Kai stops mid-gape, his jaw hanging open, staring at me like I've grown horns, or a tail, or both. "What the fuck do you mean, put your foot down?"
"I mean, plainly put, that I'm done entertaining your bullshit." The cord falls to the floor as I release it and cross my arms, staring my boss down with narrowed eyes. "Your schedule is tight. And I understand you want to perfect this, I do. But I was hired to make sure you make it where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there, and dammit, you'll leave when it's time to leave, and no later. If you want to practice more—not that you actuallyneedto, because let's face it, you'realready pretty fucking amazing—I'll put it in your schedule, but today, the time's up."
I'm not sure who's more shocked at my sudden change in attitude, me, or him, or maybe even Burke. The room is silent as we all process what has just transpired. Finally, Kai shakes his head, eyes narrowed, and starts muttering aboutpushy womenandattitude problems,but he gets his bag and heads for the door.
"We'll see you later this week, Burke," I say cheerfully to the other man as we walk out of the dance studio. He waves me goodbye as the doors close on us.
Once outside, though, Kai is on his best behavior—right up until we're in the car together, and there are no longer any witnesses who can endanger his reputation.
He turns on me in a flash, eyes hard, face red, brows damn near in his hairline. "What thefuckwas that, Denali?"
He doesn't crowd me in, which is way better than my past experiences in the backs of cars with angry men. But heislivid, and it shows.
"I called in the big guns for help," I tell him, figuring honesty is probably the best policy here. "And Arista says you can't fire me, because the contract specifies that I work forher,not you." As his jaw drops, I grin, just a little, though I'm still sweating inside. "Apparently, you're more like my direct supervisor, not an actual boss."
His brows furrow as he stares at me in shock. "Excuse me?"
"That's what she said, at least. So if that's not what you want, maybe take it up with her." I turn back to my tablet and bring up his schedule, flipping it around to show him, though he could just bring it up on his phone. "I've adjusted the schedule today, since you want to drag your feet every time we're somewhere you think you need more work. From here on out, I will not be scheduling you so tightly, to avoid further instances like this."
He takes the tablet and eyes it carefully. "Where did that annoying podcast go?"
Iknewhe didn't want to do that. "Rescheduled to next week, or the one after. Arista will send me details."
His eyes return to the screen. "And the magazine shoot?"
I shrug. "She called and told the photographer that you had a sneezing fit in her office this morning. She's a germophobe, so she told us to let her know when you've stopped being symptomatic, and she'll reschedule."
His bark has dimmed to a little yip-yap now, and he's much more relaxed now that he realizes I fixed things, though I know he'd never admit the breathing room was a relief to him. "And the suit fitting for the gala? Why did it get bumped up?"
"Arista's request," I say simply. "We could have kept the late slot, but I think she realizes you'd need something to keep you busy through the day, otherwise you'd go insane." Which isn't entirely wrong, either, but I'm just spitballing. I have no idea why she wanted me to move the fitting up. "That reminds me—I have to RSVP you to that. Would you like to confirm a plus one? There's no requirement to add a name, you could just leave it open-ended, in case there's someone you want to take."
I'm not fishing, it's info I need to do my job.
He considers it as he hands back the tablet, humming thoughtfully to himself. "I don't have a steady girlfriend," he says with a wink, "but I like to keep my options open. Let's go ahead and confirm, and when I decide for sure, I'll give you a name."
"Womanizer," I say, fake-coughing over it.
"I never claimed to be anything but," he points out, and sure, he's right. Doesn't make it any more appealing. "At least my girls are willing, and they know there's nothing more than a little fun in it for them."
At least my girls are willing.Well, there's one point in his favor. At least he's no Theo.
chapter twelve
Kai
Denali seems. . . less unlike herself than she did the other day. Which is to say, she's no longer as mopey as before. After the flowers. But instead of the usual, sassy but professional assistant I am used to, now, she's a tyrant.
It suits her.
The gala fitting went off without a hitch. But every time I came out of the dressing room, she had anopinion,and it was always a negative one. I must've tried on sixteen different suits before they found one she was satisfied with. And like, sure, I could have putmyfoot down, but she's a woman, and womenwillbe looking at me, so I suppose it's important to appeal to them. And Denali wouldn't steer me wrong, not when her check is contingent on my success.
And again, it feels like it's her natural state. And I don't hate it. So there's that.
I have to admit, the suit she picked out for me is stunning. It cuts a hell of a figure, and I'm sure I won't lack for girls to invite back to my room. The gala isn't in town, so we'll be staying at a nice hotel. I'm sure that'll be a nice change of pace for Denali, who lives in a less-than-ideal part of town. Her distance from me is beginning to become an issue, though, now that she's anon-call employee. I might have to suggest to her that she move closer, in a nicer part of town, to better facilitate her job.
Currently, we're sitting in the back of the car in midday traffic, on our way to the rescheduled podcast. I'm not thrilled to be a part of it; in fact, Ihatepodcasts, but it's part of the job. I can't help it. I'll bet they want to know a million different things I'm not technically allowed to answer—or at least Iwasn'tallowed, under my old company. But I've been independent for a while, so maybe now is the time I spread my wings and act like the man I am, not the trainee they used to have on a leash.
"Did the podcast send over their list of questions for us to approve,kera?"I'm not really fussed about it, usually someone at the company, or the manager, or my agent, approves or denies them for me, but I'm a little curious what they plan to make me talk about.
