“Then do it,” I snarl, feeling even more pissed at his nonchalant attitude.
Do we have to take over Billings? No, we are fine without it, but I want it. Sam wants it too. I just don’t understand what’s changed and why he would risk losing such a lucrative investment. Sam’s work ethic has never come into question before, and I hate that it is now. He’s my right-hand man. I don’t like doubting him.
“Don’t worry, boss,” he says with a fake smile. He tips an invisible hat at me and strolls out of my office.
I run my hands down my face in aggravation. Not for the first time today, I wish that I could be in bed with Olive instead of here dealing with bullshit.
I’m elbow deep in spreadsheets when my assistant knocks on the door. “Come in, Deb.”
“I have a delivery for you, Mr. James.”
I look up from my computer and see her standing there with an envelope. “Thanks, Deb.”
She hands off the envelope and asks if there’s anything else she can do for me. I wave her off because the only thing I need right now is to read the letter that Olive wrote me… well, wrote Thomas. I quickly open it and scan my eyes over the simple paragraph. Olive just broke things off with Thomas for me.
I reread the letter, and an uncomfortable feeling weasels its way through my body. She basically admitted her feelings for me. Reading between the lines, I can tell they are anything but casual. Rita warned me about this very thing. I should be running the other way, but even though it has me ready to run, I feel like beating my chest like a caveman because Olive chose me over her mystery match.
My thoughts from before about if this whole thing was a setup runs through my mind. This is proof that it’s not… right?She wouldn’t be breaking things off with Thomas if she knew it was really me writing her, would she?
I make a hasty decision to write her back, leaving things open-ended. Testing her.
The minute my assistant takes the letter to be delivered, I feel like a dick for putting it out in the world. I shouldn’t be testing her like that, but if she replies, then I know she’s playing some sort of game. To what end, I have no idea, but I’ve got to know one way or the other.
It’s half past midnight when Vera strolls into my office wearing a skintight cocktail dress and heels.
“What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” she says with a sultry smile. “You look tense, baby,” she purrs.
“I don’t have time for your games,” I say, just realizing how late it is. I told Olive I would be at her place around ten… that time has passed and then some.
Vera saunters over to my desk, running her fingertips along the smooth surface as she walks around to where I’m sitting. I narrow my eyes at her, not liking wherever she’s taking this.
“No games, baby. Just a little… stress relief.”
Her hand reaches out for me, and I grip her wrist, stopping her touch. “The only stress relief I need is for you to get the hell out of here. I’ve been lenient with you, but I’m at the end of my patience. If you’re not careful, you’re going to find yourself out on your ass.”
The sultry look on her face is gone in an instant, replaced with anger. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I would. I’ve kept you around because you’re good at your job, but you’re quickly becoming a liability.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “You won’t fire me because I have a contract. I own you, Harrison.” Her expression changes to one of sadness tears well in her eyes. “Mr. James wouldn’t take no for an answer. He’s the boss… what else could I do? He threatened to fire me.” She even tacks on a little hiccupping sniffle at the end.
Rage flows through my body, hot and fiery. “No one would believe you.”
A slow smile spreads over her face. Her tears are instantly gone. “Wouldn’t they, though? Me a lowly accountant, and you the big boss. An innocent woman against the big bad wolf.”
“Everyone knows we had a relationship. No one who knows me would believe me capable of such a thing.”
“Ah, but do your investors know you? Really know you?” She smirks again, knowing she’s got me there.
I’ve got plenty of money to retire on, but that’s not the point. My business is a point of pride for me, and she knows it. I would never do anything to risk my company.
“Besides… how would your little girlfriend feel if she found out you were fucking your accountant?”
How the fuck does Vera know about Olive? My anger doubles… no triples at the threat. I haven’t put a name to my relationship with Olive, but the thought of someone ruining it has me seeing red.
“Leave her out of this.”
