My office door opened without warning.
“Are you done for the evening?” asked the man on my mind.
Marcus stared down at me with an upturned brow, the one that said bow before royalty. Recalling how I’d bowed before him three nights ago and made him beg for it, I stared back.
He took a seat across from my desk and crossed an ankle over his knee, his designer suit pressed as if he’d just taken it off the hanger. “It’s seven o’clock, and we’re expected at home.”
Judy stuck her head in the doorway since Marcus hadn’t closed the door behind him, signaling to one and all I must not have anything better to do than entertain guests.
I glared at him, but he smiled back, all innocence.
“I—oh, Marcus, you’re still here,” Judy said on a breath, her stern expression easing into one of girlish pleasure.
I huffed.
She looked back at me and frowned. “Is something wrong? You did send Marcus the staff he requested, didn’t you?”
Whoa. Where was the woman who’d agreed that budget took precedence over charm?
“No worries, Judy.” Marcus answered. “Tessa’s been helping as much as she’s able, but she doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
He winked at her.
Judy all but melted. “Okay, well…” She cleared her throat. “Oh, and I talked to Mr. Conklin about raising your expense account. You’ll be seeing an increase tomorrow.”
I stared at Judy in amazement. “Judy? Are you all right?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” She tilted her head at a stiff angle, her posture defensive.
“It’s just that…” Just that you used to dislike Marcus as much as I did. Now you’re drooling over him like he’s one tall drink of water.
Judy arched a brow in question.
“Nothing.” I cleared my throat. “It’s been a long day. I have more work ahead of me,” I said in apology. “I’ll have a copy of the Surell proposal on your desk later this evening.”
“Oh, good. That’s actually what I came to ask about.”
I smiled and deliberately ignored Marcus, peeved at his ability to turn even the hard-nosed Judy into a yes-sir half-wit.
He nodded. “Outstanding. Judy, I’ll walk you out.”
The woman beamed.
I wanted to toss them both from the room. The minute I thought it, Marcus stumbled over the threshold, Judy in tow.
“Sorry, Judy,” he said tightly, a glare thrown over his shoulder. “The floor’s a little uneven.”
“No problem, Marcus. You know, this company is so much more effective with you on staff.”
“Isn’t it though?”
They laughed and walked away.
I slammed the door shut with a thought, childishly pleased to see the last of Marcus for a while.
Watching Judy fawn over him made me think of all the others in Marcus’ sordid little past, a past that now included me. How many women had he been with?
A glass vase shattered across from my desk, and I forcibly put a leash on my emotions. “Time to work, not to wonder.”
