Chapter 16
Tears filled Debra’s eyes. Her hands twisted tightly in the hem of her clothes, but she still could not speak.
Ten seconds later, Kimberly lifted the phone again. “Debra Perry, calling the police is one thing. Also... all I need to do is go cry in front of Mr. Carter, and he can blacklist you across the entire industry.”
Debra truly panicked.
If that happened, her future would be finished.
She wiped her tears. “Ms. Martinez, I’ll talk. I’ll talk.”
Sobbing, Debra tried to curry favor. “Ms. Martinez, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. If I tell you who it was, can you let me off this once? I really don’t want to lose such a good job.”
Kimberly saw her crying so pitifully, and her expression softened a little. “If you were forced, I’ll tell Mr. Carter exactly that.”
“Thank you! Thank you, Ms. Martinez!” Debra leaned closer and whispered, “It was Ruth Stewart. She told me to spread it. Everything about how you seduced James Anderson and offered yourself to him came from her. She even said Janet Campbell is the future Mrs. Carter, and if I didn’t do what she said, Janet could kick me straight out of Carter Group.”
At that, Debra cried even harder. “I worked so hard to get into a good school, and it wasn’t easy getting into a top company like Carter Group. I’ve always worked diligently. I never got involved in anyone’s grudges. I never thought...”
Kimberly sighed softly. “Stop crying. I understand. I’ll tell Mr. Carter the truth. Just work in peace.”
Debra wiped her tears. “Thank you, Ms. Martinez. I’m sorry!”
After Debra left, Kimberly closed the recording app.
Beside her, Diane stood with both arms folded across her chest, still cursing. “Ruth Stewart, that little lapdog. She’s even more disgusting than Janet Campbell. God knows what Janet gave her.”
Kimberly tightened her trench coat around herself and said meaningfully, “Janet Campbell is certain about my relationship with William.”
“I think she’s insecure! Afraid William will run off with you!”
Kimberly looked at Diane’s indignant face and smiled bitterly. “Maybe I’m just the other woman.”
“Don’t you dare.” Diane spat the words out. “Didn’t you already ask Eric Scott? Those two never confirmed they were in a relationship before. Don’t overthink it. What are you going to do next?”
Kimberly studied her for a moment. “If I complain, with William Carter’s temper, he might make Ruth leave immediately. Would you think I’m being too harsh?”
“Harsh?!” Diane stared at her. “She dragged your name through the mud. Wasn’t that harsh? If she loses her job, she deserves it. Who told her to volunteer as Janet Campbell’s lapdog? This time, let’s see if she has the guts to say who ordered her to do it.”
Kimberly smiled. “All right. Go back to your desk. I’ll find William Carter and finish this quickly.”
A smile returned to Diane’s face. She raised her brows. “Go. Once Ruth gets kicked out, I’m going to tell the whole office exactly why she rolled out of here. I need somewhere to dump all this rage.”
Kimberly laughed despite herself. “Fine. Let’s go.”
In William’s office.
After Kimberly finished playing both recordings, William’s face had gone ice cold.
He picked up the landline and ordered in a deep voice, “Have Ruth Stewart from your department come over.”
Seeing that he believed her and was willing to stand up for her, Kimberly felt much better.
William hung up, lit a cigarette, and slowly looked toward her. “So. How did you land the account?”
The small flicker of warmth inside Kimberly died again, because his tone still carried a trace of mockery.
Kimberly gave a scornful smile. “Don’t worry, Mr. Carter. If I were climbing into someone’s bed, I’d pick someone with your face and your body. I’m not interested in an oily old man like James Anderson.”
William’s eyes narrowed. His tall body rose from the chair, and he advanced on her step by step. “Whose bed do you want to climb into? Sam Evans, that lunatic? Hm?”
Kimberly retreated involuntarily. She warned herself not to take him seriously anymore.
But whenever the pressure around him thickened, her heart still clenched without permission.
She swallowed. “Wasn’t Mr. Carter’s mocking tone proof that you were sure I used some shameful method? Then why don’t you ask James Anderson?”
William bent down and leaned close to her ear. “How do you know I didn’t?”
The next second, he held the cigarette between his lips, hooked a long finger under her chin, and tipped it up. His thumb rubbed over her soft pink lips. “That bastard said you were the most impressive secretary he had ever met. Tell me, Kim. Where exactly are you impressive?”
Kimberly turned her face away to avoid him. James Anderson naturally would not dare tell William the truth.
But did he have to speak so suggestively and make William suspect her?
In the end, William was the one who had sent her there alone.
Kimberly lifted her head and looked up at him. Mist glimmered over her cool eyes. “Don’t you know exactly where I’m impressive?”
A sinister light passed through William’s previously calm expression. “Are you provoking me?”
He crushed out the cigarette, wrapped a hand around her delicate throat, and pushed his thumb under her jaw. “You dare talk to me like that?”
“This little mouth of yours seems only good for kissing.”
William bent and bit down on her lips.
His kiss came with brutal possession, prying her mouth open and stealing her breath with mad force.
Kimberly’s chest grew tight. He kissed her until she could not catch enough air, until her cheeks flushed red.
His large hand gripped her slim waist and easily lifted her onto the desk.
Kimberly struggled in panic, but his hand locked at the back of her head.
Between their tangled mouths, his low voice spilled out. “Kim, you’re getting less and less obedient...”
Kimberly resisted. “Mm... this is the office.”
“Is that so...” His lips brushed hers. “You mean somewhere else would be fine.”
“No...”
In the past, his domineering, forceful kisses always made her heart race and her blood burn.
But now, all she could think of was herself being despised and condemned.
Janet might come at any moment, and Janet never knocked before entering.
Besides, he had just ordered Ruth to come over.
If anyone saw this scene, everyone would only say Kimberly had seduced him.
Outside the office.
Ruth hid in the stairwell and called Janet. “Someone’s in your office, so I can’t talk there. Mr. Carter... Mr. Carter called me to his office. The manager said his tone was freezing. Janet, does he know something?”
Janet frowned. “With Kimberly Martinez’s personality, would she really go straight to complain?”
Ruth’s voice shook with tears. “I don’t know. Don’t be fooled by how she gives way to you. When she’s alone with me, she can be vicious.”
Janet soothed her gently. “Don’t panic. Even if she dares complain, she has no proof. I’ll go with you.”
Ruth nodded again and again. “Okay. I’ll wait for you outside Mr. Carter’s office.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The three measured knocks nearly dragged Kimberly’s soul out of her body.
“Quick... let me go.”
William slowly stopped kissing her, but his lips still hovered against hers. His voice was hoarse. “I’ll go to your place tonight. Nod, and I’ll let you go.”
“You... you’re forcing me?”
