Page 105 of Last First Date

Benjamin regarded me for a moment, his expression indiscernible. His eyes were cold. “Why don’t I buy you a coffee and we can talk?”

I stared at him, completely dumbfounded by his unwillingness to accept my rejection. I had never met anyone so obstinate in my life. I took a deep breath. “Benjamin, I’m sure there are plenty of women that would love to have coffee with you. I’m not one of them. Now, if you would please excuse me, I have a lot of work to get done.”

Benjamin’s eyes narrowed, the smirk once again playing on his lips. There was a glint in his eyes that indicated he was not used to such rejection. He leaned back, returning to his full height. It was meant to intimidate. There was no way I was going to let a loser like him intimidate me.

I didn’t care if he ended up firing us or giving us bad reviews. I had enough.

Our interaction was gaining an audience. People in the office were watching and listening. I had to stand up for myself or others were going to think they could walk all over me.

“Well, Waverly.” His voice dripped with faux cordiality as he picked up his jacket from the back of the chair. “I see your star status has given you new wings but let me remind you that the higher you fly, the harder you could potentially fall.”

“If that’s a threat, Benjamin, it’s a weak one,” I replied with biting calmness. “And if it’s advice, it’s misguided. My wings are not new, nor were they granted to me by star status. They are a result of hard work, resilience, and self-respect. So, I don’t intend to fall. But thank you for the concern.”

His smirk faltered as he processed my response. The predatory amusement in his eyes vanished momentarily, replaced by a flicker of surprise. “We’ll see,” he finally said, putting on his jacket with an exaggerated nonchalance.

“We will indeed,” I said, nodding politely.

“I can make you an even bigger star,” he said.

I groaned and slapped my hand to my forehead. “What is wrong with you? Seriously, I don’t want to go out with you. I don’t want to be at your party. I don’t even want to be in the same state as you, but unless you move, I’m stuck with you.”

He chuckled. “I do like a fiery woman,” he said with a lascivious look. “I bet you’re a wildcat in the sack.”

Before I could respond, the air around us seemed to shift. I could hear the office collectively hold their breath. I turned and my heart skipped a beat. Knox stood there, his expression murderous, a storm brewing in his eyes.

“What’s going on here?” Knox’s voice cut through the tension, his gaze fixed on Benjamin.

I seized the opportunity to distance myself from the uncomfortable situation. “Knox, perfect timing.”

“Yeah, I heard,” he hissed.

Knox was staring down Benjamin like he was debating whether to snap him in two pieces or three. I could feel the rage coming off him in waves and realized I was in a very precarious position standing between the two of them.

“Knox, it’s nothing to worry about,” I assured, forcing a smile onto my face. “Benjamin was just leaving.”

Benjamin laughed, the sound echoing around the room and sending shivers down my spine.

Knox’s gaze didn’t waver from Benjamin. “Why don’t we go into my office?” Knox said in a way that was more of a demand than an invitation.

When Benjamin didn’t immediately move, Knox grabbed his arm and moved him. I stood watching the scene and hoped things didn’t escalate.

But if Benjamin got punched in the face, I wouldn’t shed any tears.

44

KNOX

Iwalked into the office, looking forward to seeing Waverly. My conversation with my mother had given me confidence. I had thought about how I could arrange a conversation with her. I decided I was going to ask her to dinner. That seemed like a good way to start the conversation. I knew there were going to be some hurdles we had to overcome, considering we worked together and there might be some issues with her as my assistant.

As I made my way through the familiar corridors, I could feel a strange tension. No one was talking or working. Everyone appeared to be looking toward my office. I rounded the corner and saw Benjamin and Waverly facing off. I could tell by the set of her shoulders she wasn’t happy. I heard her tell him she didn’t want to be in the same state as he was, which immediately put me on guard.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, he was making suggestive comments about her. Anger like I never felt before rose up within me. Benjamin had crossed a line which couldn’t be uncrossed. The insinuation of his words was clear.

“Knox, it’s nothing to worry about,” Waverly tried to reassure me with a forced smile. “Benjamin was just leaving.”

But I wasn’t having any of it. This man had disrespected Waverly in the most vulgar way, and he was going to answer for it. Without waiting for his response, my hand clenched around Benjamin’s arm with a firm grip. I could see the shock register in his eyes, but he didn’t try to pull away. Good. It meant he understood who held the real power in this situation.

Dragging him toward my office, I caught Waverly’s worried look from the corner of my eye. Her face was pale and drawn as she followed our hasty exit.