“I’ve heard that one before. Fucked up my Christmas holiday, that job did. Those this-will-only-take-a-minute jobs are the ones that turn into a death march to the finish line.”
“I’ll pay whatever you want.”
“Begging’s not a good look on you.”
“Asshole.”
“Prick. We’re too backed up right now. Besides, this sounds like more of a security issue. Why don’t you ask Crawford? That’s more in his wheelhouse.”
“I doubt Crawford will.”
“He’s your brother.” Hudson huffs out a laugh on the other end of the line. “I’m sure he’d help you if you asked nicely. That’s how brothers are.”
“Not my brothers.”
After the call, I pace around my office.
Mandy is sitting at her desk, absently swinging a leg as she edits a memo.
She’s not going to last the week.
Something happening to her would be intolerable. Not because I like or care about her, of course, but because that means I lose. I’m taking it as a personal insult that someone is coming after my assistant.
I can’t let anything happen to her. It’s bad for my reputation. But is she worth the cost? The energy?
It’s just a business transaction, I remind myself as I shrug on my overcoat.
Mandy glances up at me. “You don’t have a meeting.”
“I have one now.” I turn back to Mandy.
“Hm.”
“Mandy, look at me.”
She tears her eyes away from the screen, lips parted. Her tongue darts out to lick the straw of her drink.
Do not think about that tongue on your cock.
“I need you to stay here until I get back.”
“Yeah, okay.” She nods.
“I’m serious.”
Her friend gives me a weird look. I ignore it and sweep past their desks to the elevator. As soon as the doors close, I know, they’re going to start whispering about what I’d just done.
Fitz,red pen in hand, is reviewing an oversized set of floor plans for one of his hotel renovations when I walk into his office.
“Where’s Crawford?” I ask.
“He doesn’t write, he doesn’t call, he storms in making demands.” Fitz twirls the pen. “Hi, Salinger—how are you? I’m doing well, thank you for asking. I heard you had awoman on your island. I’m surprised the gods didn’t smite you for desecrating such a sacred space.”
He is baiting me. I need to let it go, pretend it doesn’t make me absolutely furious.
“How did you know that?”
“Linton told me.”
