Collateral Damage |+18|

6. You haven’t realized how much you drive me crazy. [Part 1]

6. You haven’t realized how much you drive me crazy.

Matheo.

“Kacey!” I call, pressing my hands on my desk, trying with all my strength to control my temper.

“Yes, sir?” She appears in my office in a rush, clutching her notebook tightly to her chest. Her eyes look alarmed, and I suspect the last three days dealing with me haven’t been easy.

“Send an email to Defne and tell her to come here immediately.”

Kacey stares at me, clearly confused, which only makes me angrier at the ridiculous situation I find myself in.

“Sir, but why don’t you just—”

“Do it,” I interrupt, my voice low but dangerous. Then I sigh softly, adding, “Please.”

She still looks puzzled, but she leaves to do as I asked.

I run my hands over my face, trying to calm myself and clear some of the anger bubbling inside me. But how the hell does Defne dare block my email? My messages keep bouncing back. To me—the f*****g owner of the company. Her boss.

When Kacey comes back in and looks at me cautiously, I know she refused to come.

I don’t even know why I bother, damn it.

“f**k,” I mutter under my breath and get up, heading straight for the girl who, more and more every day, throws my world off orbit.

She gets under my skin so easily. I remember the cold shock I felt when she handed in her resignation, then the anger when I realized she was ignoring me. She throws me to the extremes of every emotion, back and forth, leaving me unsteady at her whim. I try—I swear I do—but when things like this happen, I go completely blind, and all I care about is getting to her.

So to hell with the curious eyes watching me storm through the design department. I don’t care if people are staring. I only care about her.

And I see her. I find her. There’s Defne, exactly how I knew she’d be: hair loose and messy, curls falling over her face as she rummages through the colorful post-its in her cubicle—the messiest one on the entire floor.

I cover my mouth to hide the bitter smile threatening to escape, crouch down to her level, and whisper in her ear, making sure my lips brush her skin: “In my office. Now.”

Defne jumps in her chair and stares straight ahead, motionless, while I breathe in that scent that’s driving me insane.

“I’m busy.”

“Defne…”

“I answer to Scarlett, not you.”

I laugh, but there’s no joy in it.

So this is how it’s going to be.

For a woman who’s been backing me since she met me, Scarlett really has taken Defne under her wing. For a moment, I wonder if it’s a strategy, but I immediately dismiss the idea, remembering how adamant she’s been about Defne’s talent and value to her team.

Though I always suspected Scarlett was after me for ambition, not because she actually likes me—God knows there’s zero attraction between us—this confirms it. She wants me for what I can bring to her career, despite how clearly I’ve told her I don’t get involved with my employees.

I laugh again because… what the hell?

Here I am, losing all my rules, out of my mind, all because she’s been ignoring me for three f*****g days.

“Turns out Scarlett answers to me, so if you don’t want to get your superior in trouble, I suggest you lift that cute ass of yours and follow me to my office.”

“No.”

“Defne…”

“Matheo…”

“Defne, I just remembered a little thing about myself that I’d forgotten.” I slowly push her hair back, exposing more of her neck, not caring who’s watching. Eyes fixed on her profile, I lean in and whisper, “I always get what I want, Buttercup, no matter what methods I have to use. And I want you in my office. Now.”

“No.”

“I swear to God, Defne,” I lower my voice, dangerous, “I’ll hoist you over my shoulder and carry you out of here in front of everyone, not giving a damn about how crazy I get when it comes to you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

Finally, she turns her face to look at me; her eyes are so furious I know I’m pushing her to her limit, just like she drives me to mine.

We stare at each other for several seconds, challenging one another, neither yielding.

Then I start hearing murmurs around us, and I know I’ll regret this later, but right now, all I want is her alone.

Just that, damn it.

I don’t care if people talk; I don’t care if they discover how insane she makes me, or if I ruin my untouchable reputation for her.

Defne ignoring me ends today. Right now.

I count to three, and when she still doesn’t move, I nod. That’s how she wanted it.

I take her hand and help her to her feet, ignoring the gasps around us. When I bend down to lift her onto my shoulder, Defne steps back and says, loud and clear: “Fine!”

“Go ahead,” I gesture in front of me, inviting her to move.

I watch her walk ahead, faster than she should, hips moving stiffly, clearly against her will. She nearly collides with two people on her triumphant path, but each time I catch her by the elbow, steadying her.

I mentally remind myself to tell Kacey to send an email to everyone, warning that if my name or Defne’s ends up in the media as some gossip, there will be firings.

When we enter my office, I point to a chair for her to sit, but she remains standing, arms crossed, waiting for me to speak without even looking at me.

I lean my hip against my desk and cross my arms as I consider the options for surviving if I just go over there and erase the frown on her lips with a kiss.

I close my eyes and take a breath, clearing my thoughts.

“Defne, you’re my employee,” I remind her. “If I ask you to come to my office, you come to my office.”

“If you dislike me so much, why don’t you just stay away from me?”

I recoil at her question, surprised by her directness and her use of formal “you,” when we left that behind long ago.