He paces behind the desk, then spins back, a wild look in his eye. “You’re going to ruin everything, Beck. You always do.”
I match his anger, now offended. “Me? You’re the one who can’t handle it. She’s not your property, Adrian. You don’t get to decide who?—”
He comes around the desk and gets in my face. We’re inches apart, both ready to swing.
“You can’t keep your dick in your pants,” he growls.
But I don’t back down. “I’m pretty sure she liked it.”
He bows up and we stand there, staring each other down. Suddenly, there are years of loyalty, business, and brotherhood on the line. For a second, I think we’re actually going to fight.
But then, just as quickly, it’s gone. He backs off, runs a hand over his face.
“I’m taking a personal day,” he says, voice flat. “If anyone asks, tell them I had a meeting.”
He grabs his coat, storms out, and leaves me alone in his office. I stand there for a long time, staring at the empty chair.
I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to do now.
But I hope like hell Adrian can get over it, because I’mnotquitting Maddy. No matter how jealous he gets.
Chapter 18
Maddy
Iwatch as Adrian sweeps toward my desk, his presence as intimidating as ever. His gaze flicks to me, and for a split second, I catch my breath.
Oh shit.
I think he’s going to say something—call me in, fire me, tell me to pack my desk and never set foot in Modern Edge again. Instead, he just glares. The kind of glare that is so sharp, I actually lean back in my chair, feeling it cut me right to the bone.
But then… he’sgone.
I take a deep breath in and out, but it doesn’t bring much relief. There’s a part of me that wants to run after him and beg for reassurance, but I don’t know why.
So, I compartmentalize. I put my brain in neutral and focus on my inbox, completely ignoring the devastation I feel is impending.
I flip through the sixty-three unread messages, sending spam to the trash and then reading and responding to the others. I chip away at the list with a kind of manic precision, only looking up when Beck comes over, wearing a grin that would have melted me an hour ago.
Now, it feels like it might set this whole place on fire and do way more damage than the burnt popcorn in the microwave.
Beck slows as he passes and gives me a wink. “He threw quite the tantrum, but nothing I can’t handle.”
My jaw drops, my heart in my throat.Oh my god. Does that mean Adrian knows?
Before I can ask, Beck’s phone rings, and he quickly returns to his office. I sit there, staring after him. He didn’t seem bothered at all.
Maybe that means I shouldn’t be either?I shake my head, try to ignore my panic, and go back to my emails.
About the time I finish them and distract myself by updating Adrian’s schedule, Caleb emerges from his office. He’s so much less obvious in his attempts at communication than Beck is.
He just stands there awkwardly, hands in his pockets, watching me for a beat. It’s the same look he had the night he came to my apartment—half concern, half longing. I duck my head, pretending to reformat the agenda, even though my brain is going in ten different directions at once.
“Everything okay?” he breaks the silence, and for a second, I consider telling him what’s going on with Beck and Adrian.
But that’s a totally stupid idea.
So, I answer without looking up. “All good, just you know, slammed.”Literally and figuratively.
