Page 111 of Watching Her

I jerked the handle of the cart, managing to yank it away from him. “I refused because I have nothing to say to you.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“Notice what, Carrington? That I’ve moved on?” I was tired of being confronted and refused to take it from him.

He moved closer, skirting around the cart so he could back me against the shelves. “You’re fucking Christian Tempest? Do you know who he is?”

“A much better man than you are.”

“He’s an unscrupulous pig who will do anything to get what he wants.”

His attempt at intimidating me only made me laugh, which of course angered him. “It sounds like you’re describing yourself perfectly.”

When he puffed up, fisting both hands, I refused to back down. “You’re a stupid bitch, just like I always knew you were.”

“Whatever, Carrington. You mean nothing to me. Christian does. Because he’s more of a man than you are.” I pushed him hard and grabbed my cart, determined to walk away from him. Shockingly, he allowed me to do so.

But I felt his presence behind me seconds later. “You don’t seem to know what I’m capable of. I thought you’d learned your lesson.”

“What lesson was that?” I asked while continuing to walk. “That I made the mistake of getting involved with a true pig?”

“I know what you’re trying to do. Get your old job back by using Christian this time instead of me.”

I stopped long enough to turn on my heel, now confronting him. “You already ruined my reputation in the industry because of your power grab, but you haven’t gained anything really. Have you? George isn’t stupid enough to leave you the company. If you’re not careful, I’ll share the proof I have.”

“Proof? You have nothing.”

Yes, he was calling my bluff. While I did have a few emails George might find interesting, I doubted after all this time and the smear campaign Carrington had instigated that it would matter. But Carrington didn’t know that. I smiled in response. “Run away, little boy.” I turned around again, fighting with my anger, which always made me shake.

“I’m curious. Does your new boyfriend know you’re a whore?”

Of course he knew exactly the one thing in my life that bothered me more than anything. All the emotions about why I’d sacrificed my innocence hit me hard. “Christian is a much better man than you are.” I stood my ground, refusing to back down to his attempt to blackmail me.

“Are you sure about that? When the public learns what you did, willingly, imagine what it’ll do for his reputation, let alone yours.” He wagged his finger, even making a tsking sound. “A senator of all people. How much money did you get for fucking him? Trust me when I say, I know exactly how to use it at the right time to destroy that man and his company. And guess what? He’ll blame you.”

I laughed in response. “That was a long time ago and it’s my word against yours.” In telling him my darkest secret, I’d thought I’d been releasing a heavy burden. Instead, I’d been establishing a reason for him to betray me. I’d been so stupid.

Evil was easy to see in the darkness of his eyes. And for a little while I’d believed Christian the monster. Not a chance. Carrington was a slimy snake. He pulled out his phone, grinning as he searched for something. With a firm grip on the edges, he showed me his discovery.

An icy chill skated down my back. This wasn’t possible. Even then I’d been careful. “Where…”

“Where did I get it? Do you not think my family has as much power as the Tempest clan? Now, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to continue your twisted love affair. I won’t interfere. Unless you forgo bringing me what I want.”

“Which is?”

“The final bidding price on a highly coveted property in Paris. That’s it. All you need to do is to spread your legs like the slut you are while gaining Christian’s trust. One piece of information and the pictures go away. If not, I share them with the media, which will ruin the senator as well, but I just don’t care.”

He thought he’d won.

Bullshit.

I crossed my arms over my chest, cocking my head as I offered a smile. “Go for it. If doing so will get your rocks off, then by all means, take your best shot. I just don’t care.”

Yes, I’d both surprised and angered him. His smile quickly faded and I was about to move as far away from him as possible before I collapsed when he dared crowd my space once again. He laughed as if I was the best comedian in the world.

“But you care about him,” Carrington stated as if some shocking piece of evidence in a court of law. “You actually care about that heinous pig. Christian Tempest is a murderer, you know.”

“And what are you exactly?”