Cassie by E. L. Todd Page B

hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “It just happened today,” I said. “I didn’t want to bring it up.”
    He leaned toward me and kissed me gently.
    Stewart and Orlando both awed.
    “I’ll figure it out, baby,” he said. “Don’t worry about it.”
    “I’m fine, Tony.”
    “Quit tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll find you another job—a better job. In the meantime, I can take care of your bills.”
    “If only he was gay…” Orlando said.
    “Tony, I really appreciate it, but I don’t need your help. Thank you anyway.”
    He stared at me. “I don’t want you going back there. You clearly aren’t respected and treated right.”
    “Drop it,” I said firmly.
    “Why are you being so complicated right now?” Tony said. “I’ve found you a perfect solution. Why go back there where you are miserable? And I can make this woman’s life miserable if I want to.”
    “Do it!” Orland said. “You would be the office hero.”
    I grabbed his arm. “Can we discuss this later?”
    He stared me down. “Okay.”
    We got back to dinner and talk about other things. It was still tense because of the argument Tony and I just had. I really wished Stewart hadn’t brought up the incident, but I couldn’t be mad about it. I understood why he assumed Tony already knew. Any normal girlfriend would tell her boyfriend. Except most normal boyfriends weren’t billionaires.
    When we came back to my apartment, I prepared for the battle about to take place.
    He stared at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I’m so horny right now.”
    “What?”
    I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “Make love to me.”
    He fell for my ploy but only for a second. “I know what you’re doing.”
    “Trying to get laid.”
    “You’re trying to avoid a fight.”
    I sighed.
    “Why didn’t you tell me?” he repeated.
    “I didn’t have a chance.”
    “You had three hours from when you left work until we went to dinner.”
    “I had errands to run.”
    He glared at me. “Be straight with me.”
    “I just didn’t want to, okay?”
    “Are you really going to lose your job?”
    “I’m pretty sure I will.”
    He shook his head. “That’s something you should tell me. I thought we were serious.”
    “We are,” I said. “That has nothing to do with this.”
    “But it does. I love you. You love me. You should tell me everything, especially important stuff like this.”
    I crossed my arms over my chest and avoided his gaze.
    “How long has this been going on?”
    I shrugged. “Like a month.”
    “A month?”
    “It’s not a big deal.”
    “It is a big deal!” He came closer to me. “I want you to quit tomorrow. I’ll take care of you.”
    “I don’t want you to take care of me!”
    “Too bad! And I’ll find you another job if you want one. I can get you in with a better company, a better gig, with better pay. And I’ll make sure your boss gets fired. Money fixes everything.”
    I glared at him. “Tony, I don’t want your help. That’s exactly why I didn’t want you to know. I knew this is the response I would get.”
    He studied my face for a long time. “Why won’t you let me help you?”
    “Because I can figure it out on my own.”
    Tony didn’t look convinced. “Babe, I know you aren’t with me for my money. You don’t need to prove anything to me. Please let me help you.”
    “No.”
    “You’re being really annoying right now.”
    “So are you. Let me figure it out.”
    “Why?” he said. “You’ll get fired and you’ll frantically search for a job, not find anything because of this bitch, then take a job you don’t even want and be screwed over. I’m opening a door for you. Now walk through it.”
    “No.”
    “What are you trying to prove?”
    “I love you.”
    He sighed. “Babe, I already know that.”
    “ But everyone is going to think that’s what’s going on.”
    “Who cares?”
    “I do,” I said. “I don’t want there to be any doubt.”
    “Even if there