My chair rolled back with how hard I plopped on it. I dragged myself close to my desk and tapped the keyboard to wake my computer. Judy looked at me over the monitor on her desk across from me and I forced a smile. Judy shook her head and sighed.
As I clicked on my emails to see what duties I’d be doing today, Judy spoke.
“I’ll be busy catching up on a few things I couldn’t get to this weekend, let me know when you finish the list so you can photocopy a few documents for the board meeting at the end of the week. Don’t fuck it up again.”
I winced but nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.” I clicked onto my scheduler. The delivery directions I’d done taunted me from the square near today’s date, so I minimized my screen to only focus on what I had to complete today.
The clipped sound of steps thundered closer. I didn’t know footsteps could sound irritated. Mr. Astor rounded the hall and appeared.
“Sir,” Judy murmured. I mimicked Judy’s motion to stand and slightly lowered my head as he passed.
His steps halted so he stood between our desks. His body turned toward Judy, and I focused on his sleeve, glad that he wasn’t looking at me.
“Have you finished compiling the proposal documentation?”
“No sir, it’s on the intern’s to-do list for today.”
“The intern,” he snapped. I dragged my attention to his face, but he wasn’t looking at me. His cold gaze remained focused on Judy. “Does she not have a name?” Judy blinked, utter confusion flickering over her features.
My mouth parted, stunned with the turn of conversation. Judy did have a tendency to refer to me as ‘intern’ but I wasn’t bothered by it, I was sure she didn’t mean anything by it.
“Ah y-yes, si?—”
“Then why do you continue to refer to her in such a way?”
“I-I?—”
He put his hand up and she cut herself off, blinking. “Finish the proposal. Then make copies of the documents I emailed you about the Thailand meeting. Email a copy to all the board members and inform them we will be discussing this at the next meeting.”
I stood speechless, just gawking.
“Now.”
I dropped my eyes from staring at her stunned expression. She jumped into action, collecting her laptop and electronic pad. He strode up the couple steps to his office and slammed the door. I fell in my chair. What in the world just happened?
“I . . .” I started, but Judy didn’t look up at me as her expression settled in a thin line.
“Try to finish the work by end of day,” she said, low.
The door jerked open.
“Ms. Cervantes, in my office—now.”
I jumped to my feet, whipping my head toward Judy, but she only shrugged and went off to do his bidding. My heart rammed against my chest, but I wobblily walked up the steps and stood at the threshold of the office to find him leaning against the front of his desk. “Close the door.”
I shut the door behind me and hesitantly approached, keeping the leather seat in front of his desk between us as I wrung my hands in front of me. Standing there with his eyes on me lasted a few long seconds until he straightened. My shoulders tensed up with each step that he took closer.
His hand neared my cheek from my peripheral. I turned my head away from his touch.
“Donotavoid my touch,” he almost growled, hinting at that temper. My shoulders hiked up from his flare of dominance. My Omega instinct crawled forward, urging me to submit.
“Can I help you, Mr. Astor?” I pushed the words out past my constricting throat.
He hissed out a breath and I finally brought my gaze up to his dimple. So, it also dipped in when he was angry. He moved so fast, catching my forearm. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing.” I jerked out of his touch and turned my back to him.
“Nina,” he barked.
