And what the fuck? Has he just used the least original pickup line on me? At work, no less? Asshole.
“I would remember such an unfortunate encounter.” I put my hands on my hips.
He’s annoyingly tall, towering above me. But if he thinks he can intimidate me, he hasn’t met me yet.
I might be short—often the shortest in the room—but I make up for it with my dedication, ferocity, and resilience.
And right now, stubbornness is the only thing keeping me upright.
“Okay, okay, as much as I would like to see where this unexpected tension leads, I don’t have time for it,” Corm grumbles. “Roxy, Liam will be working with us for the next three months. Please show him Xander’s former office and help him settle in.”
Xander’s office?
That office should be mine. It should go to a partner. And that should be me. Three months? What is he going to do here for three months?
“After you,” Liam says, his voice making me stand taller. And also sending an uninvited swirl of warmth down my spine.
What the hell? I have never been attracted to Xander, so why would I have a reaction to this knock-off? My body needs to get its diagnostics checked.
The reaction shocks me, and that’s not an easy feat.
“Are you okay?” Corm asks.
I look at him, blinking. Shit. A surprised, speechless Roxy is not something he’s ever seen.
I don’t even know what unsettled me. Maybe it’sthe lack of sleep. Maybe it’s the hangover. Maybe it’s the universe punishing me for having a sex life once a decade.
The faster I snap out of it, the better. “I need to talk to you.”
“I have a meeting in five.” Corm checks his watch.
“I can wait,” Liam says.
“Whatever it is, can it wait until tomorrow?” Corm sits behind his desk, done with the conversation.
“I got you Pascal’s number,” I blurt out.
Damn it. I wanted to keep this ace in my pocket for a better, more leveraging moment, but today is not my best day.
I’m paying for last night more than I care to admit. At least it was worth it, and I got to speak to Norbert Pascal before I left the club.
Okay, as much as I don’t want to delve into it, the surprising liaison with Romeo is not helping my mental clarity either.
His hands, his confidence, the way he took control—all of it still lingers way too close beneath my skin.
He seduced me without trying. Without pushing. Without coaxing. But when we got to the bedroom… fuck, he took charge.
Now, Foxy, you let me admire that ass of yours while you walk toward that bed.
I, Roxy fucking Moretti, who doesn’t fold foranyone, found satisfaction in following an order. The memory of it still tingles in my core.
Not ideal timing when my professional life is on fire.
I was tempted to take off the mask and stay there with him. But it was just a one-night stand with a stranger, and it will stay a fond memory. I didn’t want to spoil it with any morning-after awkwardness.
As I tiptoed down the hallway, though, I kind of regretted sneaking out on him. I was going to return when I caught a glimpse of Pascal and switched gears.
It’s not like we would have exchanged numbers and galloped off into the sunset.
