Garrett

I saw red. Anger I spent years getting under control ripped through every carefully built wall and binding. Ivy touched my hand and flinched to find it trembling. Paul chose that moment to look up from his conversation. The bastard smiled when he saw me.

"Garrett," Ivy cautioned. I still pinned her body between my arms, making it difficult for her to maneuver in front of me, but she managed. "Don't make a scene. Then he really will win."

"Why didn't I consider Paul? He should have been the first person to come to mind."

But I hadn't considered him even once. Because every time I thought about him, I thought about his hands on Ivy. It roused emotions I didn't like, so I shoved him far out of my mind. Fat lot of good that did me. Thank god I hadn't had much to drink because it was taking every ounce of sober effort to keep from ruining everything with a single swing of my fist.

"Garret," Howard Green called out, pulling Paul along by his arm.

Ivy's cheeks flushed as she pleaded with me silently to keep calm. I held her gaze, sinking into the warmth in her deep brown eyes and counting to ten. She smiled at me, and it landed like a sucker punch, sucking the air out of me until it was difficult to form thought, much less words, as Howard and Paul stopped next to us at the bar.

"Ivy," Paul said. He propped his elbow on the counter and gave her a lecherous smirk. "I didn't expect to find you here, but it makes sense now that I think about it."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Paul leaned in, his eyes locked on mine as he whispered in her ear. The beast within me, temporarily soothed, woke with a roar, and judging by the growing grin on the devil's face, he knew what effect he had on me. Ivy's brows drew down, but she didn't pull away, even as the red in her cheeks stole south.

"Now, now," Howard chuckled. He pulled Paul back. "Sharing secrets in front of others is rude."

"Oh, it's no secret," Paul replied. "Ivy's reputation is known to everyone."

"But is yours?" I asked. Imagining all the ways I could break his bones kept me from reaching across Ivy and actually doing it. That and her warm back pressing against my front as she subconsciously sank into me for comfort.

Howard accepted a drink I hadn't seen him order from the bartender and shook his head. "Nasty business, that, but Paul assures me he has no hard feelings. Us gents understand the world we live in now."

Ivy bristled. "What world is that? One where it's wrong to assault unwilling women?"

"Now, now. Let's not throw around more accusations." Howard's beady eyes sharpened. "I just meant in the MeToo world, men often have to take actions without due diligence. I told Paul if Garrett hadn't fired him on the spot, then he would have ended up on the front page. Cancelled."

"Did you tell him that before or after he sold you our pitch?" Ivy growled.

As furious as I was right now, that vicious little sound coming from her sent all the blood in my body rushing south. I would pull both of them apart if she asked me to, but seeing her stand up for herself made me want to see her do it instead.

Howard clicked his tongue against his teeth three times and sighed. "I see what you mean, Paul. You're better off at Green Industries."

"Are you trying to convince yourself or us?" Ivy fired off before I could say anything.

She no longer leaned into me; instead, she stepped forward and drew her shoulders back. A curling tendril of dark hair escaped her professional updo and fell into her eyes.

Paul and Howard eased back, not even aware they'd done so. Our conversation drew attention from those closest to us, and the admiration in their expressions only heightened the lust swirling through me.

"Because," she continued. "You don't have to convince us. Garrett knew he was better off anywhere but James, Jones and Associates the day he tried to shove his tongue down my throat without my permission. I figured it out about the time my knee sank into his incredibly small dick. It probably benefited from the swelling."

"You little bi—"

A bell rang, signaling the end of the mixer. Howard jerked a red faced and puffing Paul toward the exit while the witnesses to our argument grumbled about the poor timing.

I waited until the room cleared before leading Ivy to our room. Tears spilled over her cheeks. I resisted the urge to wipe them away. Those were well earned rage tears, but I made a mental note to add it to Paul's growing list of sins.

"I'm so sorry," she blurted out when I shut the door to our hotel room. "M-mr. James, I'm so sorry. I can't believe—I asked you to keep calm, and then lost it myself."

I frowned. Why were we back to Mr. James? She paced along the edge of the bed, her hands fluttering above her stomach, and she sucked in deep breaths. I grabbed them and dragged them toward my face, forcing her eyes to follow.

"Ivy. Stop."

"I made you look foolish."

"Ivy, I will never be upset with you for standing up for yourself."

"But people were listening."

"They were."

"And I talked about his tiny dick."

"That was my favorite part."

"Oh, my god. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Don't start that again."

"Mr. J—"

And because I couldn't bear to hear her call me that again, I did the only thing I could think of to shut her up. I kissed her.