Deceived by Thayer King

could have your one night together. That was a sacrifice for me, I admit, but I knew our bond was strong enough to withstand it. I have your loyalty, so what would one night hurt?” He shrugged his shoulders as if it was of no consequence. “And I would have the job I’ve worked so hard for. In the end, that would be best for our future.”
    Janelle shook her head. He was sick with greed and he believed her to be also. “You don’t know me at all if you think that I would sleep with another man for your promotion or for any reason other than love.”
    “It was the only way, but it didn’t work. We’re going to have to call the police.”
    She frowned. “Why?”
    “We’re going to have Aidan arrested for rape. And the more public the arrest, the better. He’ll want to settle the matter out of court.”
    “No,” she said vehemently. “I will not. Leave me out of your schemes.” She headed for the door. Once again, he dogged her steps. “Aidan is as much a victim in this as me. He was furious once he figured out what you’d done. What you’d made him do.”
    “I didn’t hold a gun to his head. He arranged that meeting this weekend.”
    No amount of talking to him would make him see reason. “We’re done, Jerome. You should leave.”
    “Is this because I don’t have a job? If you handle this the way I say, we could have it all. I’ll get my job back, even that promotion. Only I won’t really have to work. Aidan will pay me if he wants to keep his reputation. Not to mention stay out of jail.”
    “I don’t care about your job. I care that you tried to whore me out! What you did was unacceptable and I will never forgive it or trust you again.” She yanked open the door. “Now get out!”
    Aidan stood poised with his fist raised to knock. He put down his hand. He was handsome and imposing in another designer suit and ankle-length trench coat. Black, of course. “I see that I didn’t make it in time. I wanted to give you advance warning that this might happen.”
    “He was just leaving.”
    “I am not. I won’t leave you alone with him, your attacker.”
    Janelle couldn’t believe this was the same calm man she’d been dating for almost a year. “Give it up, Jerome. I’m not pressing charges.”
    Aidan came in and closed the door. “I appreciate that. I realize you could view this in an ugly light and that you have every right to pursue legal action.”
    “There! We have his confession,” Jerome crowed. “We can settle this matter out of court. I’m sure we can come to an agreement—”
    “Shut up!” She covered her ears. “I can’t take any more of your lies and machinations. It disgusts me. There will be no settlement because I am not going to sue him. Just leave!”
    Jerome’s eyes narrowed. “What happened this weekend?”
    “Nothing more than you planned,” she stated coldly.
    “If it was just sex, then you should be standing by my side. Did he make you promises? You can’t believe him, Janelle. All you’ll ever be to him is a convenient piece of ass.”
    “You son of a—”
    Janelle flattened a restraining hand on Aidan’s chest as he moved forward, his hands clenched into large fists that would leave Jerome out cold on her on her cream carpeting. “Jerome, that is more than enough.” She moved around Aidan to open the door again. “Leave.”
    He took a deep breath. “Fine. I can see he’s got you brainwashed. But when you see his true colors, you’ll be coming back to me.”
    Janelle released a sigh when he was gone. She dropped her face into her hands. “I’ve never seen him like that, so out of control and desperate.”
    Aidan rested his hands on her shoulders in a comforting gesture. “He’s lost everything that he cared about. It’ll be a while before he can come to grips with that and move on. If he makes a pest of himself again, call me or call the police.”
    “I don’t want to bother you.”
    “You’re not a bother.”
    She stepped away from his