Chapter 9: Magnetic Distractions
345 Words
Luke
The day Max strutted in with our "new Senior Software Developer" on his arm, I felt like someone had played a cruel joke on me. Out of all the bars in all of New York, she had to walk into mine. Well, not a bar, but you get the reference. She was the dreamy mystery who had starred in my unsolicited daydreams. And here she was, looking like she owned the place. Every fiber of my being was attuned to her. I ran a tight ship, and surprises? Not on my watch.
Letting her go crossed my mind. But, come on, even thinking of firing someone as sizzling as her? Nope. However, a small voice inside me wondered if I could create just the right amount of tension to make her reconsider this job choice. I wanted clear waters, and she was a hurricane waiting to happen.
That brief bump-in we had on the street wasn't easy to forget. Man, she was a stunner—those deep green eyes that looked like they held the world's secrets, hair that looked like it had caught the sun's rays, and don't get me started on that body. For a brief second, I had toyed with the idea of pulling her into the nearest hotel. But business waited for no one, not even a goddess.
Emma and her friend seemed like a good distraction that night. A way to let off steam. But the next morning? She was all I could think of.
Seeing her again at the café was like a slap in the face by serendipity. I couldn't resist. I caught up with her, demanding, "Stop." The way she looked at me—equal parts defiance and vulnerability—had me second-guessing every move. But one thing was clear: I had to protect my space.
I acknowledged her talent, though. If she ever chose to leave, I'd use my contacts to make sure she got the recognition she deserved. That's the least I could do for the woman who had unwittingly thrown me off balance.
- Writer
