Adrian’s voice isn’t just loud, it’s also condescending as hell. I hear it even before I round the corner toward my office, and it sets my teeth on edge. But the tone isn’t even the worst part.
The worst part is that he’s got Maddy pinned like he’s about to physically destroy her, her back resting against the glass of his office. He lords above her; eyes razor sharp.
Without even knowing what it is she did, I know this is overkill.
“You can’t justskimthese reports, Madison.” Adrian’s tone is cruel, demeaning, and almost mocking. “If you had even glanced at the appendices, you’d know the population metrics are outdated by six months. I don’t want to hear excuses.Fix it,Maddy.”
She stands there, one foot twisting like she’s trying to bore through the floor and escape. “Yes, Mr. Frank,” she says, her face a flushed mess. But I’m almost positive it’s not the same kind of flushed Adrian made it a few days ago.
For some reason, the thought of him railing Maddy only serves to intrigue me. Maybe even turn me on.
But damn, he’s still working through it.
“I need this done.Pronto,” he sneers. Adrian doesn’t even notice her flinch. Or maybe he does, and that’s the point?
Either way, that’s the last straw for me.
“What’re you guys up to?” I time it perfectly, so I appear to just be passing by, trying to appear calm even though I’d love to deck Adrian right now.
“Discussing something that needs to be adjusted,” Adrian snaps, taking a step back from her. He turns and gives me a fuck off look so intense it could probably win awards of some sort.
Maddy’s left in his wake, shoulders slumped and defeated, as she sighs. She looks like she’s on the verge of breaking down, and I cannotstandthat sight.
And fuck Adrianfor making her feel that way.
I walk right up to her, catch her gaze, and ignore Adrian. “Hey, wanna ditch the rest of the day and get lunch? My treat. You can fix those docs for Adrian tomorrow. That meeting isn’t until next week.”
She blinks at me, glances to Adrian, who I’m sure is fuming, and then back to me. “Are you sure right now is a good time?” Her voice comes out barely audible, wavering as if she’s about to cry.
“Sure, why not?” I flash a grin, reaching out gently to take the papers from her hand. “I’ll take care of these for you, and I can double-check the information with just a few phone calls later. Isn’t that right?” I turn to Adrian, who is a couple of feet from me, and looking like the definition of rage.
He glares at me. “If you want to.”
I meet his stare and do that thing where you smile so big it almost looks like you’re baring your teeth. He continues to look like he might combust and heads for his office, probably to send me a nasty email.
It’s so much fun being partners with him. I never know what I’m going to get. But I do know he’ll get over it. Eventually.
I turn back to Maddy, who is now wearing a look somewhere between confusion and relief, and gesture toward the elevator. “You need to get anything before we go? It’s already almost two, and I know you must be starving.”
“Kind of,” she nearly whispers, not answering my question. She dips away from me and heads toward her desk. I don’t miss the way she keeps glancing over her shoulder, as if expecting Adrian to materialize behind her and take away her lunch privileges or something.
She doesn’t realize that I own just as much of this company as he does, apparently. But that’s fine.
Maddy grabs her purse and her cardigan, sliding her arms into it. Her brunette hair is falling out of the clip that holds it, and honestly, she’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
But fuck, when she turns, she looks unhappy, her plump lips turned down and her eyes tired.
I gotta make this better for her.
I extend my arm to her as she joins me. “My lady?”
She eyes it, then glances around the office. “Um…”
“Maddy, it’s okay to take my arm,” I reassure her, keeping a smile on my face.
“Okay, sorry,” she breathes out, resting her hand on my bicep.
The elevator is empty. We get in, and for a moment, there’s just the hush of the hydraulics and the faint hum of background music. She clings to my arm, but her eyes are everywhere but on me.
