I tuck the folder under my arm and shuffle on rubbery legs to the box full of my things.After sliding the folder into my tote bag, I lift my tablet from the coffee table and sigh at the cracked screen.
“I suppose this’ll come out of my salary?”
“No, it won’t.”
The hairs on my nape rise at the coldness in his voice.I sigh and shake my head.
“It should.Hitting him with it was dumb.I should’ve dropped it before I swung,” I grumble.
“You swung.That’s all that matters.”
His response isn’t what I expect.I set the tablet down and turn to face him.
“You’re not taking the typical CEO stance right now, Mr.Diamond,” I scold.
He crosses his arms over his chest and leans his hip on the back of the couch.
“We’re not CEO and employee right now, lil stepsis,” he states.
I scowl.He quirks a brow.
“I’m allowed to take whatever measures I deem necessary when your safety is at stake.”
“My safety wasn’t—”
“You swung, baby doll.”
My breath catches in my throat.
I close my eyes, grind my teeth, and fist my hands at my sides.After inhaling and exhaling through my nose a few times, my emotions calm enough for me to speak, so I open my eyes and meet bottomless blue orbs.
“The only way you could’ve shown up when you did is if you were watching me on the security cameras, and if you came to my rescue from this office, then you must have missed what happened for about thirty seconds before you broke down the door, so you didn’t actually see anything beyond him locking the door, right?”
The barest hint of a smile tugs at his lips, and a small, quiet part of me glows in delight at his appreciation.
“I didn’t need to see, love.”
“Like hell you didn’t!You’re a businessman.You just bought a million-dollar company, for fuck’s sake.The liabilities and—”
“Audrey, stop.It doesn’t matter what happened.If you felt the need to use violence, then he deserved a beating.I’ll handle the fallout.”
Every ounce of defiance drains from me, leaving a vague hollowness behind.Exhaustion threatens to steal me away from the world, but I smooth my hair and grab an individual packet of snack nuts from my tote bag.
“Fine.If we’re being unprofessional, then I’m ready to leave the office.Please tell me the workday is over.I still have to go to the police station and file a report,” I snarl as I rip open the bag and dump half the contents into my mouth.
“I’ll drive you.Don’t argue.I’m going anyway to file my own charges, so there’s no reason to go separately.”
His amusement carries clearly in his tone.I ignore him as I eye the coffee maker, but more caffeine will only make me jittery.
“Great.Who else is coming with us?”I mumble through my mouthful of food.
“It’s just us,” he says.
I grunt, swallow, and pour the rest of the nuts into my mouth.When I tilt my head forward, I jump in alarm at Brennan’s nearness.
I didn’t hear him move closer, but between his silent footfalls, my crunchy snack, and the fuzziness in my brain, I might miss a bull raging through the room.
He takes my hand, lifts it to his face, and snarls.
