Page 30 of My Office Rival (Keep Your Enemy Closer #2)

CYNTHIA

T he only word I could use to describe today was awkward.

Jason and I sat across the conference room table from each other while our clients discussed the additional financial disclosures that Gene had begrudgingly provided.

Sunlight streamed in, making Jason’s golden hair shine and his stubble glimmer.

His jaw was clenched and the under-eye circles were back.

He and I barely looked at each other, but I’d noticed a flush over those cut-glass cheekbones when he’d seen me this morning.

Thank all that was holy, I’d been able to avoid him until we got to the office.

Because last night had been insane. What had possessed me to say his name?

Of all things. I wanted to shake myself until I saw reason.

And of course he had loved it. In fact, I had the impression that his name on my lips had sent him over the edge, at least judging by the groan he’d made.

I was getting turned on just thinking about it.

His stare was carefully blank, as if we were strangers.

Okay, jerk. I guess it was for the best that one of us maintain some composure.

But it still bothered me how quickly he was able to flip from moaning my name to pretending I was nothing but opposing counsel.

Maybe he’d always have one up on me. The thought rankled .

“Isn’t that right, Cynthia?” my client questioned. I hadn’t been paying attention. Crap.

“Can you repeat the point, please?” I asked, my face heating.

“We think the auditors should be provided with everything they need to complete their review of these entities,” the Argan CFO repeated.

“Correct,” I agreed.

Gene glowered and looked at Jason. Jason was silent.

“They’ll be provided in the next package of materials,” Gene ground out. “Jason, I’m sure you’ll produce them soon, right?”

Jason’s head jerked in Gene’s direction. His gaze was hard. Weird. I didn’t usually look at my clients like that. Like I wanted to murder them and hoped no one ever found the body.

“Great, thank you,” my client continued. “And Cynthia, when will you have our remaining list of requests prepared?”

“By this evening,” I responded quickly.

“I’m going to need it sooner.” Jason cut in and his client smirked.

“It will be ready tonight,” I said slowly, looking him in the eye. Asshole. This was his game. With any other opposing counsel, I would have agreed to accommodate them, but he always pushed like this, trying to throw you off and make himself seem important.

“It is imperative that I receive it before then, Ms. Kade.” He frowned, as if this whole deal were about to go off the rails.

“We are preparing it as fast as we can, Mr. Elliott. Tonight should be more than enough time for your team to gather everything we need by Wednesday. Unless you think there’s an issue on your side with staffing?” I said this through clenched teeth. Take that. His eyes glittered at my response.

“You seem a little distracted. Perhaps if we discuss later, we can figure out a way to get this done sooner.” He said it like he was swooping in to save the day, and I saw red.

“We don’t need to discuss anything. I told you I’ll have it to you tonight.”

My client shifted awkwardly. “No need for this to get fraught,” she said with a small laugh .

Gene snorted. “I don’t mind.”

Yeah, he fucking didn’t. My hand clenched around my pen.

Why is Jason acting like this? Yeah, he’d been in a bad mood.

And yeah, this was kind of his thing. Maybe he was trying to impress his client?

Was I impressing mine? Fuck, I hated floundering, and I only seemed to do it on deals with him.

Jason sent me careening out of control, and I hated it.

“Ms. Kade. Did you have comments on the document I sent you Friday?” Jason asked. A reasonable question. I would have responded already, but I’d been too distracted by him. My face flamed.

“They’re almost ready. I’ll send them when we get out of this meeting.”

Jason opened his mouth like he was about to say something.

Gene gave an evil smile. “Tell her what to do.”

“I don’t need Mr. Elliott to tell me what to do. Our team is on top of things,” I said crisply. “Mr. Elliott, unless you need me to tell you what to do?” It made no sense, but I needed to turn the tables, and fast.

Jason’s whole body jerked and his expression shuttered. What had I said?

“Is that all?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you.” My client dropped the call, and I stayed seated, watching Gene gather his materials and shuffle out. He looked far too pleased with Jason’s behavior.

As soon as he left, I sprang out of my chair. “So you’re his attack dog now? Do you enjoy that?” I spat.

“Just doing my job,” Jason responded mildly, but the flex of his jaw belied his cool words.

“You embarrassed me in front of my client, Jason. What the hell? You didn’t need to make it look like I was unprepared. You didn’t need to pressure me.” My voice rose with each word. This was exactly the kind of thing that would get back to Gerald and come back to hurt me.

How could you do this? I didn’t say.

He finally looked at me. His blue eyes were hard and his face was tight. “Nothing about our living situation is going to change how I conduct myself in business.”

“The way you conduct yourself is shitty,” I shot back.

“My clients don’t think so.” He looked smug.

“That’s because he’s a thug like you’re pretending to be. This isn’t the real you, Jason.”

He leaped up and leaned over the table. “You don’t know the real me.” He hissed the words and his eyes were cold. What the hell?

I stepped back at his venom. “Noted.” I gathered my materials and left. Asshole . I had to hold on to my anger, because if I didn’t, I would cry.

I drove furiously on the way home. Finishing the rest of the day from home wasn’t brave, but I was done being brave today.

I clenched my hands on the wheel. Why do you care?

Jason had always been like this. He’d tormented me on deals countless times.

But it had never felt so personal. It had never felt so much like betrayal.