Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Her supervisor had furrowed brows. “No. She left my office a long time ago.” He slowly approached. “She was very upset, but I assume you would know that.”
Cameron flinched. “Why would she be upset? How would I know it?”
Stephen frowned. “Our review didn’t go as she’d expected, of course.”
Cameron drew in a breath. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The air was heavy between them. Stephen hesitated, his mouth open, for several long seconds. “I had to put her on probation. You knew that would happen.”
Cameron gasped. “What? Why?” He was so confused.
Stephen stared at him. “You’re the HR manager. You know if an employee gets three complaints against them, they have to be put on probation.”
Cameron staggered. He reached out a hand to steady himself. “Complaints? Who could possibly have a complaint against Aria? She’s a stellar employee.”
Stephen’s frown deepened. “I have no idea who complained. Only you do. You’re the one who signed off on them.”
“What?” Cameron screamed. A ringing sounded in his ears. “I’ve never once spoken to anyone about a complaint, and I sure haven’t signed off on any of them.”
Stephen rubbed a hand down his face. “You better come with me.” He turned around and headed down the hallway toward his office.
Cameron followed, but a million questions were running through his head. What the fuck was going on here?
Stephen rounded his desk, picked up a folder, opened it, and removed three pieces of paper, which he handed to Cameron.
Cameron glanced down at the first one, read through the details quickly, and stopped when he saw the signature. He lifted his gaze. “This isn’t my handwriting.”
He flipped through the other two and groaned. What the actual hell?
“Are you sure?”
Cameron lowered the papers. “Stephen, I did not receive these complaints, nor did I sign off on them. I’ve never heard a single negative word about Aria from anyone in this building. In addition…”
Cameron hesitated. Aria would be pissed at him for sharing what he was going to say next, but it needed to be said. Her job was on the line. “I’ve been dating Aria for a few weeks. It’s serious.”
“Oh.” Stephen drew in a deep breath. “I didn’t know that, but it’s none of my business. It’s also not relevant. There’s no company policy that says you can’t date Aria. I’m happy for you.”
Cameron rubbed his temples. He needed to say more. It was important. If this were any other man, he would keep his mouth shut, but this was Stephen Lambert. “Stephen,” he began, “Aria and I met at Blaze. We haven’t been back there together since that night yet, but you will hopefully see us there in the future.”
Cameron had seen Stephen there from time to time. Why he hadn’t thought about that fact and addressed it before now he had no idea. Probably because he’d been so wrapped up in his relationship with the most perfect Little girl in the world that he hadn’t considered anyone around them yet.
He and Aria had kept their relationship mostly behind closed private doors so far. Eventually, they would go to Blaze again, though, and Aria would freak the fuck out if she saw her supervisor there with no warning.
That is if Aria ever spoke to him again.
“Thank you for letting me know. You have my permission to warn Aria that she might see me there, too. I would never breathe a word of her preferences to a living soul.”
“Thank you. Did you by chance mention to her that I’m the one who signed off on those complaints?”
Stephen cringed. “I did.”
Cameron closed his eyes for a moment. “Fuck. No wonder she cleared out her desk.”
“She cleared out her desk?” Stephen’s voice rose.
“Yes, she did.”
“She didn’t mention anything like that to me.”
Cameron met his gaze, his voice rising with each uttered word. “Stephen, you told her a pack of lies about her performance, and you told her you had proof, and then you told her the man she’s supposed to trust to protect her above all other humans was involved in a plot to destroy her career. Of course she cleared out her desk.”
“Shit.” Stephen finally looked panicked. He snatched the papers from Cameron and looked at them again. “Who would do this?”
“Oh, I have a pretty good idea. I bet that handwriting compares with every message sitting on my desk.”
“Are you going to share the culprit with me, or do you want me to guess? Apparently I’m going to be here a while tonight. I’d like to know who’s getting fired so I can get started.”
Chapter Sixteen
Cameron drove straight to Aria’s apartment. He didn’t even try to call her. This was where she would go after the blow she’d received. He couldn’t blame her for running and not saying a word to him, but he was still going to spank her ass for doubting him. As soon as he found her.