“Here.” I’m quick to retrieve my hands back to my sides.
“Savannah, it’s the Connors contract, a little more finesse would be appreciated. These are important documents here,” he chastises me with cockiness in his voice.
I dagger my eyes at him. “Really? Someone here shouldn’t have forgotten to sign them at the office instead of summoning his assistant because of his lack of competence.”
My boldness doesn’t surprise him, and he raises his brows. “Last time I checked, it is my personal assistant’s job to ensure I don’t forget things and to be on top of the ball.”
I snicker from my fuming mood. “I believe I did so… three times.” I raise my voice. “Now, can you please go sign them and bring them back?”I instruct, with the full intention of speeding this along. “And why are you signing a contract?I thought they went with another company for their exporting of medical equipment.”
An unapologetic smirk appears on his mouth. “It’s simple. I had our guys reach out to a few clients who left the opposite party, dug up all their little mistakes, managed to figure out some numbers, then went back to Connors, exploiting the worst-case scenario and the damage control they would need should the other party take them on as a client. To sweeten the deal, I gave them a three percent decrease in pricing to be more attractive than the other party. Undermining confidence and having leverage is a powerful tool.”
“You mean subtle manipulation?” He warned me he does what it takes. Briefly, I wonder whether it spills over into his personal life, but he can’t be this way if there’s no significant other.
He steps to the side and points to the front hall. “Don’tyou want to come in, or will you be staying in the hallway throwing a temper tantrum?”
“Hallway sounds good. I’m sure you have a pen somewhere on you, like a good CEO should, so we can move this along.” I smile tightly with my lips pressed.
“I’m not that competent, remember? As a CEO only, of course.” He throws my words back at me. “I have to get one from my office. Shouldn’t you be carrying one around?”
Rolling my eyes, he has a point, and I fish in my bag for a pen, only to come up empty.
He notices, and it pleases him. “My oh my, what’s your favorite word again?” He clicks his fingers in the air, pretending to search for a word. “Oh yeah, competence. So, would you be obliged to come in?”
My lips press tightly as I accept that I’ve been a hypocrite for the last minute.This is a headache of wanting to escape and wanting to stay because my body is a traitor, and my mind is captivated. “Fine.”
Stepping over the threshold, I vaguely hear him pushing the door shut lazily, but I immediately forget that he’s behind me because I’m too engrossed in the view of a very large open-plan living space with glass stairs. It’s modern yet surprisingly welcoming.
“Huh. Kind of had you down as a Dracula dark-cave kind of vibe, and this is not that,” I observe and slowly walk as the windows magnetize me. There’s a lightning strike over the Chicago skyline that highlights the outline of the buildings and the height of being on a top floor.
“Imagine that. Savannah is wrong. Oh, the shock and horror,” he flatly rebuffs. I feel him behind me, but he isn’t close, a few strides. However, his presence is more domineering than it is in the office. It’s him out of a suit that seems to heighten my body’s awareness of his proximity. As thoughbeing casual stripped him down and thinned his walls to leave me unprotected.
I don’t gift him a glance over my shoulder as I saunter around the room, letting my fingertips glide along the top of the sofa. “I believe time is ticking. Would you be a gentleman and sign those papers so I can ensure they are where they should be by 8 AM tomorrow?”
I hear a sound buried in his throat, and it resembles a hidden laugh. “Wait here. I’m sure you can follow instructions like a good girl.”
My entire body locks up because the way he said that sends a wave straight to my center. It unleashes thoughts in my mind of how he would be in specific settings, and it’s only ever been implied that he is anything but sweet and tender. Rolling my lips in, I decide to brave it by snapping my gaze when I turn to face him.
Julian’s face is stone. It wasn’t a slip of his tongue. I’ve felt his tongue on mine, and I’m now well-versed to know when he taunts, because it sharpens my awareness of him and it’s a safe threat that doesn’t scare me.
The only way to fix this possible detour is to lighten the mood. “Whatever you say, dear master.” I’m frivolous, or so I thought, because maybe it still sounded sultry. He half-smirks to himself, mollified and posed, before he walks away.
My pulse is pounding, and I repeat in my head over and over that he has been a horrible boss. Even if I think he wanted to talk about the kiss, I wanted to hear nothing. Safety first.
Except, it’s hard to bury.
I mosey around, studying the various paintings on the wall and the lack of framed family photos. Instead, I notice a tray of whiskey and crystal glasses. Next to it is a small shelf with more hard alcohol options and half a shelf of differentplaying card boxes. None of them look new. They’re worn boxes with fonts and designs from long ago.
“Want a drink?” He startles me, and my body reacts.
I turn to see him strolling my way ever so slowly, hunting.
“No. It’s fine. I should go.”Where did my attitude go? My voice lacked it.
He holds up the folder, and I reach out to grab it, but he moves and holds the folder out of reach. “Tsk, tsk. Not so eager. Let me call you a car.”His eyes catch mine, and it’s clear that it’s his way or no way. “It’s the least I can do for causing you inconvenience.” The politeness, however, is by no means serious.
I step back and sigh in exhaustion. “You can be quite insufferable, but fine.”
He sets the file on the table in victory. “Time for a drink.”Before I can object, he’s already setting two glass tumblers in the middle of the tray.
