“Hey, Zach, do you want to—” Donovan, CEO of Canada’s leading food processing and distribution company and a classmate from my Upper Canada College days, stands in my doorway.
He doesn’t work here—he has his own company to run—but he has an irritating sense of entitlement and just stops by whenever he wants.I doubt he works given how often he’s here, harassing the female staff or annoying me.Usually, I tolerate his drop-ins because I have immense respect for his father, Cormac, our chairman of the board.
He stops short when his gaze lands on my guest and his mounting interest is evident as the seconds tick by.
She hasn’t bothered to look in his direction, too transfixed by the dress, until he says, “Paige?”
Reluctantly, she tears her gaze from the gown to the interloper with a look of recognition.“Donovan?”
She steps toward him and he does the same.All while I watch, mute, as they embrace, both laughing and smiling like long-lost friends.My chest tightens as does my jaw but I’m speechless and maddeningly curious.
“Look at you.”Brazen and unapologetic, he roams her body, coveting what isn’t his, and reaches out to play with a few strands of her hair.He’s fucking touching her and it takes every ounce of restraint to stay silent, digesting the scene unfolding before me.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.”She pats his shirt-clad chest, her fingers skimming down his abdomen before falling away just before reaching his belt.
What the fuck?
“You know each other?”
He nods, inching closer.Arrogant bastard.Paige steps back from him at my icy tone, but he clasps her hand in his, not letting her stray too far.He turns to face me, obviously not reading the room or more likely, not giving a fuck.Jackass.
“We went on a date years ago.Her brother introduced us.”
Shit, that’s right.Donovan did cross paths with her brother at law school.They stare at each other once again and my anger flares.I want to break something.Maybe even Donovan’s face.
“Seems we both have that in common.Thanks, Drew.”I’m fixed on Paige, pinning her with my scrutiny and sensing her unease.
Hyperaware, she follows my gaze to where their hands are joined.My jaw flexes, tensing, and this time she not only retreats but takes her hand with her.
“It was a long time ago.”Hers is a throw-away line, meant to dissuade him from furthering their trip down memory lane.
“Yeah.You were the one that got away.”He only has eyes for the lovely brunette, unmindful of the tinderbox he’s creating.“One date and then two days later, I left for Europe for a year.Dumb move.When I came back you were dating someone else.”
“Iwas surprised you contacted me when you came back.”Her cheeks heat, but nowhere near the inferno blazing inside of me.
“Well, that’s history.”My tone is sharp and biting.“Donovan, you interrupted something that I’d like to get back to.What do you want?”
Straightening his tie, he scans my office as if expecting to find a meeting underway or something similar.As he takes in our dinner, the wine, and the dress, the crease between his blond brows deepens, realization dawning.Eventually, his eyes land on me.“I thought you were alone.I came by to see if you wanted to grab a drink.”
Or pick up his next fuck.This wouldn’t be the first time he’s come trolling despite my numerous warnings to go elsewhere and inevitably, his selfishness burdens my HR team with cleaning up the mess.Do you have any idea how disruptive to the workplace it is to have several women thinking they are exclusively dating the same man, only to discover they are one of his harem?Oh, and did I mention the asshole is married?
I pin him with my eyes, my incensed expression intensifying with each second that passes.Eventually his shoulders shift, deflating, and he says, “I’ll leave.”
“You do that.”Turning my back on him, I lift the dress from the hook to return it to the garment bag.
“Is that for you?”he has the nerve to ask Paige, instead of following through on his departure.
I stop what I’m doing, and she nods, biting her bottom lip again.
“Wow, what I’d do to see you in it.You’ll be a stunner.”His flattery causes her to blush again, and her attention is now fully on him as if he’s the bearer of said gown.
“You will.I’m escorting Paige to the board dinner on Friday.”Not hiding my smugness, I stand taller and his brows shoot up to his hairline.“She’ll be exquisite.Good night, Donovan.”
There is no room for misinterpretation.He knows me well enough to know my tone isn’t that of a patient man.He’s pushed me far enough and if he values our relationship, tenuous at best but we put in the effort because of our families, he’ll leave.Thankfully, he does.
Once the door is shut, I return to putting the dress away and then call my driver to bring the car around to take Paige home.
She stands quietly, frozen in the middle of my office, and her expression is unexpectedly sullen.
