Page 127 of To the Chase

“Nothing, really. It’s just…Paul’s going to be so pissed.”

After a beat, he laughed. “Oh yes. Paul will not appreciate being impersonated.”

“No, he won’t.” I snickered. “He’ll have to wear one of his very serious vests to show everyone he means business.”

“He does own a large collection of vests, doesn’t he?”

“Right? So many vests,” I agreed through giggles.

Laughing with me, he tucked me into his arms. We stayed like that for a long time, and when we finally fell asleep, it was wrapped in each other.

No matter what waited for us tomorrow, we had this—laughter and love and arms that didn’t let go.

That was a whole lot.

Chapter Forty-seven

Bea

Thingswentbacktonormal-ish. There was a simmering tension in the background. A cold war at Nox Salvatore tried not to bring home, but it was impossible not to see the way the dawning of the end of his decade-long friendship was affecting him.

I took care of him the best I could, listened when he wanted to talk, but there was only so much I could do, especially when Sam was still walking around Nox like he’d done nothing wrong.

I’d been to Nox twice since Sam had sent the fake email. Both times, I’d made sure to seek him out so he could see my face and acknowledge he had not won. I didn’t say a word, but I didn’t have to. My presence said it all.

As always, Sam could fuck right off.

As soon as Salvatore’s lawyers drew up airtight language Sam couldn’t wiggle out of, he’d be out of here. To me, it was taking far too long for that to happen, but I’d never gone to law school, so who was I to judge?

I bustled into the Nox conference room, my arms full. Salvatore jumped up from his seat to help me, but I shook my head.

“I have everything perfectly balanced. If you move anything, it will all come tumbling down.”

He frowned. “Your system seems to rely too heavily on gravity cooperating with you.”

“No way. I am an expert stacker—a skill honed by years of waitressing. You can’t just walk off the street and expect to carry five plates without breaking a sweat.”

He crowded behind me as I carefully set everything down. As soon as the last bag left my hand, he took me by the shoulder and spun me around. His mouth was on mine before I could catch my breath, but my body was so attuned to his, I instantly melted and kissed him back.

We were being highly inappropriate, considering we were in his workplace—and technically mine—but he was the boss. Who was going to tell him he wasn’t allowed to kiss his girlfriend in his own conference room?

A throat cleared behind us. “Excuse me?”

Salvatore’s grip on my waist tightened. Slowly, unhappily, he lifted his head. Paul was standing in the doorway, shifting uncomfortably as he looked anywhere but at us.

“Oh, hey, Paul,” I chirped, refusing to be embarrassed even though we’d totally been making out in plain view of the open doorway.

It wasn't the first time.

“Hello, Bea.” He cleared his throat again. “Sorry, Tore, but there’s something I need to speak to you about, and I don’t believe it should wait. It’s about Sam.”

Salvatore jerked against me. The movement was subtle, but being so close, I felt it.

Paul gave a quick glance in my direction. “I can come back—”

“No,” Salvatore finally said. “It’s fine. Say it now.”

Paul’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Right. Uh…well…this is something I wasn’t sure I should bring to you, but I’ve thought about it for a few days, and it’s…not sitting right with me. I don’t know if you’re aware, but most of the office managers in the tech world have something of an information-sharing network. I have a friend at Astrillex—”