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It seemed to appease her because she lifted to her toes, pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek and left. I tried to follow—needing to get the fuck out of that room before I exploded—but he stopped me.

“I’m not finished with you yet, Alexandra. I need my files and coffee.”

I glowered at him as I stormed over to his desk. He stood and made a show of adjusting his crotch before buckling his pants.

“You’re disgusting.” I slammed the box down, feeling mild satisfaction at the thud. I was more pleased that I spilled a little coffee on his hand when I shoved it at him.

“And you’re accompanying me to an event tomorrow.”

“Hah,” I barked a laugh. “No.”

“It wasn’t a question. You’re coming.”

“It doesn’t have to be a question for me to tell you, hell no.”

“Too bad. Everyone at the company is attending, including you,” he said with arrogance like my rejection was futile and nothing but a pesky fly. “I’ll give you money before you leave tonight and you can go buy a dress.”

“No,” I said again, this time stomping my foot.

“Yes. End of argument. Don’t bother wasting your time.”

“I’m not going with you because you’re a dick. So, buy whatever dress you want, but I’m not wearing it.”

He ignored my rebuttal, bringing the coffee to his lips and cringed after drinking. “It’s cold.”

“Well, next time don’t have your dick down some woman’s throat and you can have it while it’s hot.”

I spun on my heel and stomped out before he could say anything else. Unfortunately, he followed. Laura rounded the corner as I fell into my chair, my arms crossing over my chest like a pouting child.

“Laura, just the woman I wanted to see,” Erik greeted jovially. “Can you take Alexandra to find a dress after work for the banquet tomorrow?”

She cringed at his request. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I would but I have dinner plans tonight.”

Erik’s brow furrowed as he scanned the office like another willing candidate would appear out of nowhere to take me shopping. Maybe he’d just give up and I wouldn’t have to go. A smile was already making an appearance when he wiped it away.

“Fine,” he grumbled, turning to me. “I’m taking you. Be ready by five. Don’t make me wait.”

My jaw dropped and I was ready to tell him to shove it, but he turned and slammed his office door before I could say anything.

“Yes, sir,” I grumbled.

“Should be fun,” Laura said, holding back a laugh.

Yeah. That was exactly the word I was going to use to describe anything with Erik. Fun.

At least I could enjoy myself. I’d make sure it was the most tedious night and he regretted ever forcing dress shopping on me.

18

Erik

Me: Hey, are you free?

Me: I decided it’d be a good thing if Alexandra attended the event tomorrow and she needs a dress. Can you take her?

I figured a text message would be able to hide my desperation as the minutes ticked closer to five. I didn’t want to take her shopping. I didn’t want to spend the afternoon with her. It negated the distance I kept trying to push between us.

Of course, having her come tomorrow at all might have been a bad idea. But her not going would look weird, when everyone else in the company was attending. I’d been so swamped with preparations, I hadn’t even thought about her coming until Laura mentioned it.

Hanna: Ahahahahaha! Absolutely not. Even if I wanted to, which I do, I can’t. I have a dinner meeting with a client.

Hanna: Take her to the boutique in Covington. I may swing by after dinner just to watch you squirm as you help her pick out a dress.

Me: I hate you.

Hanna: I’m messaging Ian now. He could probably use a good laugh.

Me: It’s the middle of the night in London.

Hanna: He’ll think it’s worth it.

Hanna: Have fun.

I wanted to stomp down to her office and demand she take Alexandra and remind her that I was her boss. Then she’d probably tell Mom and I’d have to explain why I was bossing around my baby sister. Apparently actually being her boss and being an adult weren’t good enough explanations to get your mom to leave you alone.

“Are you ready to go, sir? It’s five-o-clock sharp.”

Squeezing my phone, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning to face her.

“Yes, I just need to shut down my computer.”

“Cool. I’ll wait by the elevators.”

Cool? Sometimes she spoke and I was reminded of how young she was. She had faced so much that had forced her to grow up, but moments happened that made her nineteen years apparent. In those moments, I felt like the biggest pervert for all the things I’d done to her. For all the things I still wanted to do to her.