Chapter 4.

Darcelle's POV:

HR had three people from temp agencies waiting outside my office. Each held a stack of resumes. I just fired six staff, so I needed new ones fast. Empty desks wouldn't do.

I pointed at the first one, a nervous guy in a cheap suit.

"Show me resumes. I need admins who don't sleep with married men. Send them today.

"He stuttered, then spread papers across my desk.The second rep, a smart woman in a blazer stepped up.

"I have three good candidates. All checked, no issues."

"Good. Send them by end of day," I said.The third guy just waited. I nodded at the door for him to leave.

Twenty minutes later, the elevator dinged.

Noah, Steve, and Josh walked in. No knock. They just came right in like they belonged. Noah wore dark pants with a contrasting shirt. Steve looked rich but relaxed. Josh's tattoos showed under his jacket.

Staff outside stared through the glass walls, eyes wide.

"Darcie," Noah said, eyes scanning the half empty floor, the reps packing up.

"Busy morning?"

"Hiring replacements," I said, shutting the door, blinds half down.

"Sit. Whiskey? Coffee's cold."

"Whiskey," Steve grinned, dropping into a chair. Josh took the couch. Noah stayed standing, arms crossed.

I poured from the decanter, glasses clinking as I sat. They sipped, waiting. No small talk.

"I know you dug a little already," I started, leaning forward. "But you need the full story. From the start."

Noah nodded. "We saw hotel rumors online. Give the story up straight."

"Last night was a Company event afterparty. I go looking for Christopher he's not at the bar. Find him in a suite. Door cracked. He's fucking his assistant, Sarah. Right there. On the bed I picked out."

Steve's jaw tightened.

I kept going.

"He sees me. Doesn't stop. Keeps pounding her while she smirks at me. I ask why. He laughs that laugh I used to love. Says he wants an open marriage. Says I'm a plastic mannequin. Stiff and dry. Defective in bed. Hot but worthless.'

"Noah's fist clenched on his glass. "He said that? In front of you?"

"Word for word. While buried inside her. I wanted to kill him. But divorce splits my company 50/50. No prenup. Community property state. He's got no claim except marriage. Can't lose half what I built."

“When I got home, he flipped out. I walked in still smelling like you three. The jacket hung too big on me, bite marks all over my neck. He screamed "slut" and "you reek like a whorehouse."

I shot back, "That's your open marriage bullshit." Locked myself in the bedroom. He pounded the door till 2 in the morning.

Josh's eyes went hard. "Did he grab you?"

"Tried my arm. I shook him off easy. Pathetic."

Noah walked back and forth. "Today? Those firings?"

"Sarah first, his assistant. Then five others. All his side pieces. Proof from texts, hotel bills. Company rules ban that shit. I quoted their contracts word for word. Half the office sits empty now."

I nodded at the resumes still scattered on my desk.

"Hiring replacements as we speak.”

Steve let out a whistle.

"It's petty, sure," I said. "He'll whine about that. But petty beats watching him trash my business.

"Noah stopped, stared me down. "What do you need? Divorce? Lock him out?"

"Everything. I call the shots.”

My office lights were the only ones left on in the entire tower by the time the clock hit 11:47 p.m. Outside, the sky had cracked open, thunder rolling low and heavy, rain hammering the glass walls in relentless sheets. Everyone else had fled hours ago when the first warning sirens sounded. The new temps were gone, the remaining crew had clocked out early, and security was downstairs monitoring the storm from the lobby. Up here, on the executive floor, it was just me, the glow of my dual monitors, and the three men who’d refused to leave when I told them to go home.

Noah stood by the window, arms folded, watching lightning fork across the sky. Steve lounged against my filing cabinet, tie gone, top buttons open. Josh sat on the edge of the conference table, sleeves rolled, silent but radiating heat.

I closed the last spreadsheet at 11:58, rubbed my eyes, and leaned back in the chair.

“Fine. You win. I’m done.”

Noah turned first. “About time.”

Steve pushed off the cabinet and crossed the room in slow strides. “No more hiding behind work tonight, Darcie.”

Josh stood. The thunder rolled again, closer, vibrating the glass. He reached my desk, braced both hands on the surface, caging me in without touching.

“You’ve been running on adrenaline and spite all day. Let it out.”

Steve stepped in front, fingers sliding under my blouse, tracing the underside of my breasts through lace. “Tell us to stop if you want.” His voice was rough. “But you don’t want to.”

I didn’t.

I reached up and pulled Steve closer by his shirt. My fingers shook a little, but not from fear. It was the build up, the storm outside matching the one inside me.

He kissed me hard, his mouth hot and demanding. I melted into it, my body already heating up from his touch under my blouse. A small moan escaped me when his thumbs brushed my nipples through the lace.

Noah came up behind me, his hands on my hips, pulling me back against him. I felt his hardness pressing into my lower back. It made my stomach flip with want. I arched a bit, pushing against him without thinking.

Josh watched us, his eyes dark and intense. He didn't move yet, but I could see the hunger there. It sent a thrill through me, knowing he was waiting his turn.

Steve's hands moved to the buttons of my blouse. He undid them one by one, slow enough to make me squirm. The cool air hit my skin as he pushed it open.

I shivered, but it wasn't from the cold. It was the way they all looked at me.

"Beautiful," Steve whispered, his fingers tracing down my stomach. I bit my lip, feeling exposed but powerful at the same time. My heart raced faster.