Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

“Ah, Madison, I’m so glad you joined us. I want to get this ugliness behind us so we can all move forward with our business.” William steps forward but pauses as he realizes he can’t actually take my hand. He reaches for his chair instead. “I’m sure you understand how this kind of thing happens.”

Everyone sits down. I should have known nothing would happen to Hunter. That was the reason I refused to take the job at Taylor’s. I would have rather tucked tail and gone all the way back to my parents’ house than work with him. Guys like him always get rewarded rather than punished.

“This kind of thing?” Coop leans back in his chair, seemingly nonchalant. But anger brews under his cool facade. “You mean where your son assaulted my fiancée in your copy room? That kind of thing?”

William has the decency to look down as his cheeks redden. “I must apologize for my son?—‍”

“He’s here, so why doesn’t he apologize for himself?” Blake asks as if he’s asking Hunter to pass the salt. Like it’s natural for him to call out another man to do the right thing.

I risk a look at Hunter’s face. A muscle ticks in his jaw. His lips are pressed tight together like he wants to say something but was told to not stir the pot. Surprisingly, he’s keeping his mouth shut. His gaze is fixed on the plate in front of him.

Blake’s fingers touch mine under the table and I take what strength he gives me.

“We know things with Madison got out of hand?—‍”

“William,” Seth interrupts, “I know this must be hard for you. But this isn’t a one-time thing with Hunter. And it won’t end until someone either sues you or files felony charges against your son. I appreciate you have a business to run and you want your son to take over that business. But if he’s going to continue to work with us, we need assurances that this type of conduct won’t happen again. We won’t risk sending our employees to your business until he gets some counseling.”

“I’m not getting counseling,” Hunter bites out. He lifts his angry eyes to mine.

My throat tightens at the fury in them. My pulse skips around like a predator has locked on me.

“Hunter.” William’s voice is firm and doesn’t waver. He lets out a breath. He looks older when he lifts his gaze to Seth. “We’ve discussed proper behavior at work. We’ve all received a few days of sexual harassment training at our company and have a person who employees can discuss their situations with and file reports anonymously if they’d like.”

His gaze turns to me and I feel sorry for him. He doesn’t deserve a son like Hunter. “I know we failed you, Madison, and I don’t know how many others. But going forward, our policy for new hires is to go through training and provide them with someone outside of me and Hunter to report their issues to.”

Hunter drops his gaze back to his plate, but the rage inside him is obvious. His shoulders are tense and his fists are clenched. Someone is going to pay for all that rage he’s bottling up. It won’t be me, but I can’t let it be anyone else.

I take a deep breath and meet William’s gaze.

“I’m grateful you’re making the workplace safer.” I squeeze Blake’s hand, needing his strength right now. “But you will always have a predator in your company with Hunter there.”

I ignore Hunter’s glare as I focus on William. My grip tightens more on Blake’s hand.

“Counseling only helps people who want to be helped.” My hand shakes as I reach for my water. “Your son made working for your company impossible for me. He didn’t trap me in that copy room just once. And the last time, he had someone keeping a lookout so no one could stop him. He doesn’t take no for an answer, and I don’t know that you can fix that.”

“Maybe if you weren’t such a slut, I wouldn’t have had an issue. You give it up to everyone else, why not me?” Hunter’s words are harsh and unforgiving. “You think Derek didn’t brag about fucking you?”

“Hunter!” William’s voice is stern.

Blake’s hand squeezes mine. I can’t look at the other guys. Fucking Derek was a mistake. I never should have slept with a coworker at Taylor’s. I realized that as soon as he stepped into my apartment.

“Maybe if she hadn’t been such a whore?—‍”

Seth stands and grabs Hunter’s shirt, jerking him upright. My mouth drops open, but Seth’s eyes are cool and composed. His face in Hunter’s. “You need to watch how you speak?—‍”

“Or what?” Hunter rolls his eyes as if Seth isn’t being aggressive. His hands open and close though, ready to fight.

William stands with his hands up. “We should all calm down?—‍”

“I’m not sure what you expected to happen here today, William.” Noah stands and moves behind my chair. “Hunter doesn’t regret what he tried to do to Madison. He doesn’t want to change.”

“Holy shit! I’m surprised I didn’t see it before.” Hunter laughs bitterly in Seth’s face. “That’s it, isn’t it? You all use her like the whore she is.”

Seth shoves Hunter away from him in disgust. Hunter staggers back against the wall and straightens his shirt. His smile is evil as he looks at me.

“We’ve heard the rumors about how the bosses at Morrigan Technology like to use their assistant for everything.” Hunter’s gaze roams up and down my body. “Figures this prude would put out for all of you.”

“We’re done here.” Seth’s words are cold and pointed. He turns to William. “I’m sorry, but we can’t be involved with a company that lets a sexual predator run loose. And we won’t stand for disrespect of our employees.”