I freeze when I see the way Maddy’s face falls. And now I’m pissed.
“Everything okay here?” I ask, as I hand Maddy the Tide pen.
Marissa steps back, hands up. “Totally fine! Just helping a girl out.”
There’s coffee on the floor, a puddle on the counter, and Maddy appears horrified.
Maddy snatches a napkin and wipes at her chest. “Thanks. Appreciate it.”
Marissa simpers, grabs her shake from the fridge, and then leans against the counter. She waits, arms crossed, like she’s expecting applause or something.
“Probably should change,” I say to Maddy, keeping my voice breezy. “Do you have a spare shirt in your desk?”
She shakes her head, cheeks flaming. “I’ll figure something out.”
I start cleaning up the spill and Maddy hurries out of the break room.
The second she leaves, the temperature of the room drops. Marissa sips her shake, pretending not to watch me as I clean up.
“She’s sensitive,” Marissa comments, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder. “Maybe she’s not used to high-stress environments. That would make sense.”
“Or maybe she’s just not used to people being jerks,” I shoot back at her, absolutelyhatingmyself for the attention I once gave her.
She laughs, rolling her eyes. “Wow. Protective of her already?”
I shake my head, refusing to engage. “Just don’t like seeing a newbie get ganged up on.”
She knits her brows together, giving me an amused look. “If you want a project, go for it. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I almost say something to argue, but then she’s out the door.
I finish cleaning the counter, but my brain won’t let go of the look on Maddy’s face. The way she just locked down, the wayshe left with barely a word. She’s tougher than Marissa gives her credit for, but this—this is the kind of thing that leaves a mark.
And I don’t like that. I don’t wantMaddy to get eaten alive by this place.
She’s way too sweet for all these assholes.
I head down the hall once I’m done, and I see her at her desk, jacket zipped to her chin, typing away like nothing happened. I watch her for a few moments, tracking the way her slim fingers punch away at the keyboard.
My mind instantly flashes back to the night those pretty nails were digging into my back.
And holy fuck, what I’d do to have that again.
“Beck!” Adrian calls out.
I pivot so quickly that I nearly take out a potted plant, which makes Maddy look up from her computer. She glances at me, making a face, and then looks to Adrian, whose gaze instantly causes her cheeks to flush.
He gets to her.And I don’t know how I feel about that.
Adrian is standing outside his glass box, hands in the pockets of his charcoal pants, the faintest hint of music still coming from his office. He’s got a look that already tells me he’s about to make this day a lot harder for me.
Fuck.
He tilts his head, a silent summons. I fall in line behind him, glancing once more at Maddy’s desk. She’s suddenly in full shield-bubble, headphones on and head down. I can’t tell if she’s trying to avoid a summons as well, or if she’s just burning through emails at triple speed.
Either way, she’s not doing well.
I rip my gaze away from Maddy and then follow Adrian into his office, fighting the urge to make fun of him behind his back.
