I wince. My smile dies.
“Well... technically? No? But she knowsnow. I hadn’t—uh—exactly told anyone that we got married a few months ago. Justthe CEO. Since we’ve been low-key and I wasn’t at the office that often—”
Her eyes are scarily calm.
“So she’s getting fired?”
I exhale, relaxing a little. “Yeah. HR said this was her second warning. She’sdone.”
She nods slowly. Then she smiles.
And stands.
“I’ll be right back.”
My heart drops into my stomach.
“Baby.” I spring up. “Baby—babywait! Greesha, no,please!”
But she’s already walking toward the door like she’s heading into battle. Like she’s about to find a war she can win.
“Let me handle it!” I say, grabbing at her elbow. “My company has a process. An HR-approved, policy-driven process. With appropriate consequences!”
“Oh, sure,” she chirps, sweet as sin. “I’m just going to... add a fewextraconsequences.”
“NO!No extra consequences! No side quests! This isn’t one of your missions, Gree—”
“Exactly. Because those end in jail time. Or worse. I’m far more efficient.”
“That doesn’t help me feel better!”
She rolls her eyes, almost exasperated. “Fine.”
Then she pulls out her phone.
“Baby, what are you doing? Who are you texting?!”
She smiles—serenely. And then sends something. Too quickly.
I lunge to peek. “Who was that? What did you just do?”
“Nothing,” she sings, sliding her phone back into her pocket like a serial killer.
Then she skips—yes, skips—back to the couch and plops down.
“Greesha,” I whisper, horrified. “You didn’t—like—put a hit out on her, right?”
She bursts into manic laughter. A full cackle. I take a cautious step back.
“Of course not,” she wheezes, wiping a fake tear of amusement. “God, Vik. You’re hilarious.”
Then she stops laughing. Instantly. Her voice drops into terrifying softness.
“She’ll just need to find a differentcountryto live in.”
I blink. Swallow. Then choke out a dry, wildly aroused laugh. “What the hell, woman?”
I’m already walking toward her, helpless. A man seduced by her unhinged brilliance. I grab her by the face, her smirk still dangerous, and crash my mouth to hers.
