My eyes bore into him and I wouldn’t be surprised if he could read all the other names I’d like to call him as they rollon a ticker tape across my mind. “Duke, this is madness. Please, just let me go.”
He adjusts my bow until he’s satisfied it sits right, his fingers deliberately trailing over the valley of my breasts. “OK.”
My breath hitches. Does he mean I can leave the office, or is he agreeing that I can leave Chicago? That should be my preferred choice, but I’ve clearly lost my senses because the thought of leaving him again hurts more than I wish it would.
Duke notices my falling expression. “We can pick up this conversation tomorrow, but before you disappear…”
As he goes over to his desk to retrieve the new purse I’d dropped yesterday, I study him carefully. There isn’t an inch of this man that isn’t perfection. Not. One. Inch.
“Why did you get Max to chase me?” I ask when he hands me my purse. “It was terrifying.”
“Because I knew you were upset and I wanted to speak to you,” he says. He cups my face, his thumb swiping over my cheek as if he can see all those tears I cried.
I jerk my head away. “And now you have, but that’s all you’re getting from me.”
His smirk is unnerving. “I accept your reasons for rejecting me now, but I’m willing to play the long game, Angel,” he says, pulling the door open.
I waste no time escaping, but Duke follows me out. He tugs on my arm so we stop in front of Edison’s desk.
“Ed, add a meeting with Grace to my schedule. Nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”
“Sure,” Edison says, daring only the briefest glance in my direction before checking his computer screen. “You do have an existing appointment with the police commissioner.”
“Re-schedule it.”
“Don’t bother,” I say haughtily. “I don’t know if I can confirm yet. I might have other appointments.”
Duke’s expression is impassive. “I’ll see you here, nine o’clock sharp, Grace.” His gaze remains fixed on me when he adds, “Ed, schedule our meeting for an hour. Actually, make it two just in case.”
When Duke disappears back into his lair, I’m left staring at the set of four screw holes in the door he closes. I redirect my glare towards Ed.
“You can fix the name plate back on his door now,” I tell him.
“I am sorry,” Edison says as he picks up a to-go cup and offers it to me with his apology. “I thought you might like a coffee.”
I’m tempted to tip it over his keyboard so he can’t schedule Duke’s meetings, but in lieu of a stiff drink, caffeine will have to do. I snatch the cup and take a sip. It’s the perfect balance between bitter coffee and sweet, hazelnut creamer. I can’t fail to be impressed by Edison, even if I am mad as hell at him for helping Duke lure me into his office.
“I might hate you just a little bit less,” I confess. “This is exactly how I take my coffee. How did you guess?” I hadn’t got as far as pimping up my coffee when Oliver had made me one earlier.
“I didn’t,” Edison says, tipping his head towards the closed office door.
It was Duke. He remembered how I took my coffee.
“What else has he told you about me?”
Edison shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “I’m Duke Moncrief’s personal assistant,” he begins, only for me to stop him from continuing when Igasp.
“That’s not how you introduced yourself earlier. You deliberately interrupted Oliver so he wouldn’t mention Duke by name, didn’t you?”
“I am genuinely sorry, but the truth is, I’d walk over hot coals for that man,” he tries again. “And to answer your question, I don’t know much about you, but I know enough.” He holds up his hand when he sees me lining up my questions. “I’ve signed an NDA, but even so, I’m the three wise monkeys rolled into one. I see no evil, speak no evil and I have earplugs at the ready should they become necessary.” He waggles his eyebrows at that, and I wonder how much he heard of what’s just passed between Duke and I.
“I can see you’re going to be no fun.”
“You’re the first person who’s ever said that to me,” he says, looking deeply offended. “I know your first day hasn’t got off to the best start, but I’m going to make it my mission to win you over. I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other.”
“The only way you’ll win me over is if you forget to schedule that meeting tomorrow,” I mutter before stalking away to lick my wounds and devour the delicious coffee that Duke knew I liked. Bastard.
Chapter 9
