Was he noticing the way the fabric complemented her figure? Did he see the curve of her neck that I’d traced with my lips?
I approached them, my footsteps muffled on the carpet, and finally caught bits of their conversation.
“You know, normal people don’t work at ten o’clock at night,” the man was saying in response to something Lexi had said.
Lexi snorted. “Yeah, well, normal people don’t get an entire quarter’s workload dumped on them in the first week.” She stretched slowly, rolling her stiff shoulders. “If this keeps up, I’m gonna have back problems for life, and way before I even hit thirty.”
I watched the way she moved, the way she rubbed her back, realizing she probably didn’t have a proper setup for working at home.
Their backs were to me, but the man chuckled as he gave her a slow once-over, his grin lazy. “Well, if you need someone to help you work out those shoulder knots, I happen to give world-class back rubs. Strictly therapeutic, of course.” He was still grinning when his eyes met mine.
I stepped forward, my expression stone-cold. “I’m sure HR wouldn’t consider unsolicited massages as therapeutic.”
The man straightened, his charm dissolving into nervousness. He blinked at me like he was trying to place my face. Then I saw the moment recognition dawned. His face went pale.
“Wait... you’re Jonah Walkers?”
I moved closer, placing a firm hand on the back of Lexi’s chair. “She doesn’t need you hovering,” I added, locking eyes with the man. “Or touching her.”
He stammered something that didn’t matter.
“Jeff, is it?” I asked, glancing at his badge.
He nodded.
“Well, Jeff, are you finished giving Lexi your advice?”
“Yes, sir. I was just helping her debug some code. It’s done,” he said, his eyes darting nervously.
Within moments, Lexi was seated at her desk, and Jeff was backing away, his eyes avoiding mine.
I leaned down slightly, my voice soft, just for Lexi. “You okay?”
Lexi didn’t look at me.
Instead, she called out to Jeff with a cool smile. “Thanks for the offer, Jeff. That back rub sounds amazing. Maybe after lunch tomorrow?”
My jaw clenched.
Jeff glanced between us, clearly terrified but too confused to move.
She still wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Oh, sorry,” she added, feigning innocence. “Was that inappropriate? I forgot you were still here.”
Then she finally looked at me, and her eyes were ice-cold.
God, I hated how acutely aware I was of her, her clothes, and her body as much as I hated that she was my employee. It was torturous to be in the same building as her, but not with her. And it only made me want her more.
I crossed my arms and looked down at her. “I need to see you in my office, Ms. Haley,” I said, not waiting for a response.
I strode toward the elevators.
For a moment, I heard nothing. I wondered if she was going to defy me, when a moment later, I heard footsteps. She was following me, but very slowly.
The elevator doors began to close just before she reached them.
I stuck my arm out, stopping them. “Now, Ms. Haley,” I said sharply.
She hurried inside.
