Page 27 of Hate You Up Close

“You didn’t think to tell me before you just took off?”

“What do you mean?” she asks, brows furrowed. “I just assumed you would know that it’s my lunch hour. I left at noon and made it back before one. I don’t understand what the big deal is?”

“You assumed,” I chuckle, running a furious hand through my hair.

Her face hardens as her cheeks heat.

“Seriously, what the hell is your problem?” she snaps, placing her hands on her hips.

I shoot her a pointed glare.

“Myproblemis that I only have one hour of availability to train with you today, and you weren't here.”

“How was I supposed to know that?” she retorts. “And why didn't you send me a calendar invite? The normal lunch hour is from twelve to one. Everybody knows that.”

I take another step, backing her up until her ass is pushed up against her desk.

“You are my assistant, Roxanne,” I say in a low, gravelly tone. “Do you understand what that word means? It means that you need to communicate with me at all times. When I’m not here, it is imperative that you’re here to cover for me. If I need to leave my office for a spur-of-the-moment meeting, how am I supposed to know where you are if you don’t talk to me? How am I supposed to trust that someone will be here to cover for me?”

Her nostrils flare as she inhales a frustrated breath.

“Donottry to belittle me like that,” she sneers, lowering her voice. “If I was going to a personal appointment or leaving at anodd time, I would clear it with you first. But I went to lunch, Elliot.”

My eyes bounce between hers, transfixed by her emerald glare. I swear her eyes appear more green when she’s angry. Suddenly, I feel envious of the person who gets to experience all of her shades of green.

“My God,” she huffs angrily. “Who would have thought that me going to lunch would be the end of the world? Do you need me to tell you when I get up to take a piss as well?”

“Might as well,” I snap, trying not to think about her eyes and their many colors. “Maybe I need to make you a sign-out sheet. If you want to act like a child, I’ll treat you like one.”

Her breathing hitches as if I’ve slapped her. Her gaze fills with rage as she slowly shakes her head.

“No wonder everyone at this company warned me about you,” she spits. “You walk around on an imaginary pedestal, treating everyone like they’re beneath you. And the worst part is that you’re fully aware of how badly you treat others, and you don’t even care.”

I would rather people hate me than want me in their life. What Roxanne doesn't know is that I’ve made it my life’s mission to push people away. I guess I’m succeeding.

“You’re right, I don’t,” I say in agreement. “I’m here to get my job done, not dance around people’s feelings.”

Roxanne’s chest heaves up and down with furious breaths as we stand there staring at each other. What’s odd is that I find both of our eyes drifting. I look at her lips, and she looks at my cheeks. I trace the line of her nose, and she traces the line of my jaw. I memorize the planes of her smooth neck while she memorizes the sharp angles of my collarbones.

Others may think we’re being strategic, searching for each other’s weaknesses. But I know better than that. We’re being selfish and foolish. Stealing glances while we can.

After what feels like an eternity, she finally breaks our trance.

“Are you done?” she asks through gritted teeth. “Because I have nothing else to say to you. If I say what’s really on my mind, I’m pretty sure it would get me fired. And unfortunately, I need this job.”

“Unfortunately, I need an assistant,” I growl. The air between us thickens as I realize her lips are a step away from mine.

“Unfortunately, that’s me,” she clips. “And I’m not planning on going anywhere, anytime soon.” I watch the delicate lines of her throat as she swallows, completely transfixed by every movement.

I wonder what it would feel like, just once, to feel her pulse flutter beneath the pads of my fingers.

“Sounds like you’ll beverybusy the rest of the day,” she croaks, her eyes flickering down as I gaze at her neck like a bloodthirsty vampire. “So I’ll let you back to work,” she gulps nervously, sliding into her chair behind her desk.

I take a step back, my eyes widening as I realize how fucking unhinged I’m acting. She makes me feel like I’m losing my mind.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” I exhale before turning my back on her.

Just as I walk into my office, I hear her say, “Good.”