Then Aria speaks, and Anais looks away. “Don’t listen to Mr. Grumpy. Of course you’re his Auntie Anais.”
Anais smiles, her features soft and sweet, until she turns those lilac eyes on me. Her expression hardens, promising retribution.
“Oh, don’t worry, Aria. Your brother’s the last person I’d ever listen to,” she sings, looking totally unaffected by my words.
My nostrils flare. That smug little brat. I swear she lives to get under my skin.
And you’re letting her.That voice in my head pipes up again.
I clench my jaw, the retort burning on my tongue, only to swallow it down.Don’t give her what she wants. Don’t you dare stoop to her level.
Anais smirks triumphantly. She thinks she’s won. She couldn’t be more wrong. In her delusional mind, she thinks I care.
Well, I’ll gladly prove her wrong.
Rising from my seat, I run a hand down my tie then saunter to the door.
“I’ll see you Sunday, Aria.”
And then I leave. Only after the door finally closes behind me, do I exhale and let my muscles relax
Fuck me, that girl really knows how to get under my skin.
Not that I’d ever admit it.
I need to release some of my pent-up tension. And I know just the place.
Tonight, I’m going to Elite and I’m going to forget all about the thorn in my side.
Chapter 12
Anais
By Friday, Evan looks five seconds away from wrapping his fingers around my neck and not in a fun way. I keep messing with his lunch, yet, somehow, he still insists I be the one to get it every day, despite the little surprises I keep sneaking in. It’s childish, but the need to get a reaction out of him trumps my need to stop.
Still, he hasn’t said a word about the crunchy bread cubes. I know for a fact he picks them out of hisno-carbsub. On Wednesday, I caught a glimpse through his slightly left ajar office door, and I watched him mutter curses under his breath as he picked the croutons from his turkey wrap and threw them in the trash. But not one complaint. Not even a glare.
So today, I finally picked up his correct order. Guess I got bored with the games.
Striding into the elevator, I hit the button for the thirty eighth floor. Just before the doors close, someone slips in. Eli.
He’s a little breathless but still, he smiles down at me. Eli’s cute in his own way. Chestnut hair, brown eyes, and a kind smile. The type of guy I’d probably go for if I weren’t completely obsessed with my boss.
“Anais. Hey,” he greets, flashing me straight white teeth.
“Hi Eli. Haven’t seen you around since Monday.” I frown, remembering Evan’s little warning earlier this week. Did he talk to Eli too?
Eli grins wider. “Missed me?”
I blink, my cheeks heating. “Oh, no. I just thought it was odd. You’re usually around.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “So honest. I like it.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair, eyes fixed on me. “I’vebeen locked up in my office, knee deep in figures with my team. Barely had time to use the bathroom let alone grab lunch.”
I nod, smiling mildly. “Sounds… fun.”
Eli chuckles. “Not exactly. Look, I was thinking, maybe we could–” He’s cut off when the elevator comes to a stop and the doors slide open. He slides his hands in his pockets, eyeing me. I get the distinct feeling he was about to ask me on a date. It’s not ego speaking. Just instinct. There’s something in his eyes. Eli seems nice enough, sure. But after Evan’s speech about the no-fraternization policy, I’m not about to get caught up in anything here. Not unless it’s with Evan.
I motion down the hallway with my free hand. “I should get Mr. Maxwell’s lunch to him.”
