Page 31 of Pure Abandon

I lean forward and pull the red elevator stop button. The cab jolts and we both lean for the walls to brace ourselves.

Shit! That was a little scary. I’ve never done that before.

Asher looks at me with confusion, humor, and if I’m not mistaken, dread.

“What is wrong with you?” It’s the only thing I can get out of my mouth.

“What’s wrong with me?” Despite my nerves, he looks calm, notwithstanding my very dramatic move. “This is a bit theatrical, don’t you think?”

I cross my arms over my body. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Then why did you do it?” His eyes penetrate into mine.

I meet him green for gold. “Because…” I’m exasperated. “You can’t just say things like that.”

“Like what?” His voice is smooth and controlled. Daring me to incite myself.

“The way you talk to me… It’s so… so…” Of course, at the very moment, I’m at a complete loss for words, making me sound like a whiny twelve-year-old girl.

“Inappropriate?” He leans against the elevator wall and crosses his arms in a stance that makes him look like he’s posing for GQ magazine.

“Yes!” I shift from one foot to the other. I don’t know what to do with myself.

“Tell me. What did I say that was so inappropriate that you’ve taken the liberty to trap the CEO of a major corporation in an elevator?”

Triple crap. He’s right. My day just keeps getting… Ugh!

Oh my God, this is ridiculous. I lean over to release the stop button on the elevator but am blocked by strong hands.

“No, please, Mrs. Monroe. I’d like to hear this out, since it was worthy enough of halting us mid-ride.” His comment oozes with sexual innuendo.

Maybe it’s just my imagination.

“You can’t say things like that.” I feel the heat radiating on my neck. Oh what I wouldn’t do to take back the last five minutes of my life.

“Like what?” He is challenging me.

“Like, ‘I like to see you wet.’ It is completely uncalled for.”

He looks back at me with an amused grin. “Well, then, my apologies. And if it makes you feel better, you look much better dry and tepid.”

“Dry and tep—” My mouth stops midsentence. I can feel my ears turn red and my eyes furrow. Does this man really just say whatever comes to his head? And what does that mean…? Dry and tepid! Was that a dig at my personality? He’ll claim it’s not.

“Relax, Kathryn.”

Oh, we’re on a first name basis now.

“Relax?” My question is more of a rant than a concern. “You are the most diabolical man I have ever come across. You say whatever comes to your mind, not caring if it’s mean, crass, inappropriate…” I begin a mini pace back and forth in the elevator.

Asher enjoys the floorshow.

“You hit on me in an elevator, knowing full well that I am your employee, then ogle my breasts through my wet shirt, and take the next opportunity you have to discuss my being wet in an elevator…” I run my hand over the back of my neck. “And then there was that scene at the museum. You just walked away. Who does that?” I throw my hands up in aggravation.

“You have yet to approve any of my proposals. I mean, at this point, I’d prefer to hear you tell me they’re complete shit than have you utterly ignore me. It’s belittling and degrading.”

Oh, I’m on a roll. For someone who bites her tongue, I have finally found my voice.

My pace quickens and my hands move freely in front of me like an old-school Italian accenting every word with a dramatic gesture. “You want to play puppet master. You want to hold the strings and have all the control. Meanwhile, there are people upstairs who work hard and diligently who deserve your attention, and you disregard them because of someone else’s report.”