Either way, what was he doinghere? In this office? Valhalla owned like dozens upon dozens of companies.
Surely he had way more important matters to attend to?
“So… were you the one who bought this agency from Janelle?” I inquired.
“The company did.”
“That’s so interesting. Since she was supposed to be selling this agency to me.”
“Was she?”
“Yes.”
He pushed off the desk, standing up to his full height, and crossed his arms over his chest. His bared forearms were tanned and corded with muscle. There was a juicy vein running down to his wrist that popped like an invitation to sex.
I looked away. Phew. The man had serious arm porn going on. It felt like he just flashed me.
It was irritating.
I met his eyes, and he returned my gaze with a frosty look.
I forced myself to take a few steps into the room, leaving a giant space between us. It was filled with his man-scent and his general all-conquering vibe, and I didn’t want to get too close to it.
“I’ve worked here for my entire career,” I told him. “I’ve seen bosses, managers, come and go. After Janelle took over, we had a plan. She told me, earlier this year, over a bottle of wine on my living room couch, that she’d be making me partner by the end of next year. And eventually, when she was ready to retire, I’d buy her out.”
He looked completely unmoved, of course. “That was the plan?”
“Yes. That was the plan.”
“Sealed with Janelle Gorman over a bottle of wine. And maybe there was a pinkie swear involved?”
I ground my teeth and tried again. “We had an agreement.” I didn’t expect him to care about the agreement. But maybe I hoped he’d want to considerwhythe former manager here thought I was the right person to follow in her footsteps?
“You got that agreement in writing?”
Shit, but I wanted to poke out his gorgeous, imperious green eyes with my acrylic nails. “No. Would it really matter if I did?”
He stared at me for a long, icy heartbeat. “Like I said, Valhalla owns the agency. Unless you can make us an offer we can’t refuse, there’s zero chance we’re looking to sell.”
“I’ll check my bank account,” I said, equally frosty. “I don’t think I can swing it this month, but maybe I can get back to you on that.”
“You do that.”
“Maybe I’ll have to appeal to my employer for a raise.” I was really trying to match his ice-cold with some sub-zero of my own, but instead an angry fire was rising in me. “Talent agent doesn’t pay quite as well as Senior VP. It might take a while for me to come up with an offer you can’t refuse.”
“You never know,” he said neutrally, and looked down at his papers again.
I stood there for a moment, growing hot with aggravation as he ignored me.
“You know, you’ve always been so fortunate. Growing up, you had this wonderful job, just waiting for you.” He looked up, those green eyes meeting mine again and exuding liquid nitrogen. It might’ve frozen my damn mouth shut if I wasn’t already burning up. “If only we all had such nepotism—” I coughed, purposefully, my words choking off. “I mean,opportunity.” I smiled, or tried to.
I just couldn’t bring myself to play nice with him. Even if I was treading on ice here.
“I have some things to go over here,” he said.
And that was it.
He dismissed me, after I took that nasty jab at him. And it just made me weirdly livid.Spar with me, you privileged dick, I wanted to growl.So I can go ahead and tell you where to go.
