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“What sort of question is that? Of course not, everyone here is qualified to answer such questions. In my opinion, you should be as well.” I press my lips together in annoyance, but my pride urges me to play.
“If you would have paid attention to my smoothly-run presentation”—I pause meaningfully, letting the others get out their amused chuckles—“you would have noticed that Mr. Price and I made suggestions, shown in slides fifty-five to sixty-five.” With a little bit oomph to my self-esteem, I click on the slide.
Noticing his irritation, I continue, “If you haven’t paid attention, let me introduce everyone, so you can properly start this meeting and discuss these questions with them. I really don’t want to take up their precious time by watching us bicker and see who can get who first.” Smirking, I point to the scoreboard over my shoulder. Take that!
The air becomes charged with tension again, and Mr. CEO straightens in his seat. Although I am not finished with him just yet, I grab nametags and pass them out. Then, I come up to him and hold his tag to him. Boldly written on a label is his name: Logan Cade.
Since I realize he’s not going to take it, I come closer. My lips tug in a smile as I breathe him in while attaching his nametag to his jacket. His hands are flexing impatiently, clearly affected by my closeness. I lock my eyes with his and grin in triumph.
“Score,” I mouth.
His lips part in surprise and his eyes lock on my mouth. I step away, announcing a twenty-minute coffee break. Their excitement is contagious and I’m happy that I somehow got through this meeting.
People come up to talk. Logan handles them smoothly, making everyone feel at ease and appreciated. His voice causes involuntary shivers to run down my spine; my pulse thrums and my belly dances with nerves. I hate how easily he unbalances me. He dismisses everyone and turns his unnerving attention on me. To his annoyance, I’m no longer alone.
Logan is looking directly at me, as Joshua tries to smooth over the entire incident. “Mr. Cade, I’m sorry that I didn’t make it apparent what position Cassandra occupies in our London branch. I thought I made my introduction clear as to who my assistant is, her purpose in being here, and her involvement in creating this amazing presentation.”
Bless him, he always looks out for me. Since I don’t care to get involved in a conversation with Mr. CEO, I pay attention to our guests.
“That’s all right, Joshua. If you don’t mind leaving me with Ms. Knight for a moment, so I can apologize for my attitude myself.”
He dismisses Joshua, just like that, and my boss reluctantly leaves me with Mr. Dickhead. Suddenly apprehensive, I turn to finish our quarrel, but the way he watches me makes me stay silent and wait for his next move.
Captured like a fly in the spider’s net, I am incapable of breaking eye contact or walking away from him. He lightly places his hands on my hips and leisurely turns us towards the table, as if to separate us from the rest of the group. His breath on my skin and hands on my waist robs my senses clean.
My legs hit the table, and the boldness of this move shocks me. The view of us is blocked by his masculine frame. The atmosphere’s charged with tension, and I find myself fighting the urge to lean in. I close my eyes, fighting the sensation flowing in my veins. This dress feels too tight, constricting my lungs trying to draw in breath. What now?
Every fiber of my being is unable to heed my will. If I have it, that is. He leans in and seductively whispers, “I have already scored twice, as you were stripped of your armor by me, Angel.”
Bastard dares to call me Angel. The anger resurfaces with vengeance. My nostrils flare at his audacity to belittle me. Before I can tell him off, he speaks again.
“But if you let me, I will strip you of your clothes instead, and free you of all your inhibitions.”
My breathing becomes very dense and hard as two strong emotions warring for dominance. Profound desire and vast anger are wracking my body. A fight-or-flight instinct kicks in as I watch his eyes burn with a controlled fire.
I don’t let myself feel comfortable with anyone or let down my shields. It’s too dangerous to allow myself to believe I can. I step sideways, breaking Logan’s powerful influence over me. The space brings clarity to my brain and I remember why I should avoid him.
“I thought that the CEO of this company would be more abiding by the policies this organization keeps regarding sexual harassment or inappropriate relationships at the workplace. Maybe next time, I will do my presentation about it, so men with a stick up their ass could be more respectful towards their female colleagues.” With another score up my sleeve, I leave him to his “charming” self.
I don’t even look what kind of expression he holds. I’m too pissed off to care. That bastard didn’t just proposition me, did he? Oh no, first, he stripped me of my armor, and tried to humiliate me by making feel like I have no worth at all. Second, he attempted to seduce me, and lastly, he used my discomfort of feeling incompetent as part of some fucking foreplay.
I need to get away from this. As soon as I grab my bag and let Joshua know I’m suddenly not feeling well and need to leave, I march to the lift.
Someone grabs me by the elbow and yanks, and I collide with a broad chest. The enticing musk of pure male scatters my senses. Surprised, and feeling a little weak, I don’t gather what is happening straightaway. One hand goes to my hair and grips, gently forcing my gaze to meet his. The other one locks securely around my waist.
I feel trapped.
The disadvantage of being at his mercy frightens me more than he will ever know. My body is already surrendering to the irresistible essence catching me in its woven web. My mouth parts and my throat grows dry, like a desert.
The lift descends as we both linger. Waiting. Gauging. Logan’s eyelids drop, and his pupils dilate. At least he’s as affected as I am. His hard body pressed against me flexes, like he is fighting for control. I chuckle, amused.
“What’s so funny?” he asks in a hoarse, quiet voice as his lips tug in a smile.
“You, this.”
His thumb strokes my lips, teasing, seducing. “I agree, we have a big problem here.” He points out our obvious predicament.
“If you dare to touch me again, I will hurt you,” I tell him tersely, pushing his hand off my hip. “I’m not interested in getting in your bed,” I add, with more bite, and it hits me why I was so cross with him. I raise my head slightly in defiance, challenging him to make the wrong decision.
