Page 4 of Spiral Lies

Jesus Christ. I'm never living this down. When the girls find out, they're going to tease me until we're in the nursing home together.

"Um, I mean…I…" My mind is in panic mode. I can't think of a single suitable lie to explain why his name is on that damn list. Not one.

"Also made up?" he asks after a full minute of panic-induced silence.

"Yes," I squeak, nodding so vigorously that strands of hair slip free of the bun I tamed it into earlier.

"I see," he murmurs again. "That's all, Seraphina."

I don't walk. I fucking flee like the hounds of hell are nipping at my heels. They basically are. My boss—my hot as hell, grumpy as sin boss—just found his name on my goddamn MASH game board.

My life is officially over.

Chapter Two

Stone

"You're restless today," Hector Guiterrez, the head of the athletic department, observes, watching me pace a goddamn hole in his floor after the monthly staff meeting.

He's only half wrong. I've been restless every damn day since Seraphina Alcoa came to work for me. She's the sweetest little thing I've ever seen, with these big brown eyes and a killer smile. Don't even get me started on her curves. There aren't words for the filth I think about growling in her ear while putting my hands all over those curves.

Today is worse than ever. She was on her knees between my legs, her hand on my thigh. I wanted to tackle her backward, and fuck screams out of her.

And that was before I found that fucking MASH board. I'm not sure what pisses me off more: the fact that my name was crossed off, or the fact that the Ashton prick's name wasn't crossed off. Or maybe it's the fact that she's my assistant, completely untouchable.

Believe me, that fact has been pissing me off for the last six months straight. I want her… and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it without getting us both fired. Unless—

I whirl on Hector. "Does the University have a rule about dating someone who works directly under someone else's supervision?"

Hector doesn't answer nearly fast enough to suit me. Instead, he takes his time straightening his tie and then folding his hands together on top of his desk. "Not to my knowledge," he finally says. "The fraternization policy prohibits relationships between faculty and students, as well as faculty and subordinates. Why?"

I pace again, contemplating how much to tell him. "I have a problem."

"Jesus Christ, Stone. Don't tell me that," he groans. "You're on track to win us a division title again this year."

"Not that kind of problem," I mutter, yanking at my tie. "I…ah, hell. I'm interested in my assistant."

"Seraphina," he says.

I turn to glower at him, not liking the way he says her name. It's…smug. Warm. I like Hector. He's a friend. But I will rip his eyes out through his asshole if he uses that tone again.

"Careful," I warn, my voice lethally soft.

He chuckles, smirking at me. "Easy there, man. I'm just saying, I'm familiar with her. And if you're asking to transfer her, she'd probably jump at the opportunity to not work directly under you."

"What?" My brows pull down, a frown tugging at my lips. "Why?"

"Ah, I believe she called you a Thanos-level villain last time we spoke," he says, grinning.

Jesus Christ.

I scrub a hand through my hair. "I'm not that bad."

"You are," Hector disagrees. "I wondered how long it'd take you to crack."

"For the record, I haven't…cracked," I mutter. "I just…"

"Want to crack."