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“No. We need to get out of here. We have dinner plans.”
How am I supposed to sit through dinner like this with my stomach in knots and my face burning? I don’t think I can do it. “Maybe we shouldn’t tonight.”
All my emotions tumble over me, filling my body and seeming to spill over into the room. Tears fill my eyes, but I don’t want to cry in front of Adrian. I don’t want to cry here in the office, where we’ve done so many things and where he keeps chipping away at my department and the company I’ve worked so hard to build.
“Maybe we shouldn’t,” I say again weakly, and start to leave.
His voice comes immediately, so deep and commanding that it stops me in my tracks. “Don’t you dare walk out that door.”
ADRIAN
I’m more than aware that there are employees still in the building. A few might be close enough to hear as Suzette bites out, “What the hell did you just say to me?”
She’s visibly upset and spiraling. I’ve seen it before. A hundred times at least. Crying, cursing, screaming at me. I’ve been struck more than once.
My skin blazes with both indignation and embarrassment. I don’t do squabbles in the office, I don’t have shouting matches with employees. Then again, I’ve never slept with anyone at the office before either. This is why. This is exactly why it was a mistake.
With daggers in her eyes, Suzette stares back at me and says, “Did you just say, ‘don’t you dare?’” Her voice is deathly low and her gaze narrowed.
Her breasts rise and fall, peeking through her blouse as she breathes in deeply, stalking back toward me.
“I’d like you to calm down,” I say, keeping my tone gentle. The last thing I need is publicity or a lawsuit.
Her eyes widen. “Calm down?” Outrage coats the two words.Fuck.I can’t do anything right by her. This is a lose-losesituation and she sure as hell knew it when she walked in those doors.
I take in a steadying breath, standing from my seat, my dick hard, needing to fuck the anger out of both of us.
“Suzette.” I speak her name as she stalks toward me.
“I am struggling today.” Her words are frantic. “Watching coworkers pack up their offices, while others didn’t even come in. Do you know how many people have given their notice?”
“Fourteen so far,” I answer without hesitation. “Change is difficult, uncertainty is difficult, doingmy fucking jobis difficult,” I stress, feeling the frustration rise.
“What am I supposed to tell them, Adrian? Rumors are going around about us and they’re coming to me like I’m the one who did this,” she starts and before she can continue, I stop her in her tracks. Toe to toe I stand apart from her.
“I am doing my best. If my best isn’t good enough, then they can go find better.” My words are stern and she acts as if they’ve struck her. Gripping her hips in both of my hands, I lower my lips to hers to say, “And if any of them have a problem with the two of us, tell them I want you more than anything. More than this company. More than profit, more than any fucking thing. I want you.”
She’s silent, her wide blue eyes brimming with a mix of emotions. Her hands on my chest put distance between us, so I take them in my own.
“I want you,” I repeat, my voice strained and the words raw. “I want you,” I tell her a third time, letting it sink in. “This will all be over soon, and when it is, I will still want you.”
“Adrian,” she says and my name is a plea on her lips, like I’m begging her for something she can’t give me. Panic sets in, something I haven’t felt in a long damn time.
She knew this was a possibility. I will vouch for her if something happens, but her résumé is impeccable. She willsurvive. I’ll make sure of it. But I cannot guarantee an entire department. I can’t promise her the things she’s asking for.
“Tell me you want me.”
“Adrian,” she whispers and her voice is pained. It’s unexpected and feels as if she’s struck me. I can’t remember a time when I've given her a command and she hasn’t obeyed.
Moving my hands to hold her, one spearing through her hair and the other on the small of her back, I whisper in her hair before kissing her temple. “Tell me that you want me and I’ll make sure you get everything you need.”
All I can hear is the sound of her swallowing. I can’t lose her over something like this. Something so insignificant.It’s significant to her, though.
“It’s after six,” I remind her. “Come here, let me fuck the memory of that prick boss out of that pretty head of yours.”
“Don’t,” she warns me and uncertainty clouds my judgment. Every inch of my skin is hot, anxiousness quickening my pulse.
“Let it rest for one more night. I promise your department will be the priority tomorrow.” I shouldn’t have said that. The second the words are out of my mouth, I know I shouldn’t have spoken them.