Page 45 of Bossy Wicked Prince

Kyle’s brows draw together.

“While Miss Daniels might be too niceto tell you when you’re being a fucking pig, I’m certainly not.”

Warmth fills my chest. Nate isn’t pissed at me. He’s protecting me.

Nate puts a reassuring hand on my lower back and guides me back to the door.

“Are you alright?” he whispers.

I swallow. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you for…just—thank you.”

He nods and extends a hand to take my documents folder from me. “I’ll take the contract. You won’t be needed in the meeting. Just wait for me outside.”

The second I’m out the door, he swings it shut behind me. I’m left alone in the foyer with the ugly corporate art hanging on the walls. I sink into a leather armchair. Muffled voices seep through the door, but I can’t make out the words or even the tone.

I bring my hand to cover my thudding heart. I still can’t believe Nate defended me like that when there’s a multi-million-dollar deal on the line. He did more than just defend me—he called the guy a fucking pig! The only person I can ever remember standing up for me like that is Pippa.

Of course, that inner warmth is smothered by guilt. If Nate had hired a different assistant, someone sophisticated and experienced enough to smooth over things with Kyle, he wouldn’t have argued with them in the first place.

A muffled voice rises from behind the conference room door. Have they started yelling? Fuck, did I ruin the merger?

No, it’s fine. It’s all going to be fine.

Nate can handle it.

Breathe, Cat.We need to breathe.

If I’ve learned anything from watching him this week, it’s that Nate is ruthless and brilliant when it comes to negotiations. If he wants this merger to happen, he’ll make it happen—and on his terms.

I have to believe that.

I can still feel the warmth of his hand on my thigh from when he calmed me down in the car. That touch settled me just as much as the deep breaths he coached me through—grounded me. Made all the worry and guilt and anxiety tornadoing through my brain not stop, but pause.

Good girl.

Nobody’s ever called me that before. I liked it…too much.

What would it be like to have someone so strong, so effortlessly commanding, all for myself? If I could call on Nate when something went wrong, have him focus fully on me like he did in the car, and calm me down enough so I could handle the problem myself.

I can hear Pippa’s warnings echoing in my head. How Nate will use me, discard me, and forget me.

The thing is, I’m not sure she’s right.

The Nate I’ve started to know is anything but careless. He’s grumpy, sure, and he could definitely lighten up. But he’s honest, hardworking, anddecent.

My fingers tug at the hem of my skirt, and I realize I’ve been worrying the fabric there. I was so deep in thought, I have no idea how long I’ve been sitting out here, waiting.

The door slams open and Nate strides out, the contract in his hand.

“We’re done here,” he tells me, rushing toward the elevator without stopping.

When I peek back through the office doors, the men in the red ties are all yelling at each other. Kyle’s face is practically maroon with fury.

What happened there?

I push to my feet, hurrying to catch up with Nate. “Where are we going?”

“The hotel.”