Maybe if I can’t smell her floral scent or see the lightly dotted freckles on her nose or those hypnotizing cornflower irises, I’ll actually be able to get some work done around here. Doubtful based on the experience of the past two weeks, but it’s all I have.
With a frustrated groan, I push my chair back and get to my feet, stalking out of my office, coincidentally in the same direction Brielle was just heading.
“Mr. Edgerton, have you signed the contract for the Backwater Group yet?” Louisa asks as soon as I step out of my office.
“Not yet,” I grumble.
“They’ve been waiting for it…” She trails off when I level a hard look at her. Her eyes narrow as she glares right back at me.
“I said I would get to it, and I will.”
“Great. I’ll be waiting right here for it.”
I stride past her with a shake of my head and turn into the kitchen area.
Brielle stands over the trash can, peeling an orange. I rove over her body, her round ass displayed to perfection in a pair of tight-fitting pants. She is usually dressed more professionally, not that it matters to me.
“Are leggings allowed in our dress code,” I whisper, getting close enough to her without making a sound. She jumps out of her skin and turns, spinning to check the doorway before turning to me with a scowl.
“Don’t do that,” she hisses, glancing at the door again. “What are you doing here?”
My hand aches to grab her jaw and bring my lips to hers, claiming her for anyone, everyone, or no one to see. Doesn’t matter to me.
But I don’t.
I back away from her like I promised myself I would and open the fridge. “This is my business, remember? I can be anywhere I want. And right now, I want a protein smoothie.”
“And yesterday, you wanted to check in with the monthly financials a week before the end of the month?” She pops an orange sliceinto her mouth as she stares at me with a soft smile, daring me to deny it.
“Yes. I could be asking for weekly updates or, better yet, daily. Maybe I’ll start doing just that.”
“That’s fine. I’m sure Rui or Erica can gather that information for you. I have to split my time between accounting and marketing, so I may or may not be in there when you request the information.”
“And maybe I’ll need an update on the Cardinal West account, as well,” I tell her, leaning back onto the counter casually. “I have to stay on top of things, Brielle… as you know.”
“Hmm, yeah, maybe I know something about you being on top of… things.” She sucks another orange slice into her mouth, sliding it past her lips as she vacuums her cheek, hollowing them out. My gaze is transfixed on her, my body responding like every cell is joining together and calling her name. “Well, that smoothie isn’t going to make itself, boss.”
And with that, she turns and walks to the doorway.
“Leave the orange,” I say. My voice is low so that it doesn’t carry, but loud enough for her to hear. Her feet stumble, and she stops in her tracks. Her blue eyes turn to me with confusion. “You eat that orange like that in front of anyone else, and I’ll be forced to fire every fucking person who dares to watch.”
“Simmer down, Satan. It’s just an orange.” She rolls her eyes and takes another slice, popping it into her mouth like she wasn’t using it as an imitation cock a second ago, and walks out the door—taking the orange with her.
“Fuck,” I grumble under my breath. That woman gets under my skin and into my head faster than lightning.
Who am I kidding? She burrowed her way under there weeks ago and never left.
I’m frustrated with her, with myself, with my traitorous body’s reaction to her. I slam the vegetables down on the counter as I pull them from the refrigerator. I reach into the fridge without looking to grab the almond milk just as the door slams closed on my arm, forcing me to drop the milk. The carton drops to the ground and explodes all over my shoes.
“Shit,” I yell, pulling my arm out.
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Mr. Edgerton. I thought you were done in there,” Devin says, looking at the mess by my feet.
“Next time, ask,” I spit out, moving to get some paper towels to deal with this.
“I’ve got it. I can do that.” Devin hurries to pull the paper towels from my hands. He must read the anger on my face because he shoves the paper towels back at me with yet another apology.
I take off my suit jacket and roll my sleeves up before lowering to my haunches to try to stop the mess from traveling any further.
