Part of me is still mad about her accusations. I didn’t do anything to hurt her grandfather. I don’t know why she thinks I’m a first-rank asshole, but I don’t kick puppies or hurt the elderly.
Then there’s another part that’s furious over the fact that, even though her pussy had to still be shaking with the aftershocks of the explosive orgasm I gave her, shesmiled as she was talking to another man on the phone.
She holds her legal pad like a shield, and she’s careful not to move her head too fast, ensuring her unbound hair covers her neck to hide the huge hickey I left there. If she’s going to smile and do things for that asshole Zack, the least I can do is leave my mark on her.
The intensity of my own possessiveness and jealousy is shocking, but I’m not going to deny my feelings.
She does a quick briefing, giving me an overview of the day’s agenda and what’s coming up during the week. I listen only vaguely—my phone’s going to alert me to all the meetings anyway. Her mouth moves, and I can’t tear my eyes from it. Her lips are painted reddish pink, and they look soft and pliant.
When she’s done, she smiles. This smile’s nothing like the one she gave Zack, a piece of quartz to a diamond. Annoyance from the weekend combines with the irritation with her you’re-nothing treatment. I deserve a diamond.
“Do you have any instructions?” she asks, still with that subpar, soulless smile.
“Did you quit your job?”
The tip of her left eyebrow twitches. “No. I’m here.”
“Don’t be obtuse. You know what I mean.”
“I already told you what I plan to do, and that plan does not include quitting my job at the bar.”
“It reflects poorly on me,” I say, since I can’t throw the firm’s policy in her face.
“It reflects on you not at all. And in any case, HR disagrees.”
I’ve never hated HR before. But now it seems as about as necessary as toe fungus. “What if I give you a raise? To offset the money you’re making at the bar?”
“I don’t feel comfortable taking money I don’t earn. Also, I don’t think it’s a good idea to give you that much power over my finances. After all, you are a capricious man.” She adds the last part like it’s a universally accepted truth.
Except that’s bullshit. I know what I want, and I don’t change. Why else would I be twisting myself into a pretzel around her? Even though I know she used me, my idiot self still wants her.
“I’m not capricious.”
She shrugs. “Agree to disagree.” Her tone says,Fuck off. “Now, if you don’t have anything other than my part-time employment to discuss, I’ll go back to my desk and work on the executive memo that’s due today.”
“So you aren’t going to quit?”
“No. I. Am. Not.” She says it like she’s speaking to a child.
“Fine. You’re dismissed.” I’m not going to change her mind this way. Clearly, a different strategy is required.
There’s always more than one way to skin a cat. I need to have a conversation with Andreas, since Jeremiah’s still out of the country. He can help me with my next move.
I send Aspen a quick instruction through the company messenger.
–Me: Call Huxley & Webber and make an appointment with Andreas Webber as soon as possible.
–Aspen: If they ask, what’s this about?
–Me: An M&A.
–Aspen: As in merger and acquisition?
–Me: Yes. He’ll know what I mean.
–Aspen: Okay. But you know you don’t really have any free time until next week.
–Me: You’ll have to move my meetings if that’s what it takes. I need to see him, ideally today. Tomorrow at the latest.
