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Adrientsked at me like I was a naughty cat pawing at a shiny Christmas ornament I knew I shouldn’t be touching. “I’m not sure you want to be taking that tone with me.”
Fuck.
You.
“I think the real question is, what are you willing to do?” he mused.
“We both know the answer to that.”
He’d known exactly what he was doing firing Alba before she went on maternity leave. How much pressure that would put on her and her family. What corner he was forcing me into. How much leverage it gave him.
Evil prick.
Real, genuine hatred sparked in my chest. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d let someone blindside me like this. Or make me feel so…stupid.
Adrien tapped a finger against his armrest. “I’d like to hear you say it.”
I swallowed back the resistance blocking my throat. My pride went right down with it. “Anything. I’d be willing to do pretty much anything.”
“Pretty much,” he repeated, the end of the words curling into a semi-question.
“Nothing illegal,” I clarified. “Or sexual, obviously.”
His grin widened, the lopsided dimples on either side deepening. “Don’t flatter yourself, Sanchez. I wouldn’t touch you with a level A hazmat suit on.”
“Likewise,” I bit back without hesitation.
He ignored my jab. “I assure you everything will be kept perfectly legal. I’m not the one with the criminal record.”
I was pretty sure the anger made my nostrils flare because his gaze flickered right down to them, his mouth quivering.
Chill the fuck out. You’re giving him way too much of what he wants.
“Is running a background check on someone without their consent legal?” I pushed through my teeth.
He waved a hand. “There are ways around it.”
“Great,” I managed to grind out. “Can you tell me what you want now?”
He considered me briefly, almost like he was savoring the moment. Then he said, “Beg.”
I blinked, my brain stammering. “Excuse me?”
“Beg, Miss Sanchez,” he repeated, the right side of his mouth curving into an extremely punchable little smirk. “Ask me nicely.”
He was trying to humiliate me because I’d humiliated him. That was all this was. And the more I reacted, the more enjoyment he’d get out of the experience.
Exactly. So just swallow back your pride and get it over with.
I rolled my lips and clasped my clammy hands in front of me, ignoring the flash of glee that sparked in Adrien’s eyes at the sight. He looked infuriatingly pleased with himself, but that was okay, because I wasn’t here anymore.
I was in the hotel lobby, cane in hand, with Adrien curled on the floor in front of me. There was soft piano music playing in the background, complemented by the sweet sounds of Adrien’s misery and seven hundred million dollars disappearing into thin air. My new happy place.
With that image in mind, I cleared my throat, and said, “Adrien Cloutier, please, please,pleasegive my sister her job back.”
He laughed.
The fuckercackledlike I’d just told a joke. “No, Miss Sanchez. You’re going to be asking for the opportunity to earn Alba her job back.”
