393 Weekend in Sin City 9

However, many years of being together, also mean that they formed some connection. Trust probably. If Brianna says anything damaging to Kendra, will Quentin think of Brianna as a bad person? She is not sure.

Brianna's insecurities swelled. Quentin is a hot guy, is it possible that Kendra never had any thoughts about Quentin? What if they went beyond a professional relationship? When Quentin mentioned that they are professional, Brianna noticed that Quentin spoke in the present tense... What was with that choice of words? How come he didn't say 'we were always professional'? Did Quentin sleep with Kendra? Brianna told herself not to think about what happened in the past. She should not go there because that would definitely make her sound like a jealous woman.

Brianna thought for a few seconds before deciding to answer how much she remembers and if Quentin takes it in a bad way, that is his problem. On top of that, if Quentin sides with Kendra, that will answer many of Brianna's questions, and it's probably better to get those answers sooner than later.

"Kendra didn't say anything directly damaging, but she insinuated that she did that kind of stylings many times, for models and your dates. She treated me in the same way I felt, as a hookup. She didn't bother to ask for my name, and she showed more interest in the dress I was wearing than in me as a person. She was swift, precise, like a machine. I don't remember more than that."

Brianna also remembered that Kendra was very specific about the dress, that is how Brianna managed to find it in the magazine, but Brianna didn't want to voice that memory.

Quentin's heart cracked for Brianna and he was angry at Kendra. How dares she treat Brianna as some causal hookup? That evening was painfully etched into his memory and he still bleeds when he remembers how excited he was that Brianna accepted the date, and even though she would occasionally mention his reputation and how that was only a one-night thing, he had so many hopes and plans... and it all crashed unexpectedly before it started.

Quentin reminded himself that this is one of the rare occasions that Brianna is talking, and he should take advantage of it and ask more questions.

"And after that? When we started dating? How did she treat you then?"

Brianna shook her head, indicating that there is nothing much. "Her treatment of me didn't change, but I didn't give her a chance to get closer so it's not her fault."

"Some people don't get along.", Brianna responded vaguely.

Quentin touched Brianna's chin, making her turn and look at him.

"Bri, you are my Goddess, the most important person in my life. If you don't get along with people who are working for me, I want to know why."

Brianna jerked her head out of his touch. She still didn't know if Quentin believes her or sides with Kendra. She decided to open up and share her thoughts. What is the worst that can happen?

"I don't have a reason, actually, it is more accurate to say that I don't have proof. You can call it an instinct. It's the way she looks at you, or to be precise, how she is not looking at you when I am around. It is telling me that she is hiding something, and she does not want me to see it. Kendra is working as your personal assistant for years and I would expect that the two of you share some history and that you are close, but she is robotic and keeping her distance. It makes me wonder if she is always like that, or if she is putting a show for me? And the more she is staying away, the more I believe that she is hiding things."

Quentin paused and thought about Brianna's words. What she said is the truth because Kendra was definitely stiffer and more reserved on those few occasions when Brianna was around. Quentin thought how that is Kendra's way of giving them privacy or space, but after tonight's incident he sees how that might make Brianna suspect things. Sure, maybe Kendra is doing that so that Brianna does not suspect something, but why would Kendra act like that if there is nothing to suspect?

Quentin sees that Brianna is concerned, unsure if he will believe her words that are against his assistant of many years. "Why didn't you tell me these things earlier?"

"She is your assistant, Q. You don't meddle with people who are working in my office, why would I meddle with yours?" 

Brianna didn't want to say that she is jealous and insecure.

"Bri, if I suspect that someone has ulterior motives or that something is not right, I would tell you about it. Anything that impacts us, I want us to talk about it."

"I don't know what falls into that category, and I don't want to meddle into your stuff."

Quentin's brows furrowed. He thought that Brianna is keeping her distance because she is busy with her own things, and he didn't see that she is doing it because she is insecure. He was not sure if Brianna is insecure in herself or in her position in his life. With Brianna's outgoing personality, he assumed that she will openly claim him and everything that is his, and now he realized that he was wrong.

"There is no MY stuff, Bri. We are together and everything is OUR stuff. If you are not sure if something is relevant, bring it up and let's decide together if that is worth talking about. Don't keep things in. And don't wait for me to get into another fist-fight before we can have a good talk. I want to hear about all the good and the bad and anything in between. Everything related to you is important."

Brianna felt yer eyes stinging. Is she about to tear up? His words confirmed that she is above Kendra and that he believes her. She smiled. "OK."

"About Kendra…"

"Can we not talk about her?", Brianna interrupted Quentin.

"Why?"

"I don't like her."

Quentin was glad to hear Brianna speak her mind. "Was that so difficult to say?"

Brianna didn't want to answer that. It was not difficult but she feared that Quentin will think badly of her. "What are you going to do about her?"

"I am going to fire her.", Quentin said bluntly.

"Because of me?"

"Because she is not doing her job as expected. I won't pretend that my past is clean, but you are my first date who got a styling from Kendra. I told her that you are an important guest and that I need garments and styling for you. I thought that she will call one of our stylists which we use for our shoots, but she volunteered which I accepted because she is experienced. The fact that she made you feel like a hookup means that she planned to sabotage us from the start. If she is willing to sabotage my date, I must wonder if she messed up anything else over the years. But it's not worth investigating, so I will simply let her go."

Brianna was concerned. If Kendra is scheming, she can cause trouble if Quentin is not careful. "You can't just fire someone without a reason."

"I can fire her if she messes up or if her services are not necessary. Since I'm working from office where I have plenty of secretaries and we are focusing on enhancing technologically and maintaining existing contracts, the need for her services reduced. I will give her severance pay and she will be settled. I will not implicate you."

"I am not worried about myself.", Brianna said quickly.

"But I am. I don't want to give her or anyone else a reason to target you."

Brianna felt warm and fuzzy on the inside, and she felt guilty as well. "I am sorry for leaving that restaurant without you, Q."

"Can you promise me that next time, if something is bothering you, you will talk to me first?"

"OK.", Brianna said in a small voice which was not convincing.

Quentin was not sure what to do about Brianna. What happened to his fiery Goddess who would confidently strut through anything? Is it possible that Kendra impacts her so much and Brianna was suppressing it so far?

"I don't want you to think if it's big or not. Whatever it is, I want to know. Don't allow things to escalate."

Brianna nodded in agreement. "Q, are we good?"

Quentin gave her a crooked smile because the side where his lip was cut refused to move. "Yes, Bri. We are good."

Brianna leaned into Quentin and he wrapped his arms around her.

He knew that she agreed to speak up next time without the intention to do so. She does not want to give up on them, but she can't find her place in this relationship and it was tearing him from the inside.

Quentin kissed the top of her head and took a deep breath, inhaling her scent. "Bri… promise that you will tell me your grievances. Maybe I can't fix them, but I will listen and not judge you."

Brianna exhaled. "I will do my best."

"I need you to do more than that. Why are you insecure? There is no reason for that. You are the only woman in my life, my most important person. Whatever I have is yours to do as you please. If Kendra or anyone else on the payroll of Reynolds Publishing is bothering you, you can fire them."

Brianna thought that he is sweet, but… "I don't have such authority. They are your employees."

"As the woman who holds my heart, you have authority above mine, so they are yours as well."

"Maybe that counts in the bedroom, but in the real world, I am just your girlfriend."

Quentin froze. Brianna is right and he knows that.

His palms broke into a sweat when he realized that it's time to move to the next level.

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