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1042 Words
How great his ass looks in those black slacks he’s wearing.
“We’re very private,” he says, talking as he walks. “We have to be. You can’t imagine the targets we are for every kind of scumbag out there. Scammers. Bullshit artists.” His voice drops. “Kidnappers.”
Kidnappers?
I recall how secretive everyone was about this job, all the nondisclosure agreements I had to sign and the hoops I had to jump through because of the company’s notorious dedication to privacy, and realize with a sinking feeling in my stomach that I understand what he’s saying.
The McCords are billionaires. Of course everyone would want a piece of his family’s money. Of his family’s empire. Of him.
Emery was just being careful.
I mean, I’ve known her for a while, but it’s not as if we’re close friends. We’ve never gotten together socially. She had every right to be discreet. In her position, I probably would’ve done the same thing.
Unfortunately, this clarity causes the outrage to drain from me as if a plug has been pulled. I stand there wondering if one of us owes the other an apology, and quickly decide that if he goes first, I’ll follow suit.
“Oh. I see.”
He stops pacing. Studying my face, his gaze sharpens. “You see what?”
“Nothing.”
His expression sours. He folds his arms over his chest and gazes down his nose at me, a habit that might get him castrated soon.
“It was just a figure of speech.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Yes, it was.”
“I know it’s inconvenient for you, but I can tell when you’re lying.”
“Baloney.”
“It’s true.”
“Oh yeah? How?”
“Your voice gets strange.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Yes, it does. You start to sound a little like a dying donkey.”
He says it with no change in his expression or tone, but I know it’s an olive branch. That little reminder of our amazing night together is his playful way of saying oops, sorry I accused you of being a calculating, gold-digging w***e, let’s try to play nice.
But wait—it could be a trap. He could be trying to test me to see if I’ll flirt with him. Does he still think I’m only here to shake him down?
Or is he being inappropriate? Is he hoping I’ll be on my knees under his desk giving him weekly blowjobs, and this is his way of hinting at it?
God, this is confusing. I have no idea how to respond. Humor? Outrage? Disdain?
Painfully uncomfortable, I resolve that if he’s going to be wily and impossible to pin down, I will too. I keep my voice and expression neutral, as if maybe I’m bored by this entire conversation.
“The donkey wasn’t dying. It was getting its tooth pulled.”
“No. It was dying.”
“I think you’re remembering it wrong.”
“I’m remembering it perfectly.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“What color was the Chihuahua?”
“The Chihuahua was hairless.”
“What kind of animal did the raptor see in the bar?”
“A dove. And I didn’t say raptor, I said predatory night bird. And it wasn’t in a bar, it was in a clearing.”
We stare at each other. Neither of us smiles. The room feels stuffy and too small. I have no idea if we’re fighting or flirting. I’ve had root canals more pleasant than this.
“Predatory night bird? So you’re an owl.”
A faint look of disgust crosses his handsome face. “I’m not an owl.”
“You sure? You kinda resemble an owl.”
“In what way do I resemble an owl?”
“Lots of ways. Big unblinking eyes. Stocky body. No neck.”
He narrows his eyes at me. I resist the urge to stick out my tongue.
Our stalemate is interrupted when someone knocks on the door. We turn to see a young man standing outside. He’s tall, handsome, and looks a lot like Cole, except he’s blond. Smiling broadly, he raises a hand and wiggles his fingers in greeting.
Cole walks to the door and opens it. I can tell by the new tension in his shoulders that he’s irritated by this arrival. To the man standing outside, he says brusquely, “You’re interrupting.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” He chuckles, then leans around Cole and grins at me. “Hi there. I’m Carter, Cole’s brother. I hear you’re his new assistant.”
“Hi, Carter. I’m Shay. And yes, I’m your brother’s new assistant, but I’m not sure for how long.”
Horrified, Carter looks at Cole. His tone turns accusing. “It’s not even nine o’clock! What crap are you putting this poor girl through already?”
Cole turns and gives me a lethal look. I return it with a sweet smile.
At least one of the McCord brothers is on my side.
Cole
A
s always, my little brother has impeccable f*****g timing.
I turn away from Shay’s smiling face and tell him to get lost. Then I slam shut the door and turn back to her again.
“That’s a nasty habit of yours,” she notes as the door rattles in its frame.
“It’s one of many. What did you mean you’re not sure how long you’ll be my assistant?”
Her expression indicates she thinks I’m an absolute i***t. And an asshole to boot.
Through clenched teeth, I say, “What’s that look?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
This woman. This stubborn, infuriating woman. Drawing a deep breath, I start to count to ten. I only make it to two before I snap. “I’m not going to fire you, if that’s what you meant.”
“Maybe that’s not what I meant.”
When I only stare at her with a growl rumbling through my chest, she relents.
“Okay, that’s what I meant. Are you?”
“I just said I wasn’t.”
- Writer
