“Follow me.” I attempted to hold in my anger, but some spilled into my voice. Her cute little nose twitched.
“I’m busy.” She dropped her gaze as she moved her food around the plate. “So, how was the dinner?” She addressed the man sitting across from her. His gaze was focused so much on her that I craved bashing his face in and spanking her for daring to address another man. I stood like a fool while she ignored me.
“Uh, it went well. Next time, you’ll have to go?—”
I hissed a breath out between my teeth as my patience snapped.
Grabbing her arm, I yanked her up.
“Hey!” he shouted.
“It’s okay, Ray,”mybunny said.
I made a sound of disgust and dragged her after me. She scrambled to grab her backpack. Staff attention swung our direction, but I ignored it. I pierced him with a look, and he froze in the act of getting up to follow us. I’d fire him on the spot if he continued down this path. He sputtered but I didn’t hang around to hear his nonsense. Nina went limp in my grip but as soon as we cleared the cafeteria entrance, she started fighting me.
“Let. Me. Go.”
She yanked so hard I had to let go or she would hurt herself. She stumbled back and I reached to steady her, but she pulled away.
“Where are the shoes I purchased for you?” Those damn worn flats. I hated her walking in them when they gave her blisters on the back of her feet.
She scowled. “What—never mind, listen, everything you got me, I left in your office. You weren’t supposed to be back today.” She rifled through her backpack. “Actually, I’m glad you’re here. I was going to leave it on your desk, but since you’re here.”
She slapped something on my chest, and I caught it before it floated to the ground. I scowled, looking down at the envelope. Pulling the document out, I sneered.
“You’re not resigning.” I crumpled the paper and lunged for her. She gasped, flinching back so fast and flattening against the wall. Gritting my teeth, I gently cupped her cheek. “I would never hurt you.”
Her enthralling lips parted as she gawked up at me.
My breaths sawed from my lips.
“Do not touch another man. I can handle anything, I can give you space, but Iwill notcontrol myself if you try fucking around on me,” I murmured, fighting to be gentle. Her beautiful brown eyes blinked at me owlishly.
Clipped steps neared. “Samuel,” Caine snapped.
“Fuck off.”
Nina’s eyes widened.
“Do you realize where we are?” he snapped. I climbed out of the cobwebs of desperation. I had Nina flattened against the wall of the hallway leading to the cafeteria. I exhaled slowly. Jealousy had taken hold of me, and it simmered on low, ready to flare at a moment’s notice.
“Eyes on me,” I ordered, tapping her chin to return them to me and away from my brother. Caine grabbed my shoulder, but I shrugged him off.
I crowded her, and turned slightly to the side to block her from sight. Her warmth radiated from her small body. She jerked her face out of my palm.
“Is there anything else I can help you with Mr. Astor?” Her placid words punched my gut. I slapped my hand into the wall, and she gasped.
I narrowed my eyes. She shouldn’t jump, I’d never fucking hurt her.
“Oh hey, Judy,” Nina called and only managed to slip out of my fingertips because Caine kicked the back of my knee, buckling it. She jogged away, not looking back.
“Take it easy.”
“Shut the fuck up.” I tipped the shot into my mouth, no longer feeling it burn down my throat. Slapping the glass down, I tipped my head back. She’d walked away and Caine had brought me to our private room at the country club. Red draperies hung across the windows, blocking the moonlight from spilling inside. I didn’t know how long I’d been here.
“You broke our cardinal rule. You know we don’t fuck employees.” Caine sighed and poured another round in my glass.
“She’s not just a fuck,” I snapped. She was everything and more. My everything. He would never understand, and I knew how he couldn’t. Before Nina, I would have scoffed at any of them acting like a fool in love. Like a woman was more than just a pussy to us. One only understood after encountering the soul shattering emotion for themselves.
