Across from me, I notice Suzanne’s eyes widen and bug out. Not even she would ever attempt to stop Leo from entering Elliot’s office.
Ever.
It’s like an immutable law Elliot and Leo have both pounded into the staff. Stopping Leo from entering would be tantamount to trying to prevent the president, or Kevin Markos, from walking in.
Leo tenses, studying me. “No, that’s all right.” But he doesn’t move.
For nearly a minute.
“Anything else?” I finally ask. I’m staring at my monitor while mentally defying him to start shit with me.
Bring it.
He looks like he wants to say something, then shakes his head. “No. I guess that’s it. Thanks.”
“Sure thing,” I chirp. My hands are shaking as I resume typing. Leo starts to leave, stops, then turns, staring at Suzanne for a moment before focusing on me again.
“Are you…busy?”
“Define busssssy,” I snarkily drawl. I still won’t look at him. I keep my focus on my monitor while observing him with my peripheral vision. “I’malwaysbusy, Leo. I work for the vice president, and we’re in the middle of a campaign. There are levels of busy, and I am always engaged in one of them.”
Icannotlook him in the eyes. I’ll start crying. How cruel does he have to fucking be to keep punishing me with his silence?
Maybe I will need to ask the boy to let his own Sir side out tonight. I can’t take this.
Ican’t.
Suzanne’s eyes look like saucers as she watches this play out. Her hands are frozen in place where she was typing. No one talks like that to Leo Cruz, unless they’re POTUS or Kevin Markos, and even they don’t.
Noone.
Leo clenches his jaw. That’s one of his angry tells. “Do you maybe have a few minutes you can spare to talk with me, Jordan?”
Oh, the absolutesetof fuckingballson him! Like he hasn’t beenignoringme for nearly two goddamnedweeks?
I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate as I stare at my monitor. “For what, Leo? Like I said, I’mbusy.”
Icannotbreak. If he’s going to pull away and be an asshole, then he absolutely does not get to push me around just because I work for VPOTUS.
He and everyone else in this fucking building will learn to respect and even fear me as much—or more—than they fear Leo Fucking Cruz.
I might look innocent, but that’s one of my greatest weapons.
They never see me as a threat until it’s too late.
Smoke’s practically billowing out of Leo’s ears, but he tries to play it cool. His hands slide into his pockets and I’m reminded of the day collar, which is in mine.
Yeah, I’m a dumbass. I just…I should leave it at home, but I can’t, you know?
I hear Leo’s near-sigh, the way he’s trying to hold himself in check. “Kev tasked me with a project and I’d like your input on it. You have a broader skillset in certain areas than I do. I’d appreciate your…insights. I would consider it a favor if you could spare me a few minutes.”
Oh,fuckme.
I am positive that’s a line of absolute bullshit, but if it’s not, I cannot have Suzanne sitting there and listening to me refuse to help out when Leo’s asked me what would seem to be a perfectly reasonable work-related question.
I put on my best cheerful, helpful Jordan smile. “Sure. When would you like to talk?”
“Now would be best. It’s a…time-sensitive project. It won’t take long.”
