Page 41 of Resist

“Because we know you, Corabelle,” Maddie answers.

“Stand up straight, shoulders back, tits out, and plaster a cool smile on your face. Don’t let anyone know this has riled you. And later, maybe after lunch when you’ve regrouped, pull Sterling aside and tell him why you lied to him. He’s a reasonable man. He’ll understand.”

“Reasonable,” I snort. “Less than three minutes ago you thought he was a creepy stalker.”

“That’s because I thought he tracked you down and followed you to your office. Not because I thought the universe brought you both together. It’s not a misdemeanor anymore, it’s fate.”

“Come on, Cor. Turn on those boss bitch vibes, and go do what you have to do,” Maddie encourages.

“Just get through the day,” Phoenix adds. “If you need to invoke rule number five, I’ve already got the ice cream in the freezer. Just say the word.”

When I hang up on my friends, I’m a little better. They’re right about one thing, I am the boss, and sure, I lied about my name, but if Phoenix thinks Sterling will let me explain and understand my reasoning, then I do, too.

I somehow manage to give the newbies a quick presentation about the company, its history, their role in the machine, and what we stand for.

The entire time, Sterling stares hard at his mug of coffee. I bet if it was okay for him to use his phone he’d be scrolling that just to avoid looking in my direction. No amount of me staring at him, silently encouraging him to look up at me makes him comply.

He doesn’t meet my imploring gaze as he leaves the office and heads back to his own space. He doesn’t answer my text message asking if we could talk. And after lunch when I take a stroll along the hallway past his office, it’s empty, too.

Fuck.

I’m more upset about this than is reasonable. I know I lied, I’m ready to cop to that, but is he going to listen? Is lying a hard limit for him? In the kink world, communication is everything, being honest about everything up front is the cornerstone of the lifestyle.

I spend the afternoon staring at the wall having a one-sided conversation with myself, reciting over and over how it’ll go with him when I eventually figure out where he is and get some face time with him.

But I can’t settle the sourness in my stomach. It’s only been a matter of days, but he’s already more on the inside ofmy circle than I can recall anyone being for a long time. If I’m truly honest with myself, even my ex Paul.

Could I have really fucked everything up with Sterling before it ever had a chance to be something?

CHAPTER 14

Sterling

Against all odds,I get through my first day at Blackwell Publishing without bumping into Cora or getting cornered by her.

I can’t fucking believe it.

But I suppose if I was the daughter of a fucking rapist I wouldn’t publicize it either.

Ouch. Man. That’s... yeah. I’m allowed to be angry, but maybe that’s a step too far, even inside my own mind. No matter how much I loathe her family, what her company stands for, how cynical I am of the Blackwell name, so far I have no real evidence that she’s even aware of what her father has done.

And from what little I’ve seen of her, I can’t imagine she’d be down with the fact her dad was a sexual predator.

TESSA

Can you bring sour cream please? Mom’s all out.

Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Dammit all to hell.

I forgot I was going to Mom’s after work to have celebratory baked potatoes for having started my new job.

Did I lie to Mom and Tessa and tell them I’m working somewhere that isn’t Blackwell Publishing?

Abso-fucking-lutely I did. Because then Mom would suspect the reason why.

I have no idea if she told Tessa what happened to her when she worked here, but she asked me to keep my mouth shut. So I’m not going to mention it either.

I hate lying to my family.