Page 24 of One Midnight Kiss

10

NATALIA

Iwas halfway through my lunch, spearing a perfectly dressed forkful of arugula and goat cheese when my office door banged open like it had been hit by a rampaging gorilla. The fork stopped halfway to my mouth. I was about to scold Penelope for acting like King Kong when he sees a tall building.

But it wasn’t Penelope going ape.

I looked up just in time to see Fox shutting the door behind him. Behind the glass, I caught a glimpse of Penelope’s stricken face, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

“I told him you were busy!” Penelope called through the door, her voice muffled.

He was acting like it was normal to barge into an office. Maybe he had never been taught basic manners given his upbringing. He was half-feral.

Fox looked at me. There was accusation in his eyes. I couldn’t begin to think what I did wrong.

I sighed and put my fork down, taking a moment to mourn what was turning out to be an unusually good salad. Of course, I couldn’t even enjoy my lunch in peace. Men like Fox always complicated everything.

“Did we have an appointment?” I asked, giving him a pointed look. “I would have ordered you a salad.”

Fox strolled across my office as if he owned it, hands casually shoved into the pockets of his suit. The man was feigning nonchalance, which was silly considering that he’d almost knocked the door off its hinges.

He didn’t respond right away, instead letting his gaze drift around the room, taking in the sleek modern furniture, the framed photos with some of my biggest clients, the award plaques on the wall. He made it a point to look unimpressed. That irritated me more than it should have.

“I wasn’t thrilled you sent one of your minions to present your ideas to me this morning,” he said finally, his tone cool.

“Minions?” I echoed, arching an eyebrow. “Aaron is a senior executive. He’s perfectly capable of handling a presentation. I don’t handle individual accounts. I manage the executives who handle the accounts.”

“I didn’t hire that guy. I hired you.”

I sighed. He thought he was special and wanted me to handhold him through the campaign. “What didn’t you like about the concept?”

Fox flexed his jaw, the muscle ticking like he was holding back from saying something he shouldn’t. It was oddly satisfying to watch him struggle. He had put me on edge in the coffee shop when he was checking out my ass. It was my turn.

“That’s not my problem,” he said flatly. “I’m supposed to be working with you. Christa insisted on me hiring you. Not that Aaron guy. I would never hire him.”

“That’s not how this works,” I said, eyeing my salad wilting before my eyes. “I’m heading this account, but I have a team. I can’t babysit every single meeting. I oversee a lot of executives.”

“Is that what you tell yourself to feel better about it?” he shot back, stepping closer to my desk.

He was close enough now that I could smell the faint scent of his cologne—something crisp and woodsy that made me think of mountain air.

I couldn’t help myself. The words were out before I could stop them. “Are you that upset because you didn’t get to see me today? So, you could gawk at me again like you did at the coffee shop?”

He froze, and for a split second, his expression shifted. There was amusement mixed with a hint of surprise. Maybe I shouldn’t have called him out on his rude behavior. Maybe I should have let it go.

He was a client after all.

He looked at me another few seconds, the amusement fading into what almost looked like irritation. Or maybe anger.

“I don’t gawk,” he said, his voice clipped.

“Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes. “Next time you’d like to meet with me one on one, schedule it with Penelope. She’s in charge of my calendar. Don’t expect me to just be wherever you want me to be. Make an appointment.”

“That’s not how I operate,” he said.

I was surprised he was so offended. And angry.

“Then you’re going to be sorely disappointed,” I shot back. “Because I don’t alter my operations for anyone, not even for you, Fox.”