Page 72 of The Rebel Billionaire

Laughter echoes through the door.

What the…

It’s not the first time today, and the sound is distracting. I sigh heavily, my shoulders tensing.

This is a place of work, not a fucking social club.

Enough. This has got to stop. I never had this problem with Callie. She was popular and friendly, but her laughter didn’t rattle around my head, destroying my concentration. Brooke needs to rein it in and be more professional.

I open the office door. “Brooke,” I snap before stopping short when I see Dante standing next to her desk.

What the hell?

They turn to face me, neither having the good grace to look guilty.

“Hey,” Dante says. “I was in the area and thought I’d pop in and see if you’re free for lunch?” He turns to Brooke. “However, Brooke here said you were busy and could not be disturbed,” he says, and there’s no missing the lopsided smile curling one corner of his mouth.

No fucking way! He’s flirting with her!

I cross my arms and stare at one of my longest-standing friends.

“So, you decided to distract her from her work instead,” I say, wincing at the bite in my tone.

Dante grins. “Just getting to know Callie’s replacement,” he says, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Need to know who to get onside. I was just telling her how we met.”

Oh no, he wasn’t…

I tense as he turns and grins at Brooke. She answers with a genuine smile, and I suck in a breath as my hands clench.

“Well, you can stop distracting her now and distract me instead,” I say, stepping back and motioning for him to enter my office. I turn and shoot Brooke a look that wipes the smile from her face. “Have you finished those reports?” I ask.

“I sent them through half an hour ago,” she replies, her tone quiet, as if she’s trying to pacify a feral animal.

“Good. Can you arrange for Monty to send up some lunch for us both?”

“I’ll get right on it,” she says with all the efficiency I would expect from a PA.

No arguments, no calling me out on my shit. But it’s impossible not to miss the fire burning in her eyes. I start to turn away and pause.

“There seems to have been a lot of noise out here this morning,” I say, without mentioning her laughter.

She rises, and brings over a sheet of paper.

“You’ve had quite a few visitors,” she says, holding out a list.

I scan it. Sue from HR and Mickey from Public Relations, both people she was right to give her time to. The last name on the list, however, makes me tense. Teresa, our Artistic Director. She should have been put through.

“Teresa came to see me? Why didn’t you let me know?”

Brooke’s head jerks at my tone.

“Well…um, you told me you didn’t want to be disturbed,” she says, biting her bottom lip and swallowing.

I harrumph, knowing I’m being unreasonable, but seeing her flirt with Dante has me grinding my teeth.

“When another director comes to see me, they trump everything. Do I make myself clear?”

Brooke drops her chin. “Crystal. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again. Would you like me to get her on the telephone and reschedule? She said it wasn’t urgent, but…”