“Shh, you’ll hurt her feelings.”
“She doesn’t have fee—”
“Iris, your dad is being mean!” I shout.
“Really? Dad, why are you being mean?”
His surprise at the AI answer is so hilarious, I struggle to hide my smile. “What did you do to her?!” he demands.
“Made a few adjustments. You like it?”
“Andrea, I will rescind your access if this is what you do with it.”
“Iris, did you hear that? Your dad wants to separate us.”
“Please, Dad, don’t. I love having a stepmom.”
“That’s it, you’re out,” he decides, half-amused, half-impressed.
“No, please!” I beg. “I promise I’ll behave.”
“When have you ever behaved?”
“A lot of times. Just not with you.”
After a dubious pout, he takes a sip of his coffee. Then, he picks up a pancake, curious to try it. Immediately after biting into it, he grimaces.
“This is disgusting,” he protests. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“It’s pancakes, Andrea. Don’t give yourself food poisoning to preserve my ego.”
“Alright, sorry. Nevertheless, I want you to know how greatly appreciated your attempt is,” I say, clasping his nape to bring him closer.
We exchange a salty kiss, and he then pulls away and decides. “I’ll make up for it tomorrow on our way to work, alright? I’ll treat you to a nice breakfast somewhere.”
Although I love my job, the idea of having to return to it makes me groan. “I think I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to be a strong and independent woman who has to work five days a week anymore.”
He smiles broadly as he asks, “Then what do you want to be?”
“A trophy girlfriend, then to get promoted to trophy fiancée, and finally, a trophy wife.”
His chuckle tells me how ridiculous he finds my idea. “You’d be bored after a week. Plus, I’m not losing my best software engineer.”
“Is that all I am to you?” I ask, poorly pretending to be offended.
“Yes. I only seduced you to make sure you wouldn’t quit,” he replies with one of his charming grins.
Ugh, we’re so getting in trouble with Karen at some point… How am I expected not to jump his bones once we’re back at Kelex?
Chapter 38
“Already missing me?” I ask Andrea as she steps into my office.
“Sir, behave. This visit is strictly professional,” she retorts, leaving the door wide open behind her—one of HR’s rules.
“Ah, then what brings you here, Miss Walker?”
