I entered, raising my brows at finding her on her hands and knees, hurrying to straighten what looked like a pile of papers that had fallen over and scattered.
“What are you doing?”
She jolted with a gasp, looking up at me with wide eyes.
What thehellis that?
I frowned, pricked with suspicion at her expression of fear. Fear ofme, or fear of being caught in here without my permission?
Why would she be so startled?
I didn’t want to think that she had anything to hide, anything that would warrant her freaking out like that. Not once had she ever looked at me with terror in her gaze. Not even when I’d shot Yusef in this very room. When I beat that guard who bothered her, she’d given me a disappointed frown, but nothing like fear.
Or guilt.
“These papers fell over and flew out all over the floor, so I was trying to pick them all up and sort them into a pile.” She stayed on her knees, and a blush darkened her cheeks.
Or is she awkward because of what happened last night?
As sassy and confident as she could be, it seemed unlikely that she’d be shy about it. Sex was sex. Shewasyoung, but she didn’t strike me as a prude with how willing and eager she was to kiss me back and participate in our stolen moments.
“Oh.” I set my coffee down and moved to take my chair. Deciding to go easy on her for being in here before I’d told her to, I set my feet on the edge of the desk and got my phone out of my pocket. “Carry on.”
She ducked her head, peering at me with disbelief. “What?”
I gestured at her without pausing in reading the emails on my phone. “Carry on. Go ahead.”
“Go ahead with what?” she asked.
“You know, seeing as you were a maid before starting as my office assistant, I’d imagine you’d be quicker to understand the priority.”
She furrowed her brow.
“Go on and pick up. Organize. Make piles and declutter.”
“That’s it?” She raised her brows and set one hand on her hip. “Just a general expectation to make this room look like less of a dump? That’s what you want from me?”
I let a slow smile stretch over my face. “Youknowwhat I want from you.”
Scowling immediately, she narrowed her eyes.
“Have you reconsidered my offer?”
“To be your kept woman and pretend I’m happy to be your fuck toy?” She flipped me off. “No. I havenotreconsidered.”
Ooh. Watch it, sweetheart. That fire is going to make me more addicted.“Then carry on.” I lowered my gaze again and gestured for her to organize the papers.
“Just like that?”
I nodded without looking at her.
“I’m sorry if I’m overstepping to speak freely.”
I glanced at her. “Giving me the finger wasn’t speaking freely?”
She winced. “Um. Right. It’s just that, um…” She nervously scanned the room. “I’m aware that you and your family are, you know, at the head of a dangerous criminal organization.”
She had my attention now. “Uh-huh.”
