Page 112 of Off Limits Mogul

Keira

FYI, warnings only fuel me.

Rhys

You’re impossible.

Keira

But you still like me.

Rhys

I do.

I can’t help my smile.

Rhys

All right, I got to go play COO. I’ll catch you later, dimples.

Keira

Catch you later, big guy.

I tuck my phone inside the pocket of my suit jacket just as the elevator doors open on the executive floor. I stroll with a decisive step, dropping good mornings, smiling and nodding along the way.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee—and possibilities—permeates the air. SCORE enterprise is in full swing, ready to crush the competition and take even bigger shares of the market.

Even after five monumental years, on some days, I stillstruggle to wrap my head around the fact I, Rhys Hartford, co-own this goliath company.

After a quick pit stop at the employee kitchen for my second latte of the day, I head to my office.

“Morning,” I say, walking by my executive assistant’s desk.

Cecilia shifts her attention from her screen. “Good morning, Rhys.” She leans over her desk. Sensing this might be a long conversation, I cradle my mug with both hands and take a long sip of my piping hot coffee. “Is there something I don’t know about?”

I take another long sip before answering. “You’re talking about Beckett?”

“Yes.” Her light brown eyes glance furtively around the executive floor. “He’s been checking in with me every fifteen minutes to find out if you’re in. That’s unlike him.”

“Yeah, he’s been texting me all morning. Same for Arianne. I was hoping you might know more.”

“I’m clueless,” Cecilia says. “I even checked with Valerie and she has no idea what’s going on… and Beckett’s executive assistant knows everything.”

Interesting.

Valerie always has her ear to the ground. She’s also in on Chinese whispers and water cooler gossip.

“I take one day off, and those two stir trouble,” I say.

“Speaking of which, how was it playing hooky on a Monday?” Cecilia links her fingers beneath her chin and bats her eyelashes.

It was a fucking great day, but I’m not about to tell you.

“Who says I was playing hooky?”

“You’re so dedicated to this company, I have to kick you out of the building when you’re under the weather because you don’t know when to quit. Unless you’re traveling for business or away on holiday, you’re always here.”