A wry smirk tugged at my lips. “You think I hate you?”
“Don’t you?” she asked simply. “I saw it in your eyes when I first walked in here.”
“What you saw wasn’t hate. I don’t like mixing my personal life with my professional life,” I said. “When you walked in, that was exactly what happened.”
She stood there, absorbing what I’d said. “Well, like I said before, I never knew you were Joe. I thought you were a businessman, but I didn’t know what kind exactly.”
Why was I drawing this out? Kacie had already told me about the meeting waiting.
A knock at the door interrupted us, just as Lexi moved to hand it over.
“Five minutes,” I called out in response. I heard a murmured apology from the other side of the door, then retreating footsteps.
I kept my eyes on Lexi, watching her eyes widen with fear. Fuck. I didn’t want her to be scared.
Her hands fell to her sides, and I couldn’t help but let my gaze travel over her once again. She was looking radiant today, though dressed more simply than yesterday.
If only she’d shown up at that bar again…
Our gazes locked, and her breathing quickened, and I felt arousal spinning around us, turning me dizzy.
She’d never get that night back again.
And neither would I.
At that sudden, unwelcome reminder, I turned away, frustration pounding in my chest. I knew then what the consequences would be for her original message to me.
Nothing.
I’d thought about this woman every single day since our time together.
There was no way I’d be firing her, even if she deserved it.
“Well, then you can leave,” I said, my irritation clear as I tossed her letter into the trash. “Your insolent message will not be discussed again.”
She stared at me, disbelief written across her face. “You mean I’m not going to be fired?”
I walked closer to her. “Not today. I may be demanding, but I’m not unreasonable, Lexi. You expressed your thoughts, and I won’t punish you for your honesty.” I paused and leaned in closer.
“If you want to fire me like you did Adrian for speaking up, do it now. Don’t draw it out.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I snapped.
“You fired Adrian Wells because he complained about losing free drinks and snacks at work,” she said, voice sharp. “That’s … horrible.”
“Is that what people are saying?”
“It’s whateveryoneis saying.” Her voice had an edge now. “People are scared to speak up.”
I moved back to my desk and met her gaze, calm and steady. Usually, I would let this assumption slide, let them think I’m ruthless.
But with Lexi, I didn’t want her to think of me that way.
“Do you really think I’d fire someone over soda?”
She didn’t answer.
I leaned against my desk. “Adrian Wells was logging freelance hours for another company.Duringwork hours. He was submitting designs to a start-up that’s building a competing app. I had IT check his activity. It was all there.”
