16. Resolution
1260 Words
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"You're kidding," Laura said, her voice incredulous. "What the hell did George do?"
June sniffled, wiping away a tear. "He kissed me," she said, her voice trembling. "In Heath's office."
Laura was silent for a moment, processing the information. "And Heath saw?"
"Yes," June's voice was barely above a whisper. "And now I'm fired."
Laura let out a low whistle. "That's a new level of messed up," she said, her voice filled with concern. "What are you going to do?"
June took a deep, shuddering breath. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I just... I don't know."
Laura's tone grew firm. "You need to get some rest and think this through," she said. "You can't let them do this to you."
June nodded, her eyes swollen from crying. "I know," she said, her voice hoarse. "But I don't know what to do."
"Worry about that tomorrow," Lauren said. "Right now, get some sleep."
June decided to take her best friend's advice and do just that.
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The next day, Heath came to work later than usual. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were sunken. And he had a splitting headache.
"Do you have any sense of punctuality or not?"
Heath spun on his heels to hear the voice that he was so sure he would never hear again.
"June..." He was stumped for a moment but he recovered fast, "What the hell are you doing here? I fired you!"
June held her head high. She might have had decided to get some sleep the previous night and as a result, her head was spinning. But she didn't care. She had a job to keep.
"You will have to do better than that, Mr. Robbins." June rolled her eyes, keeping up her bravado. "This is a corporate firm. You will have to give me a written order stating the reason for the termination, the termination of my contract and my upstanding remuneration before you scream that you have fired me."
Heath gritted his teeth together. "How about indecent activity in the boss' office?" He took a step towards her.
"I think you have done way more indecent activities with me in this office, Mr. Robbins." June didn't back down. She took a step towards him.
Heath's eyes narrowed, his nostrils flaring. "That was different," he ground out. "That was... private."
June's eyebrows shot up. "Is that your excuse for everything?" she asked, her voice cold. "It's okay when it's private, but not when it's in public? Because I can cite an example of such activity that you did in a public bathroom as well."
Heath took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check. "You know what I meant," he said through gritted teeth. "It's not the same."
"Isn't it?" June's voice was like a whip, slicing through the tension in the air. "Or are you just mad that I fell into your brother's arms the moment you weren't looking?"
"So you admit to doing it?" He sneered.
"I admit to nothing." She shot back.
Heath's eyes blazed with anger. "Fine," he said, his voice tight. "But you're still fired."
June rolled her eyes. "Give me a work-related reason why I should be fired and then I will accept it."
Heath's jaw tensed as he searched for a suitable response. "Your performance has been slipping," he said finally, his voice a low growl.
June let out a laugh. "Try harder next time." She turned on her heels and sashayed out of the room with an extra swing to her hip, gluing her Boss' eyes to her voluptuous butt.
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June was reading out minutes of a meeting to an uninterested Heath when the door clicked open.
June tensed at the sight of the older Robbins brother. All the respect she had had for the man was gone.
George walked into the office, his eyes immediately seeking out June. His expression was unreadable, but the smugness from the previous day was gone.
"Heath," he said, his voice calm. "We need to talk."
Heath looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowing at the sight of his brother. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice tight.
George's gaze never left June as he approached his brother's desk. "We need to talk," he said again, his voice firm. "Privately."
June's heart was racing. What did George want now? She had to stay strong. She had to stand her ground.
"I will take my leave." She said and left the brothers alone.
George's eyes followed June's retreating figure, his gaze lingering on the sway of her hips.
"What the hell do you want?" Heath spat, his voice filled with barely contained anger and something else that sounded a whole lot like jealousy.
"I need to apologize for my behavior yesterday," George said, his voice carefully measured. "It was unprofessional and inappropriate."
Heath's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"
"I know what you're thinking," George began, his voice low. "But you're wrong."
Heath's gaze was unwavering. "Am I?"
George sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I didn't come here to argue," he said. "I just want to make things right."
Heath's eyes bore into his brother's, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. "You can start by explaining why you kissed my girlfriend," he said, his voice a low growl.
"Girlfriend?" George raised a brow at him.
"Yes," Heath said through gritted teeth. "June is my girlfriend, and I expect you to respect that."
"Does anyone else but you both even know that?" He asked.
"No. We have an NDA."
"Huh?"
"Look... It's complicated." Heath ran his fingers through his hair. "But now you know and I expect you to respect that."
"But aren't you both broken up now?" George was starting to get amused.
"Did she say that?" Heath asked.
"No."
"Did I say that?" He asked again.
"No."
"Then stop assuming shit." Heath shrugged.
George took a seat opposite his brother. "But you fired her."
"But she is back, isn't she?"
George nodded.
"I want you to know that she will stay in the position of my personal assistant," Heath said, his voice firm. "And I want to make it clear that she is off-limits to you."
George's expression grew serious. "I understand," he said, his eyes meeting Heath's. "I never meant to cause trouble."
Heath leaned back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest. "Well, you did," he said, his voice gruff. "And now you need to fix it."
"And how do I do that?"
"Stay away from June Rivers."
George nodded slowly. "I will," he said. "But I want to know one thing."
Heath leaned forward, his eyes boring into his brother's. "What?"
"What's really going on between you two?" George's voice was curious.
Heath's expression darkened. "It's none of your business," he said, his voice clipped. "But if you must know, we have an understanding."
"That, you already made clear." George laughed. "What I want to know is how do you feel about her?"
Heath's jaw clenched. "How I feel is irrelevant," he said.
"Is it?" The older brother raised a brow as he got up from his seat.
"It's none of your business."
George rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He walked to the door. "Just, Heath, not everyone is the same as your mother. And, I kissed her. She didn't kiss me back."
And with that, the brother was gone.
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- Writer
