Page 14 of Risque (Pack It In #1)

Mila

The morning was awkward, mostly because I woke up alone to a text and a note. Something about having a meeting and needing to get to the company early.

There is a full spread of food on his counter for me to choose from when I finally make it into the kitchen but it’s untouched.

Which means that Mr. Holt didn’t eat. My heart sinks into my stomach as I look around for something to wear.

After all, I had changed into scrubs so my clothes are still stuffed in my bag somewhere.

Embarrassing.

I snatch two of the croissants and a Danish before pouring myself a cup of coffee into the provided travel mug. If this is going to be my last brush with the rich, I might as well indulge. Images of last night flood my head but I stuff all of those down.

“Nope, we’re going to shower and get dressed and not cry ,” I tell myself. I head for the bathroom, unsurprised to see a new set of towels but the clothing set beside it is… not mine. It’s my size for some reason but it’s not mine.

Just wear it, I tell myself. No looking a gift horse in the mouth. I’ll wear it out of here and then grab something from the car. It’ll be fine.

Fifteen minutes later, hailing a cab to work, and it’s not fine at all.

Nolan has been texting me all morning, intermittently calling.

Well, I think it’s him. It’s from a different number than yesterday.

Adeline left me a few texts checking in on me but I’m too wound up to say anything. And what would I even say?

However, when she says that Nolan is waiting in the café, I know I don’t have a choice but to attack this issue head-on.

I stop by my car and slip into something more comfortable, barely through the doors when Nolan is in my face, jabbing me in the shoulder for answers.

“Why the fuck were you with my Dad? Trying to get back at me or something? He doesn’t even like men and he would never go for you! ”

I refrain from replaying exactly what happened last night.

“Nolan, I’ve told you I don’t know how many times that we’re not together anymore.

The fact that you keep pushing the issue and you came to my job is weird behavior.

Go away.” Some part of me wants to cower beneath Nolan’s words but I force myself to stay strong as I make my way to the counter.

Adeline raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to explain but I can’t really do that with Nolan hovering. “Morning, Mila. Wasn’t sure we’d see you today. What can I get for you?”

Her over-the-top excitement in her voice just makes me laugh.

“Addy, I need a pistachio latte. Hot. And then one of those fruit loop things.” She frowns at me and I just grin.

“With an extra pump of vanilla, please.” I believed Mr. Holt when he said he couldn’t taste but I want to make sure that this is more than that.

Am I being mean by feeding him the one drink we have that has the most sugar and is usually for kids?

Probably. But I’m curious if it really is me being able to break this curse for him.

Nolan tugs on my shoulder, twisting me to face him again. “Don’t ignore me, Mila. We still need to talk and you have shit in your car that is mine.”

“Nothing in that car is yours. Half the time we were together, I paid for everything. I made sure to only take what I have receipts for. If you’re looking for something that is no longer in the apartment, then you didn’t pay for it.

” I double and triple checked what I took.

All of the cooking pans and utensils. My auntie’s silverware set.

Nearly every blanket in the house as well as my wardrobe and the trinkets in the living room.

I suspect that Nolan was going to try and sell one of them but they’ve been in my family since my great great grandmother so… of course I wrapped each one and took them with me.

Nolan shakes my shoulder a little, growling in my face.

I might have cowered a week or two ago but it’s like I’m somehow channeling Mr. Holt’s confidence.

I don’t even quiver. I just look up at Nolan and smile.

“Would you stop manhandling me? Go back to that Omega you were with. You seemed really happy with him.”

“Would you stop bringing that guy up? It was a mistake!”

I fist my hands at my sides, glancing over at Adeline for help.

There’s no way this conversation can go anywhere but south.

Billy is a few feet away, his eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them.

They’re both Betas but I’m sure they could fuck up Nolan in an instant.

Neither one of them moves, though, another presence sifting through the doors that has everyone suddenly on alert.

Jasmine.

“Mr. Grey, I am pretty sure that you are supposed to be quite a few floors up. I noticed Mr. Holt came in alone this morning and it’s been at least an hour since the meeting ended. What are you doing down here?”

I swallow nervously and shake myself away from Nolan. Mr. Holt is going to kill me for this lie but I also don’t want to get fired. “He had me on a few errands and then coffee. He said I wasn’t needed until after his meeting.”

Jasmine frowns, whipping out her phone and dialing a number. “Jax?” She puts the phone on speaker, glaring at me as she tries to catch me in a lie. “Your new assistant mentioned that you sent him on errands and then for coffee but you don’t drink coffee.”

“I do now, Jasmine. Trying something different. I asked him to grab something. I also assume that he can hear me. Mila, make sure to grab that new frosted cookie, please.”

God, Mr. Holt is a lifesaver and now I feel bad trying to trick him. “Uh, sir, the orange one?”

“Yes please.”

And then Mr. Holt hangs up, leaving an awkward air between all of us.

Jasmine blinks down at me. “I’m not sure you were the right choice, Mr. Grey but he’s been more enthusiastic about this project in the last 24 hours than he has anything else.

” My cheeks pink remembering the last time I was around Jasmine was when I was sucking Mr. Holt off under his desk.

“Now, as for you, Mr. Holt, I’d like to see you off the premises. ”

Nolan snarls at her. “This is my father’s company. I’m not going anywhere and Mila and I need to have a conversation.”

“No, we don’t,” I mutter.

Jasmine nods. “Regardless, you are not welcome in this building or on the premises. You made that very clear when you threw the opportunity your father gave you back in his face.” He’s about to argue but she just holds up a hand.

“I don’t care what you have to say, Mr. Holt.

I really don’t. My only priority is the safety of the employees in this building and the rules that I am to follow.

Either you can leave on your own or I can call the police. ”

“It’s not that serious.”

“It is ,” Jasmine states as she steps up to him. She’s an inch or two shorter than him even with the heels but her power outdoes his tenfold. “And currently, you are bothering your father’s assistant.”

“I just want to know what happened last night? Mila was in his car. He was sick and not answering me. I just…”

Jasmine pauses and looks back at me as I try to keep my face neutral. Mr. Holt had told her that I had gone home. I’ll have to make up a lie about that too. Fuck. She turns to Nolan and ushers him through the door without another word.

Adeline leans over the counter with my coffees, clicking her tongue to grab my attention. “You really know how to make everything complicated. Now, sweetie, tell me that you’re okay and we can talk later.”

I twist toward her, a warm smile spreading across my lips. “Oh, more than okay.” Then I lean a little closer so only she can hear me. “Mr. Holt is nothing like his son.” Adeline’s eyes grow wide as I snatch the coffees and the cookie he asked for, barely making it to the elevator.

Unfortunately, it’s also the one Jasmine is taking back up.

“You know exactly what I’m going to ask you so why don’t you just give me your version of the story. As I remember, we said this would be a trial and I’m not sure it’s going to work out.”

I swallow, rumbling through a billion different versions of the same lie and settle on one. “I left shortly after lunch because I wasn’t feeling well. Really hot and clammy and the scent blocker wasn’t working. But I don’t have anywhere to go so I sat in my car a little bit…”

“Why don’t you have anywhere to go?”

“I broke up with Nolan so I don’t have an apartment or anything and I forgot the details to my new apartment upstairs.

I was too embarrassed to say anything or come back in so I just took a nap in my car, hoping that would make it better.

It didn’t and Mr. Holt found me so he offered to take me home. ”

Jasmine’s nostrils flare as she glares at me. “Are you telling me that you slept in his home?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Grey…”

“I wasn’t lucid. He was a gentleman and put me in the guest bedroom but I’m better now and I came back to apologize.”

Jasmine has the power to fire me right here but she doesn’t.

She waits until we step into Mr. Holt’s office, the woman stalking up to the man’s desk and pointing back at me.

“You took an Omega home with you, Jax? That’s…

wildly unprofessional. What will the investors say?

Scratch that, just tell me what was going on in your head. ”

Mr. Holt leans back, a tight smile on his lips as he observes her.

He seems angry and I can’t tell if it’s with me or with her or just this whole fucked up situation.

Regardless, I really just want to run over and curl up in his lap and make all this better.

Instead, I just stand a few inches from the doors, clutching two hot coffees to my chest.

“Jasmine, he was in heat and mostly incoherent. So, yes, I took him home, stuck him in a room and asked what he needed. Seems like cold water and lots of pillows truly helped. What is this all about?” His eyes dart over to me before returning to Jasmine.