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A knock on my door caused my eyes to snap open and I turned my head toward the sound. “Sir,” said Neil, entering my office with the flowers I sent to Allie in his hands, “I’m sorry to interrupt. I don’t really know how to say this, but Allie told me to tell you thank you, but she doesn’t want these.”
I frowned, annoyed. “Did she now?”
A nice office and a big salary increase didn’t impress her, which, after yesterday, I had hoped would soften her view of me. After her latest recent demands rejecting those luxuries, I had thought that a smaller gesture would win her over and ease the tension between us, making her look to me in a more romantic way. I began to think she wasn’t a challenge; she was an impossibility that I couldn’t overcome. “Call her into my office, Neil.”
He accepted the order with a nod, hurrying back to his desk. I drew in a deep breath, collecting myself, and moved from my seat. I rested against the edge of my glass desk, hands stuffed in my pockets. My fingers danced across my cellphone as the minutes ticked by.
By the time I saw Allie striding through the door, my hands were now fisted in my pockets. She entered my office, head held high and shoulders stiff. I didn’t like how she turned her nose up at me; it made me feel the need to defend myself. “Why did you refuse my flowers?” I demanded.
She stopped in front of me, folding her arms. “Thank you for the kind gesture, but it’s best that I don’t receive anything like that from my boss.”
“I didn’t want a thank-you,” I told her sternly, unsure how to proceed with her. Even my greatest challengers had still accepted my offerings with gratitude. “I wanted you to enjoy my gift.”
She watched me for a long moment, her lips pinched. Finally, she sighed and asked, “What is your play here?”
I arched one brow at her. “My play?”
“Apparently you want something from me, since you’re giving me everything that I’m asking for with little objection and sending me flowers when you normally don’t do that.” Her voice was cold, almost calculating. “Say what you want, so that we can be clear.”
I bristle
d, staring at her. This little woman had bigger balls than some of the richest businessmen I knew. In response, my cock went rock hard. “If you want us to be clear, then I have no trouble playing it your way. I had hoped to get to know you better before going down this road, but since you’re requesting honesty…I want to take you out for dinner.”
Her brows winged up. “Why?”
I folded my arms, mirroring her posture. “Is it so hard to believe that I would like to take you out on a date?”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, kinda, considering our first meeting yesterday.” Her mouth shut in haste, eyes slowly narrowing. “Wait just a second. Did you hire me because you’re on some power trip because I’m not drooling on your shoes, and you thought getting me here and giving me all those things I asked for would lead to a date?”
Well, she wasn’t completely wrong about the power trip. But she wasn’t entirely right, either. “I hired you because you’re an excellent real estate agent.” She didn’t look persuaded, so I added, “Your sales aren’t one million, as you thought; they’re closer to a million and a half,” which I learned from Anderson after our meeting yesterday. “Henry sang your praises and thought you would do amazing things at Holt. And a review of your past clients showed that nearly every client you’ve dealt with has returned to Richardson.” She stared at me as I ran down her résumé. “First and foremost, I’m a businessman. I would never have hired you at Holt if I didn’t think you would bring more to my company than it already has.” I stepped closer, watching her suck in a deep breath. “Besides, if I wanted to date you, I wouldn’t have to fulfill your demands about office space and salary to make that happen. And I’m sure you’re well aware of that.”
“I don’t date my boss. Not ever.” She stepped back, glaring at me. “I would appreciate if you would not send me gifts like that anymore. Believe me, you and me would never work.”
I considered her, completely baffled by how determined she was to shut me out. Allie was a different breed of woman. She seemed completely unaffected by my fame, my power, and my money. It made me ever the more curious about her, and why exactly she saw me differently.
Truth be told, I began to wonder if she saw the real me, and that’s what this was all about. I couldn’t begrudge her for thinking the worst of me, because I already knew she was a far better person than I. “Do tell, why can’t I give you gifts if I’d like to?”
Her chin lifted, eyes showing so much distaste. “I want to be respected here at Holt. I’ve worked hard to get where I am, and I don’t want to be known as the woman that the boss sent flowers to.”
I heard what she said, and I respected her thoughts, though my mind stayed focused on the softness of her cheekbones and my desire to touch her. I kept my hands stuffed in my pockets, fighting off the urge. “Is it really so awful to be known as the woman I’m currently interested in?”
She gave a firm nod. “Yes, because the word currently says it all. As in at some point I’d be replaced and I would still be your employee. ’Nuff said.”
I didn’t respond to her statement, because I wouldn’t lie to her. I respected any woman I touched. I never made them promises I couldn’t keep. And I was always straightforward that I didn’t do long relationships—most lasted no more than a month. But I wasn’t asking for a relationship, I was asking for a date to dig a little bit deeper into this woman captivating my every thought and surprising me at each turn. Apparently, she’d rather eat a nail than consider that a possibility.
Why? ran through my mind. Over Henry?
Because I was her boss?
Because she thought I’d replace her?
It seemed like she was grasping at any excuse to reject me. When I ruled one obstacle out, she threw up another one. It looked an awful lot like bitterness. It bothered me that I saw this in her now. Darkness belonged in me, not someone like her.
“So…let’s keep this strictly professional, okay?” She shifted on her feet, moving a little closer to the door. “Do we understand each other?”
“I understand perfectly what you’re saying.” I zeroed in on her pouty lips, and she reacted promisingly, tugging at her lip with her front teeth. That’s where she confused me. What she said and the way she acted didn’t match up. Her sensual looks were blatant, and I couldn’t ignore them now. “I promise not to make you feel uncomfortable again in such a way.” But I wouldn’t agree to keep things between us professional. I wanted her.
“Okay, good. I’m glad we’ve come to an understanding.” She exhaled a long breath, turning to leave my office. “I guess I’ll go now.”
