“Well, you remember what I said about feelings. He doesn’t have them, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t different.”
“Maybe so.” I dare say. But the implication makes me feel a little panicky. And I think Jocelyn can see it.
“What’s wrong?” she asks. “I thought you’d like hearing that Damien Graves might have a cold crush on you.”
“Cold crush?”
“His heart is stone cold. It’s as close to feelings as he can get.”
“Right,” I nod slowly, biting my lip as I process that. “It’s been a week or so since our last outing. The tension building between Damien and I has been electric,” I say as I sit down in the chair in front of her desk.
Jocelyn’s eyes dance with intrigue as she sits on top of the desk right in front of me. “Electric how? Do tell.”
“He’s scowling more, clenching his jaw more.”
“All good signs when it comes to Damien Graves. Trust me, I have watched him long enough to know.”
“Watched him?” I ask with a small smirk.
“Paid attention, I mean. As one does when one has a boss who is very difficult to please. Anyway, as I was saying. When his jaw clenches in the corners, he is holding frustration back. Frustration that can work to your benefit.”
“Jesus, how do you know this?” I ask. “Have you been his assistant before?” I can’t help that my eyes run over her body as I ask the question.
“Of course not,” she says without blinking. “But I do hear things. I know things, and I observe things.”
“What kinds of things?” I ask.
She studies me for a moment before saying, “Like that his pants get tighter every time he’s with you.”
My cheeks flush at least two shades of pink. “Oh my God,” I stutter with a laugh. “Well, if he is into me, in whatever way he is capable of being into someone, he’s not very good at showing it. It’s been days since we went to the Opal Room, and he’s hardly said two words to me since then. Even when we do talk, it gets heated.”
“Heated?” she presses.
“Not good heated. Heated like he seems upset with me.”
Jocelyn just waves her hand. “That’s how he always is. Listen, sweetie. Damien has three personalities. Unamused. Annoyed. And bothered. Bothered is saved only for the people who have found a chip in his perfectly tailored armor. From the sound of it, that’s what you’ve done, and considering the gossip floating around, I think you’re doing your job well.”
“Yeah?” I ask, feeling a flicker of hope. Even though the spiciness between Damien and I has been hot, I have often wondered if it was a red flag.
“Oh yeah,” she nods. “I say, keep it up. If I had to guess, you’ll be working another night shift soon. The more you ruffle his feathers in the office now, the more he’ll ruffle yours in the Velvet Lounge, if you know what I mean.”
I chew on my bottom lip as I think about that. It makes me realize I shouldn’t second-guess myself. It also makes me realize I should probably get back to work. The last thing I want is to look like I’m slacking on the job.
Like clockwork, my phone buzzes. The screen reveals a text from none other than Damien.
Damien- I need you in your office in five.
My heart thumps in my chest, and Jocelyn’s eyebrows wiggle. I let myself smile and make my way out the door.
“The sassier the better,” she calls out. “Watch for that clenching jaw.”
All of it sounds a little crazy, but it also sounds very characteristic of Damien as well. Warmth and praise aren’t exactly his strong suits. Dominating tension, on the other hand…well.
Once I am in my office, I stand in front of the mirror, fixing my hair and reapplying plum colored lip stain. I’m wearing a black pencil skirt today with a white button down that is tight enough around my breasts to nearly pop the buttons off the fabric. I smile as I realize that he probably did that on button-down on purpose. It’s not like he doesn’t know my measurements. He knows them just fine, but still chooses to buy things that fit me the way he wants them too.
It goes to show that Jocelyn’s presumptions about Damien and I might be more than just presumptions after all.
As I stand in front of the mirror, suddenly Damien appears behind me in the mirror, and my heart drops to the floor. Within milliseconds of him appearing behind me, he grabs me, spins me around, and pulls me against him.
