Undercover Billionaire Boss: A BWWM Contemporary Romance (8 page)

“I hear that there will be some major changes soon. And, I’ll tell you what, and this is between us, the manager’s job might be up for grabs. I think you would make a good fit.”

“What about Raina?” she squeaked, irritating Roger to no end.

“What about her? I told you this is between us, so you’re not to go blubbering to everybody. Raina, like everybody else makes their own bed and she’ll have to lie in it.”

“Is she getting promoted?”

Roger laughed harshly. “You think you know people, but what do you really know about her, Kelly? The top management has stuff on her that would shock you, I promise. I suggest—and this is from someone looking out for you—that you stay as far away from her as you can.” He trailed his dirty fingers slowly over her jawline and bent to whisper, “You don’t want to go down with her too, do you? There are ways you can avoid that, and be very well rewarded at the same time.…” He left the insinuation hanging between them like the sword of Damocles.

She shook her head slowly. Before leaving, Roger closed the space between them and grabbed her abruptly, planting a fevered kiss on her lips. He winced in pain, rubbing his thumb over his lip and turned away. Kelly seemed numb with shock as he shut the door.

He felt a sense of smug satisfaction at what he had achieved. It was likely that Kelly would tell Raina what had transpired, but he counted on that.

In fact, it would be best if she told that bitch, then she would know that her fate was sealed. The torment she would feel over the next week or two would only add to the suffering she deserved to feel.

Roger imagined Raina on her knees begging him to forgive her. He would be benevolent towards her, tell her she could earn a reprieve, and invite her back to a hotel room; his own home was too good for the likes of her. Once there, he would tie her up and humiliate her, using her body in ways she did not know existed.

His nerves taut with unreleased tension and excitement, his mood now upbeat with anticipation, Roger decided to go to his favorite casino. He had a lot to celebrate.

He had found a way out of his current problem of Christian suspecting that there was some theft at the hotel, and he would punish that bitch Raina at the same time.

He had limited his visits to the casino to twice a week, but hell, life was short and when one got a chance to celebrate, champagne, a few whores, and a couple of table games were in order.

T
he two women
sat staring each other from across Kelly’s desk, both aware of the implications of what Raina had just said.

“He left with those exact words—you’ll pay for it!” Raina said her voice shaky. Kelly’s stricken face did not console Raina.

“I’m getting fired aren’t I? What will I do? It’s my word against his—and he has the money to pay for the best lawyers in the world. How will I pay my mortgage? What about the kids?” Raina said, the image of her and the kids sleeping in the car floating in her mind.

She remembered the unpaid medical bills that came without fail every month, growing bigger until the last one she hadn’t dared to open. Raina’s hands shook badly. She had made the last payment almost two months ago and she had intended to make another at the end of the month.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself, Raina.” Kelly said, though her voice did not have any conviction.

“But it’s what you’re thinking too isn’t it?” Raina demanded even knowing that she was being unfair.

Kelly closed her eyes. “I’m not sure whether to tell you this or not, but I will.”

“What is it? Have you heard something?” Raina said, all air leaving her chest. Kelly licked her lips and seemed to gather courage. It was worse than Raina thought. If Kelly knew what had happened before she told her then it was only a matter of time before the official letter of dismissal arrived.

“Roger was just here … and from what you’ve said, you really pissed him off. He implied that your job would be open soon and that if I was good to him he’d see that I got it. I told him in not so many words that I wasn’t interested.” Kelly bit her lip, and Raina could tell she didn’t know who felt worse between the two of them.

Raina groaned and felt tears flood her eyes. She kept going over what had happened in her office and wondered if she could have handled it in a better way.

She had known immediately that she had wounded his pride, and how dangerous that was. It was why she had never rejected him before. She recalled the feeling of being unable to breathe and when he had kissed her she had gone crazy.

Now, she paced up and down in the office, her brain frantically searching for solutions but none came. Her fate was more or less decided, she was certain. She certainly wouldn’t even end up with a good reference either.
Damn it.

“But Raina, remember that you haven’t done anything wrong! If anything, you … you ought to sue that bastard for sexual harassment!” Kelly made the pronouncement as though it wasn’t something they had already discussed between them a million times.

“And ruin all my chances of ever finding another job? Who wants to hire someone who has sued their employer? You think whatever lawyer I could find and pay for would ever beat one of his?” Raina snapped, her brown eyes blazing with fury. Then, her shoulders slumped and she remembered who she was talking to. “I’m sorry, I’m taking it out on you.”

“It’s understandable.”

Raina knew that suing was not an option. She had seen what happened to women who sued their bosses in the city. They were blacklisted and no other company would hire them. She knew two women who had been forced to relocate and start afresh elsewhere, both losing whatever positions they had gained in the process. One woman she knew couldn’t even get a job flipping burgers and had to rely on the kindness of relatives. Raina couldn’t do that to the kids.… And it’s not like they had any relatives to rely on anyway.

She would rather bear the shame herself. She had been fighting to stop herself from self-blame. She had gone over her own behavior when she was with Roger, looking for signs she may have unknowingly given him to make him believe that she was interested in him. She had come up with nothing because she knew deep down he was just a sick man.

Something clicked in Raina’s brain and she glanced at her wrist watch.

“Damn it!” she cried out, rushing to the door. “I’m late, the kids may already be home and they’ll be worried if I’m not there.” Raina waved to Kelly, grabbed her purse and ran to her car.

When she got there she jammed the key into the ignition, turning it sharply. The engine sputtered and died.

“Today of all days!” Raina yelled. She banged her hands against the steering wheel and let out a primal scream.

The tears now flowed freely as her panic increased. It would take her at least half an hour to get home if she took the bus. She forced herself to calm down.

“Please I beg you.” she whispered to anyone who might be listening up there. She wasn’t sure what she was begging for, but she knew she needed help. A lot of help.

She tried the car again, turning and turning the key, hoping that
this
time would be the time that it worked.

And then, miraculously and to her relief it roared to life. “Thank you.” she let out a choked whisper as tears continued down her face.

She drove faster than she normally did, praying no cops would be on her route to give her a ticket, and when she reached her house, she jumped out. Her legs shook badly when she did not see the kids at the front door waiting for her, as she had expected.

What would she do if something had happened to them?
She would die. She would literally die
, Raina thought to herself.

Hands shaking, it took her a full minute to insert the key into the lock. She wanted to go check in the backyard, hoping that they had decided to go play there, but as soon as she entered, she heard their voices in the living room. Raina darted in and almost wept when she saw the three of them, sitting on the floor happily munching on their snacks, Christopher watching over them.

“Are you alright? Sorry I am late.” She said in a rushed tone. She struggled to regain composure, not wanting them to see her worry.

“It’s alright, Aunty,” Chantal said cheerily, “Christopher was waiting for us.”

“Thank you so much, I don’t know what happened. I lost track of time.” The words came out in a jumble, tripping over each other as she gasped them out.

“Hey, no worries! Happy to help. And we’ve been having fun, right kids?” Christopher said, his own voice cheerful. The children nodded and laughed. She could sense Christopher’s eyes on her though and the questions behind them.

Raina fled to the kitchen, not wanting to face his scrutiny, dropped her handbag on the floor and gripped the edge of the counter. She shook so badly from head to toe that she thought she would faint.

“Hey, hey …” Christopher had followed her. His voice was calm and soothing and he put his arm around her shoulder.

She hadn’t known how much she needed that.

Raina felt herself, against her will and against her better judgment, melt into him, allowing him to hold her. The tears came again, out of control, in great heaving sobs. She clung to him, burying her face in his shirt as she did, her body heaving.

His strong arms enveloped her, holding her steady, as he rocked her gently.

“Hey, it’s all right. The kids are fine—"

“What if you weren’t here? What if they were kidnapped?” Raina’s words were a whispered plea for reassurance muffled by his shirt.

“But I was here. Don’t give it any more thought.” His arms tightened around her and the comfort she felt soothed her.

She nodded, her head still buried in his chest. Pulling away, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and looked up at him.

“Thank you so much, I have no words to express the gratitude I feel.”

“You’re welcome, that’s what friends are for, right?”

Raina gave him a small smile, swallowing uncomfortably, her heartbeat slowing down.

“Tell you what? Why don’t you go soak up in the bath and I’ll see to the kids. I’m not promising a gourmet dinner like you can make, but I can do meat and potatoes.”

Raina hesitated, then nodded once more. His eyes were warm and she saw only care and concern in them.

“OK, I’ll take you up on your offer. Thanks again.”

* * *

A
s Christopher had said
, the boiled potatoes were nothing to write home about, but that didn’t matter, and Raina polished her plate. It felt so good to have someone take care of her for a change. After her bath and an hour relaxing upstairs, she felt better equipped to handle the rest of the evening.

“Aunty, did you find someone for Father’s Day?” Crystal asked, tugging on her sleeve.

Crap.
Raina’s heart skipped a beat. It had completely escaped her mind and if she remembered correctly, the day was tomorrow. But she had promised the kids.
Crap.

Maybe Kelly’s brother was still willing to …
Her train of thought was interrupted by Christopher’s words.

“Well—if you don’t have anyone, I could do it if that’s OK with you? I’m sure I can rustle up a decent suit.” Christopher offered. He was leaning back in his chair, handsome as ever, watching her with a cocked head and friendly eyes.

“No … no … thank you, but we couldn’t impose on you like that.” Raina started to say, but the children had other ideas.

“Yes! Christopher, please do!” The three of them yelled. The girls were jumping up and down, grabbing Christopher’s arms, almost knocking him from his chair.

They all looked at her for a decision. She had no choice; she couldn’t let them down. Besides, what was the other option at this hour? She nodded, though she wasn’t happy with the idea.

Her little family was beginning to rely on Christopher too much. What would happen when he had to leave? She dreaded the disappointment and hurt the kids would face.

“Then it’s settled.” Christopher said. “I’m happy to do it. I would do anything to make you—them—happy.”

Raina felt his eyes on her, the heat behind them and the warmth behind his words, but she felt the heat rising to her face as she took in what he said. She glanced at her feet, shuffling them a bit.

“Okay. Okay.” She looked up at him to find him still intent upon her. “Thank you.”

“Anything you need. You only have to ask.” Christopher’s voice was velvet, and though the children were jumping and dancing around the table, in that moment Raina felt as though the rest of the world fell away and it was just the two of them.

His words seemed to hang heavy between them, and as she tucked the kids into bed later that evening she was still turning them over in her mind.

* * *

“
Y
ou don’t have
to go to the school, you know. It’s my responsibility.”

“You have a lot of responsibilities.”

Raina nodded. “I guess.”

They were sitting across from each other with cups of decaf coffee. Raina pulled her knees up to her chest and shivered. She didn’t want to talk about her responsibilities at the moment; she wanted to forget them.

“The weight of the world is on your shoulders tonight.” Christopher commented. It was a statement of fact, not a question.

Raina shrugged, giving him a tight smile. She brought the cup to her lips and drank deeply.

“A problem shared is a problem half solved....”

Raina half snorted in laughter and derision. “Well in that case, have you heard of any job openings?” Immediately she regretted her words.

“Why?” Christopher sat up, suddenly very concerned. “Are you thinking of leaving Del Mar? It would be terrible without you. You keep the place running.”

“Hardly,” She shook her head, brushing aside the compliment, “but I am glad there’s someone who sees it that way.”

Knowing she had said too much, she clammed up after that and refused to give in to Christopher’s probing. She turned the conversation to lighter topics and soon they were laughing like old friends. Telling him her problems would not solve them. Besides as much as she liked him, she wasn’t sure she could trust him not to tell anyone. It was just safer if only she and Kelly knew.