.
“Okay one at a time, somebody want to tell me what the hell went on here?” The room looked like a tornado had hit it.
Robyn stepped forward from the rest. “We heard yelling and screaming and then what sounded like a slap. Next thing we know that filing cabinet came sailing out of the room and Gaby was running out the door holding her face and crying.”
I looked down at her face where she was still holding her cheek. “Move your hand Kitten let me see.” She didn’t want to but in the end that innate sense in her to always follow orders won out and she removed it. I saw the palm print in her face and my vision blurred.
“Who hit you?” As if I didn’t know. She looked away in shame as tears rolled down her cheeks.
I turned my head to glare at Marion who was being held back by yet another guard who seemed a little confused by the whole scene.
I couldn’t blame him it’s not exactly what one would expect on the editing floor of a high fashion magazine that was touted around the world as being one of the best.
Once again it was Robyn who took the lead, naming Marion as the culprit, but by then the others were feeling brave enough and it seemed with this new development some were even ready to come forward with complaints of their own after years of hidden abuse.
The woman in question wasn’t saying much, but I noticed she did have a glassy eyed stare aimed at where my hand was holding Kitten close. I drew her even closer to me as she buried her face in my side.
It was one of the hardest moments of my life, to stand there, holding her while she’d been hurt, and not being able to do anything about it, not what I wanted to anyway.
In as calm a voice as I could muster I told the others to get back to work, all except the guards. I’m sure everyone wanted to know the end result, probably thought they deserved at least that much, but that’s not the kind of man I am.
As much as I wanted to wrap my hands around Marion’s neck and squeeze, I’m sure she might relish just such a reaction, so I restrained myself. More so for the sake of the young girl who was even now shaking in my arms.
“You’re fired. Get your stuff and be gone from my property in five minutes.” I turned to take Kitten back up to my office to take care of her.
She hadn’t said anything since I came in and I was worried that she might be in some kind of shock. It hurt my heart to see her like this and I wanted to howl at the fucking moon to release the pent up rage that was threatening to choke me.
How dare anyone put hands on what’s mine? If she were a man I would’ve put her fucking lights out without a second thought.
“I knew you were fucking the little slut.” The words were flung after us like sharp little darts and they hit their intended target.
I felt Kitten’s body shake under my arm at the loud accusation. I didn’t turn back to her as she threw more accusations at our backs, just kept walking with the young girl held protectively in the curve of my arm.
“Just wait until I tell your folks about this you little ungrateful bitch.” At this point I’d had about all I could take of her so I turned to the two guards and gave them their orders.
“Escort her off my property now.” I didn’t wait around to see if they carried out my orders, but I guess they did when I heard the loud applause coming from the room as the elevator doors closed behind us.
“Let me see baby.” I turned her tear stained face up to mine, biting back the bark of anger that was clawing its way up my throat. I kissed the reddened area of her cheek and her forehead before pulling her face into my chest.
“I’m sorry baby, I didn’t think she would go this far.” Her poor little body was wracked by sobs and I bit my fist over her head to keep myself from releasing even an ounce of the fiery rage that consumed me.
It’s not easy for a man such as myself to let something like this pass, to see his woman accosted and do nothing; but I promised myself that I would make Marion pay and pay dearly for her little stunt.