“Lentils.”
“Yeah. I like lentils.”
“No, you don’t.” His voice turns condescending. “You used to bring in that gruel every day for lunch. Homemade lentil stew. At the start of the week, you’d be able to choke it down, but by Thursday, you wouldn’t be able to stand it, and you’d start skipping meals.”
My mouth hangs open. “You noticed that?” That was early in our working relationship. I was saving all my money, afraid the job wouldn’t last. That I wouldn’t make the cut.
“Of course, I noticed. If a woman is gagging in front of me, I’d like it to be on purpose.”
There’s a challenging glint in his eyes, but I’m still caught up in the memory of those lentil soup days. They ended when he ordered Johann to make extra meals for me.I need you in fighting form, not fainting from hunger,he said to me.That way, I can work you harder.He had a little growl in his voice when he said,Work you harder, and I got so turned on I had to escape to a deserted conference room to have a little lie down.
I feel like I need a little lie down right now. My cheeks are flushed from the alcohol, and my thoughts are all over the place.
Was the private chef thing just his way of keeping me around?
No. He probably would’ve found it inconvenient if I fainted. I can imagine him stepping over my unconscious body on his way to his next meeting. The mental image reminds me of my rage.
“If I do run out of money, I can just get another job.”
He stiffens. “Where?”
“All Cap would take me.” I have no intention of working for another demanding boss, but this will piss Piers off. “I could work for Bryan.”
“Brian with an ‘I’?” Storm clouds gather on his brow. He doesn’t just look pissed. He looks furious.
Tread cautiously,a part of me warns. The rest of me wants to pour whiskey on this dumpster fire. “Bryan with a ‘Y.’ But I bet either Brian would have me.” I keep my tone cheerful, but when I remember Brian checking me out at a shareholder meeting, I have to suppress a shudder.
I’m just pretending to annoy Piers. But the way his face is turning red, I may have gone too far.
CHAPTER 3
“You will go work for Brian with an ‘I’ over my dead body.” He snatches the drink right out of my hand.
“What do you have against Brian with an ‘I’?”
“He wants you.”
“Why do you care?” It’s not like I ever date anyone. I don’t have the time.
Just this Tuesday, I got a surprise text from the captain of the Thrusters, asking me to be his date to the New Year’s party, but I turned him down.
“I don’t know why he asked me,” I told Sloan, who was waiting for a meeting with the Dread Lord.
“Girl, you’ve had a glow up. All the footballers are gagging over you. Remember when Rinaldo asked if you’d be watching the field for him, and you said yes?”
“I was just being nice! I didn’t know that was flirting.”
“Okay, killer.”
I told her I work too much to date. Every time I even think of going out, the Dread Lord manages to get invited to some yacht party or gala opening and needs me at his side to read people or remind him of their names.
“It would like Piers to be a dog in the manager,” Sloan said.
I had to look that phrase up. It means he doesn’t want me but doesn’t want anyone else to have me, either. I thought Sloan was joking, but now I think she was right. She’s VP of Sales, so she’s even better at reading people than me.
“I’m not going to work for All Cap,” I say. “Brian is gross.”
“Which Brian?”
