Page 20 of Promise of Destruction

“What areyoudoing here?”

“At my company?” I laugh. “I’m trying to get inside so that I can call a staff meeting. What do you say? Wanna… step inside?”

Her eyes don’t leave mine as she crosses her arms and takes a small step aside, pulling out from under my touch. She worries her lip as if she’s trying to hold something back but then decides to let it go in a rush.

“I know what you did.”

I suppress the smile that wants to creep across my face and feign ignorance again. “What did I do?”

She lifts her chin to the side but says nothing, crossing her arms over her chest. I’m fairly certain she isn’tintentionallydrawing my attention to the V-neck of her blouse and the tops of her breasts that are sitting on display in what I’m sure is a black lace push-up bra.

She opens her mouth to say something and then decides better of it, changing tack. “I’m not stupid and I’m not scared of you.”

That earns her a genuine laugh, but I don’t get the chance to argue that she most certainly is, because she throws the door open and stalks away before I even finish laughing.

fourteen

Soren

Myheartsitsinmy throat as I tell him that I’m not afraid of him, and I’m fairly certain he’s too smart to believe me for even a second.

His laughter follows me into the office, to the desk thatwasmine… up until I came in to see someone else’s belongings on it. I pick up my coffee and busy myself swirling it around the cup, trying to unsettle the creamer that’s congealing on the bottom. This way, at least, Declan can’t see my face as he walks past me, nearly causing me to choke when he steps into Aaron’s office.

No.

No no no.

A sick panic slithers inside my stomach.

He bought the paper so that he could control what I said about him. I understood that much from the moment I saw his name on the door. What I didn’t realize was that he wouldfireAaron just so that he could take his place.

No, surely the CEO of multiple million-dollar companies has better things to do than oversee a goddamn newspaper. Right?

“Miss Palmer?” I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of my name rolling off his tongue, and I’m certain everyone’s watching me as I turn to face him, struggling to maintain a shred of composure.

Irefuseto call him sir. I decide it in a single instant.

I also don’t want to give him the luxury of addressing him by his first name as if we’re familiar enough for that. So, I say nothing as I turn to see him flick loose the button on his sports jacket. It’s way too formal for this kind of atmosphere.

I stare at him expectantly, waiting for .

“You are one of very few staff that has been retained during the turnover, so I’ve requested that you take the editor-in-chief position. Your new desk is in here.”

Fuck.

My heart shudders as he gestures to the desk opposite Aaron’s.

As long as I’ve been here, Aaron has handledeverythingfrom an administrative standpoint on his own. I always assumed the second desk in his office was just because he ran out of space to lay out his work. Now, through the glass that separates the office from the rest of the space, I can see that the second desk has been cleared of all the clutter, and a tall-backed chair has been added to it.

It's a promotion… one that I am woefully unqualified for. One that forces me into a small space with Declan Evers.

“Congratulations.” Luc’s voice breaks through the sound of blood rushing in my ears, and I jump again.

“Damn, baby.” Luc pouts. “Am I in the twilight zone or something? Everybody is acting weird as hell today.”

“Sorry.” I force a laugh, pursing my lips together to hide the way they want to quiver. “I didn’t sleep much. Too caffeinated.”

His eyes flutter over me, coming up with some unspoken judgement. “Well lay off of it, girl, before you have a heart attack.”