Page 80 of Hate You Up Close

A pay increase? That catches my attention immediately.

“What?” I ask through arched brows.

“If we secure this client, we’ll be raking in major cash for the bank for years to come. We’ve both been promised an increase by our VP if we seal this deal. We’re talking about a ten percent increase. Do you realize how much that would affect your salary?”

Ten percent? Holy shit.

I quickly do the math in my head. My salary would jump by almost eight thousand dollars. I simply can’t pass that up, and Elliot knows it.

“But if you don’t come with me,” he continues. “I’ll have no problem telling our VP that you didn't participate in this deal whatsoever. And then you can kiss that pretty raise goodbye.”

He’s got me in a chokehold. He knows that I can’t say no to more money, strictly because I need the money. I don’t have family or a partner to help me out financially. It’s all on me.

I’m so pissed right now that I don’t even feel excited aboutthe potential for a pay increase. I’m furious because Elliot did this on purpose. He knew about my date and sabotaged it.

He wants nothing to do with me, yet he refuses to let anyone else have me. It’s like he wants me to be miserable.

“Is this the only weekend that the client was available?” I ask. “Or is this weekend oddly convenient foryou?”

“A little bit of both,” he says as a cocky grin curves his lips.

I slowly shake my head before speaking in a low tone.

“Why are you doing this, Elliot?” I ask honestly. “You’ve already made it clear that there is nothing between us, so why are you taking away a chance for me to be happy with somebody else? What did I do to make you hate me so much?”

His eyes flinch at my words.

“Are you going to be able to make the trip or not?” he asks, ignoring me. “The travel department is holding our flights until I confirm.”

He’s not going to answer my questions, no matter how hard I prod. I just know that he won’t. He never does.

“I’m going to make this trip a living hell for you, Elliot,” I say in a threatening tone.

“I can’t wait,” he croons, his lips tilting up in a devilish grin.

I stand from my chair, my nostrils flaring as I give him my best death glare.

“This conversation is clearly settled,” he clears his throat, breaking our silence. “And you look unhappy with the outcome. So, why don’t you just leave and take a minute to cool down? Go hate me somewhere else.”

“Why would I leave when I can hate you up close?” I seethe. “Where you can see exactly how much I hate you?”

He throws his head back and chuckles. He fucking laughs in my face in a low, mocking tone that causes my blood to boil. Well, he’s not technically in my face, but he might as well be.

I won’t watch him gloat for a second longer, so I turn myback and accept defeat. My heels click against the marble floor as I stride back into my office.

I sit down at my desk and begin plotting the fall of Elliot Thompson. I’m going to bring this man to his knees.

SEVENTEEN

Elliot

After a short, three-hour flight, we arrive in San Diego on Friday afternoon.

I prepared myself before the trip, expecting to deal with the wrath of Roxanne. But aside from her flat-out ignoring me, nothing, and I mean nothing, has happened. From the second we arrived at the airport, to the second we stepped foot on the plane, Roxanne has acted as if I don’t exist.

Our travel team had to book separate seats on the plane since our flight was booked last minute. And honestly, it was for the best because Roxanne has barely spoken two words to me all day.

She’s pissed as hell that I ruined her date night, and honestly, I don’t care. I would do it again if it prevented her from going on a date with that douchebag.