Page 15 of Intense (Beneath The Blaze #3)

STEPHANIE

“ N ice jet,” I tell Finn sarcastically as he steps beside me on the tarmac.

I resist rolling my eyes. His presence next to me is already grating. There are fifteen of us waiting to board, yet he chooses to stand right in my personal space.

Close enough for me to smell his maddeningly delicious aftershave.

“Thanks. It’s mine and my brothers’.”

I cross my arms over my chest, keeping my eyes locked on the sleek black jet.

Not the man beside me.

“Fancy. Is there caviar on board? Champagne for the rich boy?” I tease.

I know he hates it when I call him that. Yet, he has never offered me an explanation as to why I’m wrong.

“Whiskey and nachos. I’m not your typical boring billionaire, Dr. Miller.”

I turn my head to face him. His tight black shirt is rolled up to reveal inked forearms that should be considered sinful.

He’s right. There’s nothing normal about him.

“Billionaire. Hmm. And why is it you decide to still work?”

I tap my chin as he smirks at me.

“So I can irritate the fuck out of you every day. And make sure you never get Head of Cardiology.”

My mouth drops open.

This prick. A thorn in my side that just won’t leave. Even jail time didn’t work.

“You’re an asshole, you know that, right?”

His eyebrow arches, those pale grey eyes darkening.

He pulls a small notepad from his pants pocket, along with a tiny pencil, and starts writing.

“What are you doing?” I frown.

I’ve noticed he does this around me more and more.

“Just noting down everything that gives me a case to fire you. I’m sure the director would love to hear.”

I scoff and squint at him.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

As I try to grab the notepad from his hands, he lifts it above my head.

“Wanna see?”

“No,” I lie.

He shoves it back into his pocket and stares off into the distance.

“Maybe I should start my own journal of all the stupid shit you say. Hell, the whole department can.”

Actually, I doubt it. He’s not the chattiest man you’d ever meet.

He doesn’t react. Bruce, our medical director, smiles at Finn as he approaches.

Thick as thieves.

This really is a man’s world.

“Good luck at the ceremony tomorrow, Stephanie. May the best surgeon win,” Finn says under his breath as he walks off to greet Bruce.

Leaving me reeling.

“You okay?” Poppy whispers from behind me, making me jump.

“Yes. Fine,” I seethe.

She is our newest junior resident, and I kinda feel bad. I remember what it was like. Even if I rose through the ranks fast, it wasn’t as quick as Dr. Finn.

Being a woman here means you have to work twice as hard for half the credit.

“Sorry,” I whisper, shaking my head.

She gives me a soft smile.

“I get it, Dr. Miller. He’s hard on you.”

“That doesn’t bother me. Don’t let them get to you.”

She frowns, glancing over at Finn.

“He is very distracting, though.”

“Poppy,” I warn. “Whatever you do, do not go after our head of department. Do not give them ammunition against you. In fact, don’t fuck anyone at work. Okay?

“Like he’d ever be interested in me,” she sighs.

I place my hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some semblance of comfort. I understand how she feels, I guess.

“Only because he’s not interested in anything other than himself. Followed by trying to ruin me. It’s not you.” I pause, taking a deep breath.

“Never let a man define your worth, Poppy. There’s a reason why we all choose the bear.” I give her a squeeze.

Women have to stick together to survive.

“You’re a great boss. I won’t let him ruin you.” She smiles.

“I appreciate that. But we’re under Dr. Quinn’s rule here, there isn’t much we can do to fight back. I’ve tried.”

I shake my head and step back. I just have to suck it up and deal with the fact my boss is a dick, in the hopes that one day, all these years of being an arrogant asshole catch up with him.

As we board the jet, Poppy joins Josh, our other resident.

Finn is talking quietly to the pilot at the front.

The pretty flight attendant hands me a glass of champagne.

I grin as I take it and thank her. Turning back to Finn, I hold it up smugly.

“Is the caviar up next?” I ask.

He scowls at me.

My heart races as he excuses himself and strides over. The whole plane falls silent. He takes the drink from my hand and knocks it back in one gulp before turning to the attendant.

As his eyes bore into her, she goes bright red.

“Can you get Dr. Miller a whiskey, please?” he asks.

She nods and rushes off, returning with two glasses of amber liquid.

“Thank you, Amber.”

She chews her lip and bats her lashes.

Apparently, any woman would drop to her knees for this man.

“Better, your highness?” he asks quietly.

“I had no issue with champagne. You are the one who did. Don’t like being called rich boy?” I ask.

He blinks at me. Shit. He’s so hard to read.

“No. I don’t.”

He pulls out the damn notepad again and scribbles something down. I wonder if he’s actually been making notes to fire me this whole time?

“Sit,” he orders, pointing to the two chairs behind us, with a solid gold table in front of them.

All the other seats are taken, except those.

He leans in and goosebumps race across my skin.

“Yes. I’m just as pissed off I have to endure your company for the entirety of this flight,” he whispers.

“It’s fine. Just don’t talk to me, and I’m sure we won’t want to kill each other before we land.” I give him a fake smile and take my seat next to the window.

He sits next to me, his thick thigh brushing mine.

It makes me shift uncomfortably. I pull out my headphones and bring up my audiobook. Can’t beat a bit of alien smut being read to me by a delicious man in my ears.

“Who is that?” he asks.

I turn to look at him.

“Who is who?”

Oh.

He’s looking at the sexy guy on the cover.

“My boyfriend, James. We’re so in love. Isn’t he drop-dead gorgeous?” I tease.

His jaw ticks. He glances back down at my phone.

“I suppose. I didn’t have you down for dating a model.”

“And what the hell does that mean?”

I cross my arms over my chest, clenching my fists.

“Nothing against you. Moreover, they would never be able to handle a woman as intelligent or powerful as you.”

Before I can reply, he’s on his phone typing away frantically. And just like that, I’m invisible again.

Shaking my head, I shove my headphones in and let this man’s glorious accent calm me enough for my eyes to close.

Hopefully I can nap.

That’ll kill time.