Free Toxic by Rachael Orman

world that not only was he mine in the BDSM community, but everywhere, in every way.
    “Only if we can come back and consummate our engagement,” he said with a completely serious look on his face.
    “Oh I don’t know how a girl could say no to that.” I laughed and moved out of his reach, because I knew if he put his hands on me now we’d end up in bed again. Right now I just wanted to look at wedding rings for the first time in my life, while ignoring that dark cloud that was hanging not far off for a little while longer.
    ***
    We searched in two ring stores for a few hours, but there wasn’t anything I thought was fitting for not just me, but our relationship. Then we grabbed something to eat before returning home where John made sweet, slow love to me.
    Weeks passed as we continued to hunt for the perfect ring; clients still cancelled while new clients continued to ask for unusual and kinky events that I had to turn down, and my phone rang at least once an hour with one church or another telling me they could save my soul. Eventually I started blocking their numbers, but they always seemed to find a new phone to call me from. I wanted to throw my phone out the window, but I needed it in case work needed me, a client needed to change something at the last minute, and, of course, as a constant tie to John.
    After setting up for a big event and making sure all the caterers had what they needed, my boss called me into her office.
    I sat in one of the uncomfortable, but modern-looking chairs on the other side of her desk.
    “Alix,” she began. “You have been a wonderful asset to this company since you were hired. That is, until recently. I have been in touch with numerous of your previous clients who have taken their business to other facilities. What I found out disturbed me.”
    “What did they tell you?” I asked. I wanted to know what was happening as much as anyone.
    “That you are participating in life-threatening behaviors with this new man you are dating…”
    I cut her off before she could continue.
    “What I do outside of work in no way affects how I do my job. Not that it is really anyone’s business, but it’s not life-threatening to myself or anyone else,” I said defensively.
    “Not only that, but that you are using your office, the public restrooms, as well as who knows where else as places to do things that should only be conducted in private.” She kept talking as if I hadn’t spoken.
    I stared at her with my mouth hanging open. There was nothing I could say to dispute that. However, I didn’t think there was any proof of it.
    “And while that alone is enough to fire you, I must say the part that really was the final straw was that I’ve heard you are now telling the people at these so-called events you go to that they can use our hotel for their disgusting get-togethers. You have sullied our reputation in such a way that I don’t know if we will recover from it. The first thing to be done though is to fire the person responsible, which is you. I hope you understand that you will not be getting a recommendation from us.” She stood and motioned toward the door.
    I knew there was nothing I could say to save my job. Not only would there not be a recommendation for my next job, but it’d also be highly unlikely I’d be offered any other job in the field when word got around what had happened.
    Tears burned in my eyes as I walked swiftly to my office, my former boss right behind me. I gathered the few belongings I had and stuffed them in my purse before heading for the main door. Jennifer called out to me from the front desk, but I shook my head, keeping my eyes on the ground.
    Once outside, I turned and ran in the opposite direction from John’s office. I wanted to go to him. I wanted the comfort he could offer, but I couldn’t do it. Even knowing that it was coming, I wanted to lash out at the world. It wasn’t fair. Yes, some of what I was being accused of was truth, but I