Phase one was well on the way; and when I kissed her forehead right before the elevator doors opened on her floor, she was almost a puddle at my feet. “I’ll see you later sweetheart.”
The stunned but pleased look on her face as she looked back through the closing doors was all the evidence I needed.
I smiled all the way to my office, before work beckoned. I had to clear some things so that I could devote the next couple of weeks to her training. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, I would have free reign during the day when I was following her from one appointment to the next, but the nights were going to be a problem.
I cleared my mind, or tried to as I looked over spreadsheets and proposals. I’d studied engineering in school because of my love of cars and racing, and anything that had to do with them. But because I knew the old man had designated me as his heir apparent from birth, I’d minored in business.
Over the years he’d kept me in the loop whether I wanted to be or not. I’d been guilted into more board meetings than I cared to count, when all I’d wanted was to be behind the wheel.
I’d lived fast and hard in my thirty-one years and didn’t regret a one of them; but now it looked like my life was moving onto phase two.
***
I was deep in concentration going over the numbers for the last quarter when the phone rang and I answered it absentmindedly. “Yes?”
“Uh sir, there seems to be some sort of disturbance on the eighth floor. Ms. Jones has asked that you appear immediately.”
The eighth floor? That’s where she was. My heart went into double time and I dropped the phone as I headed for the door. Robyn Jones was one of my spies for lack of a better word. For her to be calling could only mean one thing. Whatever was going on, involved Kitten.
I was tempted to take the stairs in my haste to get there quickly, but reason won out and I waited the few seconds it took for the elevator to get there. I paced the confines on the ride down until the doors opened and I blew through them.
I could hear the loud voices and crying as soon as I cleared the door to the room. There were people standing around and what looked like a file cabinet had been turned over, its contents littering the floor.
I overlooked all that in my search for her and found her cowering in a corner while someone from security stood in front of her, protectively it seemed.
“What the fuck is going on here?” I kept my eyes on her as I made my way to the corner where she was hiding as if trying to disappear into the wall.
Everyone started talking at once and I had to whistle to get them all to shut up. I lifted my hand to her and she came running. I squeezed her shoulder reassuringly after I’d assured myself that she hadn’t been harmed.
“Okay one at a time, somebody want to tell me what the hell went on here?” The room looked like a tornado had hit it.
Robyn stepped forward from the rest. “We heard yelling and screaming and then what sounded like a slap. Next thing we know that filing cabinet came sailing out of the room and Gaby was running out the door holding her face and crying.”
I looked down at her face where she was still holding her cheek. “Move your hand Kitten let me see.” She didn’t want to but in the end that innate sense in her to always follow orders won out and she removed it. I saw the palm print in her face and my vision blurred.
“Who hit you?” As if I didn’t know. She looked away in shame as tears rolled down her cheeks.
I turned my head to glare at Marion who was being held back by yet another guard who seemed a little confused by the whole scene.
I couldn’t blame him it’s not exactly what one would expect on the editing floor of a high fashion magazine that was touted around the world as being one of the best.
Once again it was Robyn who took the lead, naming Marion as the culprit, but by then the others were feeling brave enough and it seemed with this new development some were even ready to come forward with complaints of their own after years of hidden abuse.
The woman in question wasn’t saying much, but I noticed she did have a glassy eyed stare aimed at where my hand was holding Kitten close. I drew her even closer to me as she buried her face in my side.
It was one of the hardest moments of my life, to stand there, holding her while she’d been hurt, and not being able to do anything about it, not what I wanted to anyway.
In as calm a voice as I could muster I told the others to get back to work, all except the guards. I’m sure everyone wanted to know the end result, probably thought they deserved at least that much, but that’s not the kind of man I am.
As much as I wanted to wrap my hands around Marion’s neck and squeeze, I’m sure she might relish just such a reaction, so I restrained myself. More so for the sake of the young girl who was even now shaking in my arms.