“I’m sorry, did you want me to throw confetti and do a little dance?It’s a decent idea.Don’t let it go to your oversized head.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says with that infuriating smirk that makes my pulse skip.
I turn back to my computer and save the document irritably.“While you were nitpicking my work, did you—” I move my coffee mug out of the way to access my keyboard and pause.There’s a small pink sticky note attached to it that wasn’t there before.In neat handwriting, it says:‘Property of the Ice Princess.’
“What the hell?”I peel off the note, staring at it.“Really?Really?!Did you seriously just?—”
“What’s wrong?”Caleb asks innocently, settling into his chair with his hot chocolate.
“This.”I wave the sticky note at him.“When did you even?—”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I look closer at my desk.There’s another note on my keyboard:‘Defrost setting: Professional mode only.’Another one on my monitor:‘Caution: Cold surface.’And one more on my pen holder:‘Ice Queen’s royal supplies.’
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”I start peeling off the notes, but they keep appearing.One on my mouse:‘Click responsibly.’Another on my phone:‘For ice-cold calls only.’
“Having some technical difficulties?”Caleb’s voice is perfectly innocent.
“When did you even have time to do this?We were only gone twenty minutes!”I demand, waving a handful of pink notes.
“Do what?I’ve been sitting right here working on budget projections like a model employee.”
Joshua’s head pops up from his desk.“Oh my god, what’s with all the pink notes?”
“Someone thinks they’re a comedian,” I mutter, discovering yet another note on my stapler:‘Staple with dignity.’
“The ‘Ice Princess’ one is my favorite,” Steven chimes in.“Very creative.”
“Not helping, Steven!”
“I particularly liked the ‘Defrost setting,’” Caleb adds helpfully.“Very technical.Very accurate.”
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”I turn in my chair to face him directly, clutching the sticky notes.The movement brings us closer than intended, and my breath catches.
“I think you need to lighten up.They’re just friendly reminders.”
“Friendly reminders that you have way too much time on your hands.”
“Come on, Eve.You have to admit it was creative.And quick.Very quick.”
“What I have to admit is that you’re exactly the same immature person you were in college, resorting to childish pranks like some overgrown frat boy.”
His smile fades slightly, and something flickers in his expression.“I’m not the same person I was in college.”
“Could have fooled me.Same arrogance, same need to get the last word, same inability to take anything seriously.”I turn back to my computer, my heart still pounding.“Next time you want to prove a point, try acting like the adult you claim to be.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“For the record,” I say without looking at him, “if you ever touch my equipment again, I will destroy you slowly and thoroughly.And I’ll enjoy every second of it.”
“Promise?”The husky note in his voice makes my stomach flip, and I hate myself for it.
“Don’t test me, Reynolds.You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
You can’t punch him.You can’t break his nose.He’s the CEO’s brother.I repeat the words like a mantra, trying to calm down.
