Page 25 of Recovering Ivy

“That’s never gonna happen,” Zane growled.

Thank God, Zane said something. I appreciated the offer, but I didn’t know Declan and I wasn’t taking handouts from him. I may be poor, but I still had my pride.

Colin leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his broad chest. What was it with these men and their perfect bodies? They could give a girl a complex. Not that I had any weight to lose, but that was only because I couldn’t afford to eat, not because I worked out. And by the look of every man in this office, working out was a job requirement.

“She can stay with me. I have a three bedroom. The spare has a bed…”

“Fuck no,” Zane cut him off.

Lincoln, too, sat back in his chair. But he didn’t offer me a place to stay; instead, he freaked me the fuck out and roared with laughter.

“Holy shit, this is fun. Payback is a bitch, isn’t it?” I wasn’t sure who that was directed to, but I gathered it was Zane when he flipped him the middle finger. “The only person Ivy is staying with is Zane. And if I was a betting man, I’d bet the next man that offers Ivy a room in their home is going to get their balls cut off. While it would be fun to watch, and I do love when my brother’s face turns this particular shade of red and the vein threatens to break out of his neck, we have shit to do.”

WHAT?

Stay with Zane?

That would be a big fat no!

“I’m fine where I am,” I told them.

“Let me explain what’s going to happen over the next few days. My team is going to crawl so far up Forester’s ass he’s gonna feel it. They’re not going to go soft, they’re gonna do it in a way that he knows someone is doing it. We need him scrambling. It’s the fastest way to get him to fuck up. If he’s manufacturing, he’ll make a move to relocate. If he’s selling, he’ll feel the need to unload his product. I want the trap laid and the noose around his neck. He’ll hang himself. But while we’re doing all of this, he’s also gonna get desperate. And desperate people do stupid shit. I don’t want you anywhere near him while he’s making his plays. So, you’re quitting that fucking job.”

“If it will only take a few days, can’t I call out sick?”

“Christ,” he grumbled.

“You’re annoying,” I announced.

“Right back at ‘cha.”

“Why am I annoying? Because I want a fucking job so I can support myself? Because I don’t want freebies from people I don’t even know. You can Christ all you want to, growl at me, and grumble under your breath, but you’re not going to bully me into doing something I don’t want to do.”

“You want a job so bad? Fine. Linc, go downstairs and fire that crazy bitch that works the front desk. I think she’s probably out of my men to fuck anyway. And Jasmin hates her.” What? He was going to fire someone? “You can have her job. Or if that doesn’t suit you, Rena, my personal assistant, is always complaining how she has too much work, you can be her assistant.”

“I’m not working as your personal assistant’s assistant.”

“Why not? Is it not good enough for you? You said yourself you needed a job. I’m offering you one. Somewhere safe where you won’t possibly wind up dead.”

“No, you jackass, I don’t think I’m too good for the job. Because I would stab you in the throat. I don’t know how much you pay this Rena woman but whatever it is, she needs a raise.”

“Holy fuck. I think I’m in love.” That was said by Colin. The loud grunt that echoed in the room came from Zane. Declan and Linc wisely didn’t comment but both smiled.

“Go fire Donna,” Zane told Linc.

“With pleasure. That woman is rude as all get out and has tried to get in my pants since the day I showed up.”

“Don’t fire anyone, Zane. That’s mean,” I huffed.

“Mean? The woman is batshit crazy. I had to make her start calling me Mr. Lewis, so she’d get the hint and stop trying to get in my pants.”

“Why does she call you Mr. Lewis?” I asked. I thought his last name was Gold.

“Because that’s my name,” he replied.

“Oh, so I’m not the only one who lied about my name,” I smirked.

Zane didn’t reply, instead he rolled his eyes at me.