One that needed a bomb drop to divert attention from the realissue. If I didn’t give Queen B something good, she’d never believe it till she got to the truth.
I opened my mouth before I could think too hard. “I was going to tell Mr. Knight that I can’t work for him anymore because I have a crush on him. He’s just so… hot, with that face, and those eyes, and his pecs… don’t get me started on those.” My mind rewound to that day in the breakroom. He really did have fine pecs. The best I’d ever accidentally fondled. “It’s just too hard for me to come to work every day and keep my feelings to myself. Especially since office fraternization isn’t allowed. So… should I just pack my things?” My face burned so hot, my eyebrows and eyelashes were melting and curling up into those little squiggles that happened when you stuck your face too close to a just-opened hot oven to check the food.
Queen B’s eyes widened, but her forehead stayed put. Maybe Botox was her secret to always appearing cool, calm, and collected. Curtis, on the other hand, looked discombobulated. He stood frozen, his luscious mouth slightly parted as he peered at me. I’d given up trying to fight this attraction. I didn’t need to impose common sense on myself because the universe would make this situation safe for me. After today, I’d never see him again, unless it was me stalking pictures of him online. It also helped that he probably thought I was joking. Argh, surely he thought that. He wouldn’t think I was telling the truth, would he?
My embarrassment went from an eight to an eleven. I’d hightail it out of here right now, except I didn’t want him telling her anything about our previous conversation, or all of this would’ve been for nothing.
“Well, well, well, how interesting. Can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve seen the way you look at him, Faith. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Half the women in here stare after him like pathetic dogs in heat. At least you know where you stand. Curtis doesn’t date inside the company, and he certainly doesn’t date beneath hisstation… anymore.” Did I detect a hint of frustration in her tone? She turned to the man of the moment. “I take it, she’s fired?”
I’d have to call him later and tell him what I discovered about Queen B. For now, I’d drop the biggest warning hint I could. “Ah, before you fire me, please don’t tell Miss Worthington about everything I said before. I’d be even more embarrassed because she’d probably tell your aunt and your father. I think I’ve suffered enough for one day; don’t you?”
Understanding stuttered to life in his eyes. He nodded slowly. “Yes, of course. We should never speak of any of this again.” His gaze found Queen B. His voice was low and vibrated with demand. “If you say anything about this to anyone, I’ll be sure to let the press know about that incident at college.”
Wow, he knew how to get to her. She paled, which was quite a feat considering how much foundation she was wearing. Now I wanted all the tea on what that incident was. Not knowing was going to kill me. “Of course, Curtis.” She put a hand over her heart in calculated offense. “I would never.”
“If this ever gets out, I’ll know where it came from.”
Anger jammed her lips together. She did not like beingtold. I was surprised he’d speak to her like that, though. They were supposedly old friends, and I’d suspected more might be going on until Destiny told me he’d rejected Queen B at a work function. This was eye-opening.
Curtis turned his back on her, going behind his desk and sitting in his bossman chair. His face calmed and turned into his grumpy-boss expression—all business. “So, you’ve come to see me because…?”
Her expression relaxed, and one corner of her mouth twitched as if she was holding in a smile. She quickly got herself under control, her mouth straightening and sympathy dripping from her eyes. I didn’t believe it for a second. “How did your meeting with the board go? I’ve been worried about you.” I was surprised shewas asking in front of me. Or maybe she was so focused on whatever her angle was that she’d forgotten all about the lowly, soon-to-be banished assistant.
Disappointment speared my gut. I’d failed again. Another opportunity turned to crumbs. The person I didn’t want to tell the most was Amy. She was always so supportive and believed in me, the light to my mother’s dark. I’d really let her down.
Curtis leaned back and threaded his fingers together on his flat stomach. He probably had a six-pack under that expensive shirt, a six-pack I’d never get to see. I sighed. The world really was a cruel place. “It was about what you’d expect.”
“Let me buy you dinner tonight. We’ll go to Zesty’s. They have those amazing arancini balls. I’ll cheer you up.” The smile she gave him was hopeful. After how difficult she’d been, what was this about?
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got too much work to do. Let’s raincheck it for when things are less… hectic.”
“Ah, okay, sure.” There was disappointment in her tone. This woman could spin on a dime. Had she popped some kind of nice-person pill while I wasn’t looking?
“If you don’t mind, I need to speak to Faith. Alone.”
Her eyes widened, and she glanced at me, then back at Curtis. “You can fire her with me here. I don’t mind.” Okay, so the pill had worn off already. She should ask for her money back.
I swallowed. Knowing I was going to be fired in the future, even if it was only in an hour or two and finally arriving at that time were two different things. I blinked back the burn in my eyes. I’d chosen this, and damned if I would let Queen B have the last laugh and see me cry.
Curtis stood. “I mind.” He folded his arms, giving her a dark look that said, “conversation over.”
Her tone was cold and dead—like her heart—when she said, “Fine. It’s your funeral.” She turned and strode out, doing thatweird catwalk thing where they put one foot directly in front of the other. I shut the door that she couldn’t be bothered closing and ignored the forest of hairs that rose on my nape.
I hesitantly turned around. “Before you fire me?—”
He held his hand up, his burning, blue gaze shooting heat from my cheeks to my stomach to my toes. “Before we get to that, tell me the rest of what you were going to say before we were interrupted.” He walked over and sat on the couch, patting the cushion beside him with his sexy hand. Man, I had it bad. I’d never thought anyone’s hand was sexy before. Could I ask him to leave it on the couch?No, don’t do it. “Come and sit. We have things to discuss.”
My mouth was dry, and I licked my bottom lip. The way he said “things” sounded more enticing than it should. Heart racing, I stepped toward the couch. Today, and most days really, I’d been a study in holding myself back, resisting the urge to touch him. I didn’t know how much more self-control I had.
I guessed I was about to find out.
CHAPTER 22
CURTIS
The way her wet tongue slid across her bottom lip gave me a semi. Her admission had flicked a switch inside me that should worry me more than it did. But had she told the truth about being attracted to me, or was it another lie? For the sake of my throbbing cock, I hoped it was the truth. I hadn’t felt this drawn to someone for a very long time.
I reluctantly moved my hand into my lap, covering the obviousness in my pants. I fought a smile, remembering that she’d tried to get a good look the night of the “pub incident,” as Jack and I were calling it. Maybe I should let her have an eyeful… or mouthful.Get your shit together, bro. If she wasn’t serious before, you’ll find yourself with a lawsuit, which is the last thing you need.
