Plush Book 1: A Billionaire Romance by KB Winters Page A

she felt bold enough to speak to a fellow manager this way.
    I looked over at Bryce and his face was rapidly turning a beet red, his fingertips gripping the armrests, his knuckles turning white.
    “What about the meeting like half an hour ago? Did that mean nothing to you? I’m pretty sure we cleared this all up. Mr. Brighton was just here, sitting right there,” I started, before Bryce could explode. “He made it very clear that nothing unprofessional was going on between us. So, I’m confused. What exactly is the problem?”
    She smiled and a chill went down my back and traveled down my arms, leaving icy goose bumps in its wake. Whatever was coming next, I already knew I didn’t want to hear it.
    “I guess you weren’t listening before. As I said, I have just been given tangible proof that you are lying to me. Here, let me show you.”
    She reached into a folder on her desk and pulled out a few pages. She set them one at a time on the desk, turning them around so they were facing Bryce and me.
    I gasped and clasped a hand to my mouth, unable to contain my horror. The pages were each a full-sized image of Cooper and me in the dim hallway from the launch party. The first few were innocent enough. We just looked like we were talking, but then as they went on, it was clear that whoever the photographer was had waited around and caught the whole scene on their camera.
    Cooper pressed against me, his head bent down, his lips on my neck, hands lost in my hair. My dress hem pushed up as I crushed my body to his.
    The last picture showed me leaving the hallway and there was no mistaking it was me in the full frontal shot.
    There was no room for reasonable doubt. The pictures were me and they were Cooper. No one would argue otherwise.
    I searched my memory but for the life of me, couldn’t remember even seeing anyone the whole time I was in the hallway. I knew there had been photographers at the party. Lots of them. But none of them would have been looking in dark, bathroom hallways. Right?
    I was starting to get a headache as I stared at the pictures in front of me. I wanted to reach out and grab them all away from Rita. Rip them into little pieces. Burn them. Anything! But my hands stayed glued to my lap as I desperately tried to maintain some appearance of professionalism.
    “Is this really necessary?” Bryce asked as he began to gather all the pictures, setting the pile face down on the desk. He glanced at me and then back at the bitch.
    “Apparently so. I spoke with Miss Rand earlier this afternoon and she was less than truthful with me in regards to this very situation.”
    “Where did those even come from?” I asked, figuring I had nothing to lose. My job was already gone at this point.
    “Does it really matter? The source is not the issue. The actions are. These pictures very clearly display your blatant disregard for the policies and procedures that are required of our employees. So, as I said before, I will have to ask you to gather your belongings and leave the building immediately. HR will ensure that your final check is deposited by the end of the business day.”
    “Rita, come on, be reasonable. It’s not like this is the first time this has happened,” Bryce pleaded.
    My eyes darted to him, wondering what he meant by that. Not the first time? Did he mean with Cooper? Or just in general?
    “It’s a done deal. Miss Rand, you are excused. Bryce and I have further business so we won’t be able to walk you out. Brittany will be waiting to escort you.”
    “Rita, please, you don’t understand. It was a mistake, and trust me, it will not happen again. Not with anyone! Especially not Coop—Mr. Brighton.”
    As soon as the outburst escaped from my mouth, I wished I could take it back. Giving that bitch the satisfaction of watching me beg was only adding to my nausea.
    “The decision has been made. You’re done here,” she answered.
    I got up and stalked from the room, shooting a final sympathetic