Wanted by My Three Bosses novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Eleven Years

"Say it here," Anson said.

Meredith's smile held.

"It's a private matter, Anson. It's about the board, and the statement, and I'd rather not..."

"Say it here."

He had not raised his voice.

Meredith looked past him at the screen, and at the long grey column that said her name thirty-one times, and the smile went out of her face.

She stood very still.

"I see," she said.

"Do you?" Gray asked. His voice was rough.

"Gray."

"Eleven years, Meredith. I asked you to look after the next girl, because I never knew how to be decent to one. You said of course."

"I did keep an eye on them."

"You paid them to go."

"Yes."

She said it plainly.

Then she walked into the room, set her folder on the table, and sat down in the chair I had been using, with her back very straight.

"Yes," she said again. "I paid them. I wrote the letters. I cancelled the dinners. I told the receptionist you were all in a meeting, and I watched your little assistant sit in that lobby until she stood up to go."

I did not say anything.

My hands were cold.

"Why?" Josiah asked.

Meredith looked at Anson.

She looked at no one else, and her eyes filled, and her mouth shook once and steadied.

"You know why."

"I don't," Anson said.

"Oh, Anson."

It came out of her almost as a laugh.

"I came to you at thirty-three years old with a clipboard and a borrowed suit, when you had a laundromat and two desks. You said, 'You're hired, Cowell, don't make me regret it,' and I have not once made you regret it."

"No," Anson said. "You haven't."

"I have been in this building before the lights were on. I know what you eat when you're worried and what you won't eat. I know the exact minute you stop being able to think and need to be left alone." Her voice cracked. "And every one of them came in and wanted your money. Or your name. Or a story to tell their friends."

← Chapter 14 · All chapters · Chapter 16 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend