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“Sales price was fair for the market value,” I say slowly as I scan the documents. “It’s quite beautiful actually.” I stare at the picture of the ocean view.
“Very beautiful,” he agrees.
When I glance at him, his penetrating gaze is on me and not the picture. It sends a quiver of excitement rushing through me. I quickly scold myself internally and drag my eyes back to the file. “Everything looks fine to me. Looks to be a good investment.”
He lets out a sigh that has me glancing at him again. “I agree. How did you learn all of this? You’re working as my assistant and yet you know all of these things. I was searching for a document and the IT department granted me access into your computer. You have so many emails…”
Horror washes over me. And shame. As much as he pisses me off, I never intended for him to see my drafts in my inbox. Some of those emails I typed up were when I was angry. Not just at him but at the entire world. He always bore the brunt of my fury. Thankfully, I was smart enough to never send them. I never dreamed he’d ever read them.
“I’m sorry—” I start, my voice but a whisper. I wonder if he’s come to tell me I can just quit without working my last two weeks. That stresses me out, considering I just mailed out my most recent paycheck—well most of it—back home. I’m sure Sean would let me start early, but I already feel humiliated by how I acted around him last night.
“Don’t be. I know I’m difficult to understand and apparently difficult to work for.” He turns his sharp gaze on mine. I see the way his eyes dart over my face, inspecting every feature closely as if I’m on display under a microscope. It unnerves me, yet I find my body heat rising from his close inspection. “Tell me how you know these things, Violet.”
I stiffen my back and let out a small sigh. “I’m perceptive. One of those watch-and-learn personalities. Also, I research a lot of things. If I’m interested, I try to learn more about it. I even took some night classes. Most of them were business related. Some touched on the economy and investments. I can’t really say I learned it all from one place. It was more or less a culmination of many things.” His eyes are on my mouth as I speak. I like how focused on me he is but at the same time, I’m disgusted.
Vaughn kept a close eye on me and I hated it.
I sip my coffee, directing my attention to the window. The rain pours outside. I should send Gray out in it and hope he gets drenched for being such a prick earlier. As if in tune with my thoughts, he speaks.
“I’m sorry about breakfast. I didn’t mean to pry…”
“But?” There’s always a but.
He scrubs his face and regards me with a vulnerability I’ve yet to see from the powerful Grayson Maxwell. “But I’m just so curious about you right now.”
His honest answer has me regarding him with gentler eyes. I know I can be a cold, hard bitch sometimes. Maybe part of the reason I don’t have any friends is because I refuse to let anyone in. My walls are always erect and impenetrable.
“I just don’t like talking about my past or my reason for doing things,” I admit as I set my mug down.
He mimics my actions and gives me a crooked grin that sends a swarm of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. “Can we start over? Can we be friends?”
With him sitting in my living room, looking like he belongs, and turning on the charm, I feel some of my inner ice thawing. “I’ll only be around for two more weeks, Gray. Maybe being friends isn’t such a good idea. I’ll be gone before you know it, no longer in your hair.”
His eyes darken and I notice a tick in his jaw. “There usually isn’t a timeline on friendship. Maybe I still want to be your friend, even after you leave.”
I chew on my bottom lip for a minute contemplating his motives. There really is no hidden reason why he would want to be friends. I mean, maybe his definition of friendship leans toward the fuck buddies territory, but I can thwart his advances. He knows I’m leaving and hasn’t necessarily tried to prevent me from doing so.
“Please.” His word isn’t a plea but more of an olive branch.
“I’m afraid I would be a terrible friend,” I admit with an embarrassed smile. “I don’t have any because I never really wanted any.”
He regards me, his eyes doing that strange thing he does now—ever since he seemed to snap out of Mad Max mode yesterday—where they skim over every part of my face as if he’s trying to memorize each freckle on my flesh. “I’m the worst friend you’ll ever know. Just ask Bull.” He winces at the name, which only makes me want to know why.
“Who’s Bull?”
“Jeff.”
I crack a smile at the sheepish way Gray is behaving. Normally, I see the powerful, arrogant, one-track minded madman who runs the company I work for. I’ve never seen other sides of him. Bashful and vulnerable. Playful and grinning.
“What exactly do friends do?” I question, changing the subject. “We’re not sleeping together.”
A beautiful smile curves his lips and his entire handsome face lights up like never before. Just one look at him like this has me chiding myself. Don’t lie to the sex god, honey. We both know you’re eventually going to let that man into your bed.
His eyes narrow as they drop to my throat. The heat is painted on my skin—I can feel it. I clear my throat and tap the paper to distract him. “Have you been to the resort?”
“Once before. The moment I settled into my suite with a glass of brandy and sat in the armchair that overlooked the chilly Atlantic, I knew I wanted it for myself.” His hand covers mine as he draws it away from the picture. He’s looking down at the stunning boutique resort, but I’m focused on the way his large hand lingers on mine. I swear my heart is thudding so loudly he can most certainly hear it.
“Do you just take everything you want?” My words are meant to tease but they come out in an accusatory tone.
He leans into me as his hand squeezes mine. Warm lips brush against the shell of my ear, and hot breath tickles me when he speaks. “Always. When I want something, I do whatever it takes to get it.”
We’re not talking acquisitions anymore.
Or maybe we are.
“And what happens when you finally get it?” I can’t help but poke him a little more.
He lets out a heavy exhalation that sends shivers of need coursing through me. If he asked me to get naked for him right now, I probably would.
“I don’t let it go,” he says finally. He pulls away an
d takes the folder from me. I’m frozen in place, assuming he’s about to scoop my melted body up and take me into my room where he’ll spend hours ravishing me. I’m disappointed when he stands and clears his throat. My eyes drift to the large erection bulging in his slacks.
“Are we done here?” I murmur before reluctantly pulling my gaze from his dick to meet his hardened glare.
He runs those long fingers again through his now messy hair. I could think of a good use for those fingers…
“For now. I’ll pick you up at seven for dinner.” He doesn’t wait for a response before he stalks toward the door. “Take a nap until then. You look exhausted.”
I rise on shaky legs and follow after him. “Dinner? I thought we were just friends.”
“Friends don’t eat dinner together?” he implores with an impish grin.
I roll my eyes at him but I’m smiling too. “Last meal we had together went badly. You were an ass.”
His smile falls and a fierce stare finds me. His hand raises to cup my cheek. “I’m sorry. I was out of line. It won’t happen again. You just…” He drops his hand and looks off behind me toward the windows. “You just looked too damn pretty to be prancing around without a bra on for all those perverts to see.” His eyes snap to mine and fire flares in them. I’m definitely melting again under his glare.
“Oh.”
“Wear something casual. Jeans or something,” he says.
“And a bra?” I taunt, my lips turning up to give him a wicked grin.
His laugh is charming and it shaves years off his age. “Clothing is always optional when you’re around me. I may have to beat some motherfuckers down for looking but I’m not opposed to the idea, little quitter.”
He’s already turning on his heel and pulling the door open.
“Bye, Gray.” Hours ago I hated the very ground he walked on, and now, I don’t want him to leave.
“Bye, Violet.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
GRAYSON
THE DAY STARTED out shitty but having Violet bend to my requests earlier certainly made it better. I’d also successfully managed to return her key while she showered. She’s already softening toward me. Soon, she’ll soften beneath me as she takes every inch of my hardness. I can imagine her pouty lips begging. Please fuck me, Gray. Oh God…
