Kelly balked at the way I got snippy with JoJo, but I didn’t care. Even as he stared down the back of my head, I refused to give him the time of day. I was already embarrassed that he knew what we were talking about, and I could almost guarantee that he’d find some sort of retribution because of it.
And as he stood there, quietly stirring creamer into his coffee, Kelly slid off the counter. “Why don’t we take this conversation into your office?”
I nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
JoJo cleared his throat. “Have a good day, ladies.”
“You too, Mr. Ryker,” she said.
I, however, ignored the fuck out of him as I left the breakroom.
“He’s so damn creepy sometimes,” Kelly whispered as she walked alongside me.
I shook my head. “He’s always been like that. His entire life, he’s done nothing but manipulate and hover. He’s no better than his parents.”
She whistled lowly. “Someone’s got some strong feelings today.”
I walked into my office. “I have strong feelings every day. But today, I have a particularly big dose of ‘fuck you’ for the entire world to chew on.”
She smiled. “All right, I can get behind that. Oh, are you free for lunch?”
I pointed at her. “Me and Brit are probably heading to that Thai place she loves so much. You coming?”
“Hell, yeah. Their soups are to die for. Meet you guys downstairs?”
I nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Sounds like a yummy plan,” JoJo said as he walked up behind Kelly.
I glared at him. “Do you need something?”
He grinned. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
Kelly eyed me carefully. “You want me to hang around?”
“No,” JoJo said.
“She asked me,” I said.
His eyes grew hardened. “It’s sensitive business. She can’t be here for it.”
Kelly kept her eyes on me. “You just say the word.”
I drew in a deep breath. “I’m good. I’ll see you and Brit for lunch, okay?”
She nodded slowly. “Let me know if you need anything.”
And after she slipped around JoJo, he wasted no time slipping into my office and trying to close the door.
“Actually, leave that open,” I said.
He quirked an eyebrow. “Like I said, this is sensitive--.”
“Leave. It open.”
He stared me down. “Very well.”
I didn’t want to be behind a closed door with him, but I also wanted his time and attention. At this point, I wasn’t trying to figure out why the fuck I felt that way about some sick, twisted man, but I went with it. I didn’t want him touching me, though.
