Page 15

“Unfortunately, no,” I quipped, holding my clipboard up pointedly. “Seems I need a little more time among the shelves.”

I turned my back, making a show of counting the carrots that I’d already counted.

Hayden’s quiet chuckle slithered down my spine.

“Frankie.” She sighed, but I didn’t turn. I kept my gaze fixed on the clipboard, the numbers blurring together. And as she spoke, her tone got softer and quieter. “If there is anything about me worth noting, it’s that business is the most important part of my life.”

I huffed, still pretending to be heavily invested in adding up numbers I could no longer focus on.

A single, well-manicured finger hooked over the top of the clipboard, and it slipped out of my hands.

My head snapped up, ready to argue, but every word on my tongue died.

Hayden stood in front of me, her head bent lower so her eyes met mine, a cold smirk on her face.

The air in my lungs shriveled up, leaving my parted lips in a silent gasp.

“And even though I acquire new stores and restaurants every week,” she continued, her bright eyes pinning me to the spot, “this store has far too much potential to leave unchecked. So, whatever you have to say to me, say it.”

I drew in a shaky breath, her words slowly creeping up on me, each word gasoline tossed onto a fire that threatened to consume me whole.

“I haveplentyto say to you,” I whispered, the ire in my voice smothering me. “This store has been my entire life, and I refuse to back down just because you waltzed in here with all your money. That might be how the world works for you, but not in here.”

Hayden straightened up, a sharp brow arched. “Is that right?” she murmured. “My money has no power?”

“Not alick.” I sneered.

“But that money bought the store,” she mused, drawing away and inspecting the shelves behind me. “And that sale makes me the majority shareholder, and the owner. And that means that what I saygoes.”

My tongue glued itself to the roof of my mouth, defiance twisting at my mouth. My heart galloped wildly in my chest, electricity crackling along my skin, the heat in my gut in stark contrast to the warmth staining my cheeks.

“Then what is it you say?” I demanded, refusing to let her or her money have her way. If I was going to go down; I’d go down swinging.

“I say that we have some issues to work on,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. The movement pushed her breasts up, drawing my gaze again.

“You’re not going to replace me?”

She chuckled again, the pink tip of her tongue poking out between her lips.

“Why would I do that?” she asked sincerely, and half a million possibilities ran sprints in my head.

Did she find me attractive? Did she not care if I was around or not? Maybe she believed she could bend me to her will.

Maybe-

“You already know how the store runs and the other employees obviously adore you,” she finished, and each possibility shattered around my feet. “You’re my little asset.”

My face flooded with heat, no doubt redder than my hair, and I curled my hands into fists at my sides.

“I’m not your littleanything, Hayden,” I ground out, taking a step forward. I wasn’t scared, and I would not be intimidated into being an obedient little puppet.

I would protect my parents’ dream if it cost me everything.

Hayden stared at me, her eyes roving the length of my body, calculating. “You’re right,” she agreed, and it shook me to the core, enough that I backed into the shelves behind me when she stepped forward. “But you are my employee, and I hope you remember that.”

Her words washed over me, her breath fanning over my lips with a hint of peppermint. My lungs fought for air and I couldn’t keep my gaze from dropping to the grin pulling at her lips.

“What is with this split personality?” I breathed, unable to keep the question from spilling out.