all evil and out to get me.”
My laugh escapes, unbidden. How does she do that? I can keep my cool in any work setting. I
know exactly when to smile, smirk, or tease. I know people and can manipulate them to suit me. But
this frumpy…and yes, stunning woman shatters that. “Your shoesareevil. You should get rid of
them.”
She sighs, smiling up at the ceiling. “They’re the only work shoes I brought.” Rolling her head,
she pins me with a look. “You ran away too fast this morning. I didn’t get to say thank you. These
panels help a lot.”
I roll my shoulders and rest my head back. “You didn’t get a headache today?”
“No, I didn’t,” she says, sighing happily. “It’s kinda wonderful.”
“I’m glad.” And I am. I may be a dick, but the idea of her hurting didn’t sit right with me. “You are
doing a good job,” I admit to her, meeting her eyes briefly. “You’re giving the team a new perspective
we really needed. For now, it’s enough.”
“So you’re not planning to fire me?”
“No, I’m not.”At least not for the next six weeks.
THIS FUCKING WOMAN.
I tug at my tie, loosening it further, and run my hand through my hair in frustration.I put aside my
annoying reactions to her. I’ve been nothing but professional with her all week. But my fucking eye
won’t stop twitching. How the hell does she live like this?
Grabbing her ugly shoes off the top of the fridge in the Executive staff room, I spin and begin my
hunt for her. The night after our talk, I held out twenty minutes before tracking her down and helping
her find her shoes. Thursday, I promised myself I’d stay in my office and let her find her own fucking
loafers. When she was still wandering past my office an hour later, I gave up and helped her search.
Cara finds it fucking hilarious. Most people seem to. But not me.
I’m pissed.
Our building is well cared for, and we have a great cleaning crew, but the floors are still dirty.
God knows what kind of germs are on the bottom of her feet each night. It’s maddening. How the fuck
has this happened every day this week?
Walking…okay, stomping through the hallway, I spot Cara packing up. Stopping in front of her, I
glance briefly at Maya’s dark office. I hold up the shoes so Cara can get a good look. She’s one of the
