Auctioned By The Ceo novel Chapter 20

Monique swung her stapler through the air, and for one horrifying minute, Hannah thought she was going to throw that office implement at the two somber looking security guards, who were indeed standing watch by the office entrance. The older one of them, Sean—Hannah stopped to chat to the sweet old guy every day on her way in—she loved hearing him talk about his grandkids’ latest antics—winced at Monique’s outburst. Poor Sean had worked here even longer than Hannah had and was due to retire soon. He so didn’t need this on a Monday morning. His younger sidekick, whose name escaped Hannah right now, a new addition to the team, employed by Logan himself, stepped forward.

“If you don’t want me to physically remove you from the premises right now, you’ll start behaving. Your conduct is unbecoming.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest, and Hannah swallowed hard. There was no doubt in her mind that he would follow through on that threat, but Monique took no notice.

“Hah, that’s rich, my conduct? I’m not the one who got herself a promotion by sleeping with the new boss. That would be all Miss Goody Two Shoes here.”

A collective murmur went around the open plan office, and Hannah wanted the ground to swallow her whole. This was exactly what she’d been afraid of happening.

“How dare you, Monique. I won that proposal fair and square, and if you’re being sacked you only have yourself to blame for your conduct at the auction. Last time I checked falsifying records was a sackable offence. You didn’t think of that when you decided to put me on the auction block, did you?”

“Hah, as if you cared about that. Just gave you another in with the boss, or is this where you going to tell me he forked ten grand out just for the privilege of holding your fucking hand? Admit it, you slept with him.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to refute that notion, but that would have been a lie, so Hannah reined in her temper and turned her back on the raging woman.

“I’ve got work to get on with, and I shan’t dignify that with an answer.”

“Because it’s the truth, that’s why. Get off me, you oaf.”

Hannah did her best to block out the other woman’s ranting and raving, which carried on all the way out the office. She could still be heard through the open windows, once she was on the street, and Hannah groaned under her breath.

“Well, that was enlightening.” Rosemary, who had been PA to the previous boss for the last twenty years, and had retained her position under Logan, smiled at Hannah once the commotion had died down. “Don’t worry, none of us really think that. You’re one of the hardest working employees here, and it was about time that got recognized. Say what you will about Mr. Bryce, he recognizes and rewards talent when he sees it. Monique isn’t the only one who got called into HR first thing. Herringey from accounts got a dressing down, too, from what I can gather, so relax. This will all blow over. You’ll see.”

Hannah smiled back at the older woman, and glanced at Logan’s empty office.

“He won’t be in today for personal reasons he said.” Rosemary’s explanation didn’t make Hannah feel any better about the situation, and her unease only grew as the week wore on and there was still no sign of Logan at the office.

Lord only knew what was going on. His continued absence had nothing to do with Rhia, at least. Sarah had been gushing down the phone about the little girl and Logan’s extremely generous donation, which had earned the mite a place straightaway. Money most definitely did talk, and for once Hannah was glad that it did. That little girl needed some stability in her life rather badly, and there was no one better equipped than Sarah to help her.