Maybe he was right. Maybe hewasbetter off in his office with those black walls and brown accents that screamed masculinity. With that desk that took up half of it and heldmultiple monitors that rivaled the size of the TV in my apartment.
I bit my tongue before saying, “You know, no one did anything to you for you to say the things you do.”
He dragged another chair closer to him and propped his feet up. “No one is forcing you to talk to me. In fact, this would go a lot more smoothly if you didn’t speak at all.”
Whatever manners I had vanished completely. I hated how he brought me down to his level. That I was succumbing to the very thing I just commented on. “Screw you, Weston.”
He tilted his head back, resting it on the back of the chair. I imagined him closing his eyes as he brought his arms up and crossed them over his chest. So goddamn nonchalant while my entire chest brimmed with irritation.
“You’ve already fucked my brother, so, respectfully, no fucking thank you.”
3
OLIVIA
Igot up from the floor with the plan to make my way to one of the tables at the opposite end of the room, dizziness swirling through my peripheral vision. My headache waned in and out. I didn’t get the chance to take something for it yet, so I pivoted and walked to the cabinet where the pain relievers were stored along with the usual first-aid supplies.
It wasn’t getting any better, and it wouldn’t unless I took something. There was also the fact that I was bored—so damn bored—which only made me think about the agonizing throbbing more.
It didn’t help that Weston practically ignored me.
He acted as if we weren’t sharing the same space. Like I wasn’t there at all. Maybe it was for the best after that last comment he made. The one that left me absolutely boiling in annoyance. I’d give the man props for one thing—he was brutally honest. He didn’t mince words for the sake of not hurting someone’s feelings.
I both loved and hated it. Something I’d never verbally admit to in this lifetime or the next. Voicing that was at thebottom of my list of priorities, especially since his voice rang out in my head on repeat.
You’ve already fucked my brother, so, respectfully, no fucking thank you.
He knew that wasn’t what I meant, but that didn’t stop him, did it?
I dropped down into a seat after grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge so I could take the little orange pill in my palm. I set my purse down in the middle. Minutes passed and I tapped my fingertips on the table for a distraction until the medicine kicked in and gave me relief. It would probably be a little bit longer considering the severity of it. While sitting, the dizziness lingered, almost feeling like a bad case of vertigo.
The sensation often popped up when my headaches were triggered by stress. I just had to get over the peak of it and then everything else would even out.
Exhaustion nipped at my bones, like it always did when I felt this way, but it was manageable for the most part. Then again, no matter how tired I was, my adrenaline would keep me going. Because it wasn’t every day a person got stuck in a room with Weston Taylors.
Whenever I heard him breathe a little too deeply, my breath hitched and my heart trapezed in response, waiting for him to say something—anything. He never did.
When the silence got to be too much, I swiped it away and said, “Why weren’tyouin the conference room?” I guess I just assumed he called it a night.
“Didn’t realize I had to stay for the entirety of Lennon’s birthday bash,” he said with little emotion.
“I didn’t say that,” I shot back softly. “I’m only trying to make conversation. Sitting here in silence for however long ittakes for someone to realize we’re in here is going to be torture.”
“Zero conversation isn’t what’s torturous in this situation, Olivia.”
A funny feeling zipped through me at the use of my name. There was something about hearing it on his lips that lit up my insides.
“Then what is?” I asked in an effort to keep him talking.
He sighed. “Do we need to do this?”
I shrugged, despite him not visually paying attention to me. “Yeah.”
“I was in the conference room for a period of time, and then I needed a moment alone.”
“So, you fled to the company break room to get away from your brother and employees.”
“That’s half of it.”
