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I swallow hard. My throat’s unbearably dry. “Yes,sir.”
He nods once. “Good.”
A shiver slithers down my spine. Such a simple word, a simple praise — yet my blood boils.
There’s a knock at his office door followed by the sharp click of stiletto heels against the floor. In walks the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life. She’s tall and slender, with light blonde hair done up in loose curls. There’s a sleek elegance to her face, her high cheekbones and pointed chin accentuated by her perfectly tamed brows and dazzling green eyes. Her cherry lips match her scarlet red dress, the sweetheart neckline accentuating her large breasts and the tight cinch of her waist.
“Renee,” Hunter snaps. “I didn’t say you could come in.”
She pays him no mind, entering like the graceful gazelle she is. Renee doesn’t even bother looking at me as she hands Hunter a bunch of papers. “These need your signature.”
He picks up a pen and signs, a perfunctory task. “Renee, this is Eden Halloway. Eden, this is Renee Thatch. She’s the Chief Financial Officer here at Star Rider Studios.”
“Spencer,” I correct him quickly. “Eden Spencer is my name.”
Renee’s eyes flick up and down. There isn’t a shred of friendliness to be found, but she doesn’t seem outwardly hostile, either. “Shansen Group has also sent their reply,” she continues, addressing Hunter like I’m not even there. Just a fly on the wall, not important enough to pay attention to.
Hunter shifts through all the provided documents. “And?”
“They’re scrambling. In talks with their lawyers. I think they realize how big their mistake was. Expect a couple of good faith gifts in the mail.”
“Typical. If they arrive, send them back. I don’t do business with—” He stops short, staring down at a red envelope wedged between the documents he needed to sign. The air around him goes cold, his body rigid. “What is this doing here?”
Renee frowns. “I’m not sure, sir.”
“You prepared these yourself.”
“Yes, Mr. Stride. I honestly don’t know where it came from. Should I contact security?”
“What is it?” I ask.
Hunter quickly slips the envelope into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. “Don’t worry about it. Renee, you’re dismissed.”
“Yes, Mr. Stride.”
“And Eden?”
I blink up at him. “Y-yes? I mean, uh, Mr. Stride?”
“I want you to pick up lunch,” he says. “Call El Blanco.”
“That fancy place in Rolling Hills?”
“Yes. Give them my name. The head chef will prepare my usual. Grab yourself something, too.”
“I’m alright.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
I laugh softly. “But that place is super expensive. Pretty sure a meal there could buy me groceries for a week.”
Hunter looks me straight in the eye. “Put it on the company card. I won’t have any of my employees going hungry.”
“But I—”
“I don’t make a habit of repeating myself, Eden.”
Eager to make myself useful, I nod and slip away, making sure to grab my purse on my way out the door. When I finally find myself alone behind the driver’s seat of Taylor’s car, I spoil myself with the chance to breathe. I grip the steering wheel and press my lips together, ignoring the wet ache between my legs.
