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He has a point.
I’m just not about to admit it.
Not after the way he’s been getting under my skin ever since we started working together.
“What did you want to talk about?” I ask, steering the conversation elsewhere. It’s for the best. That discussion wasn’t at all professional.
“How we’re dividing the workload,” he replies after studying me for a few seconds, as though he’s trying to decipher everything I’m deliberately keeping to myself.
“We’re not dividing anything,” I tell him firmly. “You’re going to be with me every step of the way,” I add, making sure there’s no room for misunderstanding. “You thought it was a brilliant idea to have me handle everything on my own. Now you’ll see what it’s like to do it yourself.”
I don’t see any reason to make things easier for him.
I work with him, not for him.
If this were any other client, I would’ve walked away from this project the moment these demands started piling up. I still don’t know why I let him push things this far.
“The only responsibility we’ll split is supervising the workers,” I continue, my tone shifting into business mode. “But I’m warning you—it’s essential that you understand every step of the process and make sure everything is done properly. I don’t want a single mistake when this project is finished. This is my work. My reputation.”
Zayn doesn’t answer.
He simply watches me.
There’s something in his expression.
Amusement…
Maybe even admiration.
I can’t quite tell.
That’s the problem with him.
He’s always been difficult to read. I’ve never really known what goes on inside his head or whether anything actually bothers him. We’ve spent time together before—all of us. Me, him, his brothers, Sierra.
But never like this.
Never just the two of us.
I haven’t seen him in a long time.
And the way he’s changed, the way he’s grown into the man sitting beside me now…
It’s unsettling.
I’ll admit that much.
At least to myself.
I’ve never seen a man more attractive.
The effortless way he dresses. The quiet confidence in every movement. Even the way he smells—clean, expensive, impossible to ignore.
Too bad he’s also unbelievably irritating.
Demanding.
Is he like that in bed too?