Page 7 of Gluttony (Seven Deadly Sins #4)

Why the fuck would they open so late knowing people need to be at work at eight?

You’d think I’d be first in line, at least. Alas, I’m not, and since this is the only place my bosses will drink coffee from, I can’t even cross the busy New York street to go to another shop without putting my job in jeopardy.

Mickey would lose his shit if I lost this job, no pun intended.

“Billiard?” I frown when I hear the barista call out the name. Who the fuck names their kid Billiard? Probably someone like my bosses. They’d be assholish enough to do that.

“Billiard?” The barista yells louder and we all look around the shop, hoping this asshat will get his shit so we can move on.

“Weird name, huh?” I smirk at my neighbor who barely acknowledges my presence. New Yorkers are too busy to speak so I don’t even get a nod.

“Three coffees, black. A coconut milk latte with a dash of—” Oh, fuck. That’s me. Rushing to get my order, I frown at the name.

“That’s what you heard? I said Bella, not Billiard.”

“Stewart!” Asshole got his name right, though, didn’t he?

The rest of the morning continues to suck worse than yesterday, and that was hard to top. Although, Orion’s on his way over to my desk so my morning may just be getting a little more fun. Unless, of course, I’ve done something wrong and he’s on his way over to fire me.

“Hi, Bella. Apologies for not stopping by sooner. Our entire marketing campaign for Rayne of Knights’s new album was on deadline so I was down to the wire with the team.

” Well, at least that explains why I never saw the coffees go beyond the secretary’s desk.

I don’t think Drew likes me if the half-assed thank yous and follow-up sneers are any indication.

“No worries, honestly. I’m still trying to learn the ropes so it’s probably better you don’t see me often so you can’t judge me.” Pretty sure that’s not something you say to your boss but it’s out there now so no going back.

Orion sits on the corner of my desk and I try really fucking hard not to think about how deep his cock was down my throat just three months ago. Again, not the most professional thing I should be doing.

“How’s it going? Are you liking your job?” I think long and hard about his question because the truth isn’t going to get me any brownie points.

“It’s a little challenging getting to know all the quirks and preferences of each of you but I’ll get the hang of it quickly.” There, that was honest without coming off as a complaint.

Orion leans in and the scent of his sandalwood cologne almost knocks me off my chair.

“If there’s anything I can do to help, you know where to find me.” With a wink and subtle smile, he rises, pats me on the shoulder, and walks away.

The rest of my day was just me trying to over analyze every single one of his words and gestures. Judging from our interaction, I’m going to go out on a limb and say he’s going to be the easiest in of the three.

Where Hadley, I’m sure, would fuck me on the nearest flat surface, I think he’d forget my existence mere minutes later.

Hayes can’t even look at me, which begs the question of why he even hired me in the first place.

But Orion? Well, he’s just…nice. It doesn’t hurt that his dark-brown hair and matching eyes give me all the warm and fuzzies, not to mention he’s built like a fucking machine. As in a machine made to fuck.

With my mind firmly on Orion, I make it a point to stay in the office longer today, waiting out Drew. My plan is to sneak a little peek into his office to get a sense of his tastes.

But you know what they say about best laid plans? They don’t mean fuck all if the office door is locked and I, the fucking executive assistant, do not have the key. Yet .

When I return to my desk, I see it. Sitting on top of my notebook, a blue rabbit origami with a smile drawn on it and a tongue sticking out, teasing me.

Okay, it was cute at first but now it’s just giving creep-vibes.

Mickey’s squirrelled away in his home office, working in the background with cameras and shit I don’t understand by the time I get to my Midtown apartment and call him while I eat dinner.

Our conversation is short, kind of like his fuse these days, so I take a quick shower then collapse into bed alone.

By the time Thursday rolls around, I’m confident I can make this job my bitch.

At this point, my routine is easier to navigate.

No need to get the coffee early so I head to the office first, start my morning tasks, and around eight-thirty, I run to the coffee shop.

They understand the letter B , so that’s my name now.

Taking a chance on sweetening up Orion, I get him a scone to go with his coffee.

Then I realize it would look odd so I get three, one for each of them.

But that also feels wrong somehow so I get three more for the secretaries.

Confident, I breeze back into the office, dropping off a blueberry muffin for Phoebe because buttering up the receptionist is always a good idea. They see all, know all, and are the deepest well of gossip you can find.

As I do my rounds, I’m surprised to find Orion’s office door open with all three bosses inside, talking.

I try really hard not to listen, or look for that matter, because fuck me, they are lethal.

From the dark-gray suit on Hayes—I know it’s him because the stick up his ass makes his shoulders nice and square—to the black pants and black sweater on Orion, and the dark jeans and white button-down on Hadley.

Not gonna lie, there’s something delicious about a man who leaves the top buttons open and the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, showing off his muscled forearms.

“Here.” I blink at the voice, shaking my head and looking at the source. Drew holds out a couple of paper tissues with a smirk on his lips and brow raised high like he just caught me staring at a three-course meal. Which, let’s be honest, he most certainly did.

“What is that for?” Yeah, we all fucking know but I’m going to make him say it.

“The drool.”

“Hardy har har.” My back is turned to Orion’s office so I take the tissues—more like rip them out of his hands—and wipe the corner of my mouth…just in case.

“Like what you see, Little Rabbit?” The deep, guttural voice travels from my ear, where his breath tickles my lobe, and swoops all the way to my lower belly like I just went straight down a roller coaster.

“Jesus H. Christ. Are you actively trying to give me a heart attack?” Okay, so maybe I should reel in my attitude.

“There’s that backbone. It’s always more fun when they fight.” At his words, I swing around to face him and realize he’s not joking. The warning flag he’s waving isn’t red, it’s fucking deep purple with a skull and bones painted on it, screaming danger, danger, danger.

“Hadley, leave our executive assistant alone.” Orion is now at the door, his gaze assessing me like he’s checking Hadley didn’t gobble me up as his midday snack.

“Is that what you want, Little Rabbit? To be left alone?” The fuck am I supposed to say to that? Drew is right there, watching me, probably judging me with his perfect hair and professional glasses resting on his nose.

Fuck it, I think Hadley needs to be pushed in order for me to keep him interested. “I’d like to do my job, Sir.”

Sucking in air through his teeth, he backs up and turns his head just enough to call out over his shoulder. “Hayes, you hear that?”

“Fuck off, Had, and get your arse in here.” All we get is a voice because Hayes is no longer visible from our angle.

“Big brother is no fun, but if you need to take a break, you know where to find me.” I don’t answer Hadley, just raise my chin and square my shoulders in defiance.

With his teeth biting down on his bottom lip and his gaze touching every inch of my body as if I were naked, Hadley walks backward into Orion’s office and throws me a wink before closing the door.

“I’d tell you to go to HR to complain but honestly, it’s a game to him. He’s all bark and no bite.” Drew shrugs like he just gave me valuable information and it’s up to me to make a decision on how I want to go about the Hadley situation.

Little does he know that I want him to pursue me so I can get access to his personal life, his office, his desk, his keys.

I want the Orion’s Abyss necklace and every cent of the two hundred and fifty million it represents, and if that means I play the part of the rabbit so the big bad wolf can chase me, then give me running shoes, I’m game.

After spending most of the afternoon running personal errands for the guys, I swear my feet are about to go on strike from wearing these heels. I’m guessing I’ll get used to them, just like every other corporate woman in this city, but holy Hell, the blisters are going to be my undoing.

Maybe Mickey will rub my feet for me. Then I remember it’s Thursday night and he’s got plans with our friends Craig and Melanie. Bath for one, it is.

And as The Cure have told us many times over, Friday is what we live for, especially in the corporate world. I must agree.

By now, I’ve got my routine going with my morning tasks and pick-ups in the afternoon.

According to Ginny’s notes, end of the week means I need to make sure they’ve got everything they need for the weekend which, from what she said on the downlow, is a great way to make sure I don’t get called in on my time off.

What she doesn’t know is that I want to get called in.

So, I conveniently forget to pick-up Hayes’s dress shoes from the fancy store in lower Manhattan between East Houston and Prince Street. Let’s just say women aren’t the only ones spending ridiculous amounts of money for quality footwear.

I’m hoping I get a call tomorrow afternoon, in a panic, when he realizes he doesn’t have his shoes. They’ll be at my apartment, and when he calls, I’ll save the day by dropping them off at their place.

This is how I get inside their apartment, check out the layout. Once they trust me enough, I’ll have the key to their place but I’m too impatient to wait that long.

“Hey, so you survived your first week?” I look up from my notebook—where every single thing I need for this job is written down, color coded, and numbered by importance—to see Orion standing on the other side, hands in his pockets and a coy smile on his lips.

“Just barely. I’m pretty sure my feet are packing their bags and singing Bella Ciao on their way out.” I grin because I’m clever like that.

“Do your feet tend to often sing Italian revolutionary songs?” He’s being flirty while still maintaining a safe distance.

Not so long ago, you were fucking my mouth while I was on all fours in your limo.

I lick my lips at the thought, and as if he can read my filthy memories, his eyes darken to a deeper shade of brown like a predator ready to pounce.

Hmm, that’s it, Orion. Come and get me.

As intense as those thirty seconds were, the mood is gone as soon as Ginny walks up behind him, causing us both to clear our throats.

“Well, I’m sure next week will be easier. Right, Ginny?” Orion says, patting Ginny on the back.

“She’s a quick learner, this one. We’ll have her on track in no time.”

“I have no doubt. Well, have a good weekend, ladies, and I’ll see you on Monday.”

Ginny and I both smile, although mine is more seductive while she’s all business.

When Orion walks away, I watch him, hoping he’ll give me just a little crumb.

And there it is. Just before he turns the corner, he looks over his shoulder, our eyes lock and the smile he gives me could melt the panties off any woman on this planet.

Score.

Now, if only I could work my magic on Hayes, I’d be set for part two of our plan.