Page 46 of Invisible String (The Underground #1)

RAINEY

F or seven days straight, Max has been dropping in every morning at my café.

It’s been the same every morning. He’ll have a breakfast sandwich, a pastry, or the soup of the day.

He asked me twice what my favorite book is and what my recommendations are.

I learned how he likes his coffee. Two creams and two sugars.

He prefers cane sugar and not syrup junk. Those were his words, not mine.

His husky voice rings in my ears with his “Good mornings.” It’s always good morning, sunshine, Rain, tesoro , or the new endearment, baby.

I liquefy when I hear him call me baby. His smile is different.

Before, it was a genuinely sweet one reserved for me.

Now his smile grows from ear to ear when he walks in, teeth showing and all.

It has me wondering what or who melted the tip of his iceberg.

However, he is still a grump. When he walks out, his smile dissolves.

I hate that my walls are trembling.

“I’ll be right back, Isabella,” I throw over my shoulder while reaching for my keys and handbag. My sister flew back to Paris last night, and I miss her already. Now I’m back to being short-handed. My new employees start next week. “Will you be okay closing?”

“Yes, of course, sweetheart. Here is the box of goodies for the men and women at the company. Maybe they’ll forgive our stupidity.” She throws her head back in a fit of giggles.

I join her.

A few minutes later, I’m driving toward Max Enterprise Security Company. The correct course of action is to give the money back to the company for the mixer that isn’t really broken.

“God, how embarrassing,” I mutter to no one. As I park, I walk toward the very tall building, and then I take the elevator.

The office sprawls out before me, much larger than I anticipated.

As a rapidly expanding company, as I discovered through numerous reviews, it buzzes with energy.

Framed photographs of legendary boxers, their fists poised mid-swing, adorn the walls, lending a sense of history and grit to the space.

The rich aroma of coffee lingers in the air, complemented by the warmth of the brown leather sofas, which offer a welcoming touch to the modern decor.

The young guy, Leo, sits at his desk, typing, concentrating hard. He doesn’t notice me walk in. “Hello. Good afternoon,” I whisper, not to startle him. His head jolts up, and he turns the screen off. His cute face changes to bright red. What was he watching? “Sorry to startle you.”

He scrutinizes me from head to toe. Now, it’s my turn to blush. God, do I have flour on my face? I dust my cheeks, then fix my hair. Maybe I have a bad case of static?

“Oh, hi, you’re the baker from the new café, right? I was trying to think where I saw you from.” He grins. “Did you come here to see me?” He winks.

I put the box of cookies on his desk. “Yes, actually?—”

“I knew it. I’m irresistible.”

I laugh. I can’t help it. He seems to know how to charm ladies.

“I actually came down here to apologize. You ordered me a new mixer, but it turns out it wasn’t broken, after all.

” I rub my sweaty hands on my jeans, feeling embarrassed.

“It was just unplugged. I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused. ” I cover my face with my hand.

He cracks a throaty laugh. “That’s great news. My boss was furious because I paid you without consulting him.” He shakes his head, standing up.

My eyes widen. His boss is probably a dickhead. “Is he the owner?”

“Yeah.” He opens the box of cookies. “Are these for me?”

“Sure, an apology gift. Well, if you’d like me to speak to your asshole of a boss, I can. You know what? Let me deliver the check myself.”

Leo takes a big bite of a chocolate chip cookie. “He’s not that bad, actually. He looks like he can destroy you, but he is soft. He doesn’t show it much. He’s a girl’s wet dream.” Leo groans, then moans. His eyes widen. “Sorry, don’t tell the boss I moaned. He’ll kill me.”

What in the actual fuck? What a controlling prick. I’ll show him. “Where is he?”

Leo takes another bite and mumbles, “Down the hall, take a right, and it’s the first door. If he’s not there, he might be in a meeting. You can leave the check on his desk.”

I march like I’m on a mission to ring someone’s neck. Leo said he looks like he can destroy you. Who is he, the Hulk?

A beautiful woman rushes out of his office, adjusting her skirt. “You can’t go in there.” She flutters her long ass lashes at me. “He’s in a meeting. Just know you missed him by three minutes. You’ll have to wait.”

I brush past her.

“Hey.”

“Leo, let me in.”

“Oh, okay.” She walks off with lashes that could catch a flight in a windstorm. She needs to hit up my girl. She knows how to keep them in place.

The office is quite spacious. In the middle of the room sits an elegant U-shaped desk made of solid wood with a ceramic surface. Similar to the entrance, the walls are adorned with portraits of legendary boxers.

I set the check on his desk. The scent in here is so familiar.

My head swings to the side when I see pictures of me taped on the computer.

The photo shows me leaning on the cabin, wearing jean shorts and a bikini top.

My smile is so enormous. “Max took that photo,” I whisper to myself.

It hits me. What a fuckin’ idiot. Max Enterprise.

Photos of boxers decorating the place. Max owns this.

Holy shit. I cover my mouth. He has my photo. He took it with his phone.

My hands accidentally move the cursor, and the screen opens to my bakery.

He’s been watching. Flames of wrath course through me.

How long has he been watching me? What a stalker.

Maybe I should be flattered, but right now, I’m still hurt from the past. Striding down the empty hall with my hands balled into fists, I stand in front of Leo, who is smirking at the pretty woman.

And jealousy hits like a train wreck. Does Max have a thing for her?

I shake off the churning in my belly. “Tell Max he’s dead.

” I make a gesture on my neck, and both of their eyes widen.

“And tell him he’s so going to get it. And not in a good way. In the worst possible way.”

“What did he do?” Leo gasps. “Did he call you a thief again?”

Again.

“Tell him the check is on his desk and to shove it up his ass. And don’t share a cookie with him. He can eat shit.”

The woman blinks, terrified.

“Fuck, she’s scary. I feel bad for the boss. The boss doesn’t like me eating her cookies because they're so good I moan,” Leo mumbles as I walk into the elevator. A slight curve of my lips lifts before I bring it down. He wants a show, so I’ll give the little stalker one.

My tires squeal when I park at the café. My heart pounds against my chest. Why didn’t he tell me he owned it? I’m proud of him and pissed off. Unlocking the doors, I do a double-take on the place to make sure I’m alone. Isabella is gone. I’m sure Max is done with his meeting by now.

I shut the office door behind me and gradually release my hair, letting it cascade down to my back.

I remove my shirt, revealing a royal blue lace bra.

With a sultry touch, I run my fingers through my hair, swaying it from side to side, and lean against my desk while caressing my chest, biting my lip in the process.

I hope he’s watching, and I’m glad my panties match my bra.

Staring into the camera, I slowly unbutton my jeans.

With a playful glint, I bend over to give him a view.

Turning around, I hop onto my desk, spreading my legs, with one elbow resting on the surface and my head tilted back.

My other hand explores my chest before gliding downward.

I moan. Although he can’t hear, he can see my mouth move.

With my thumb, I lift the seam of my underwear.

He must think I’m going to slip them off for him.

I don’t. I look at the camera and flip him off.

I hope his balls go blue and wither away.