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Chapter Twelve
James
I knew her knock; the dainty little rapping of the knuckles against my door. It always made my pulse race, my dick twitch, my fucking mouth water. I played ignorant.
“Who is it?” My voice was gruff, dismissive.
She turned the handle. “It’s Lydia, have you got a sec?”
I beckoned her in, keeping my eyes fixed on my monitor and pretending to be engrossed in development-team appraisals. She took a seat in the chair opposite, shuffling papers in her lap like a true professional.
“And what can I do for you, Miss Marsh?”
Today she didn’t play along. “James, please, can we really talk. Just for a minute?” She was biting her lip, fiddling with her chin. She looked thoroughly awkward, in fact.
My heartbeat pounded in my stomach at the thought of the bruises under her skirt. “What’s the problem?”
She kept her eyes firmly on the paperwork in her lap. “It’s Salmons,” she said. “The deal’s landed, right?”
“Yes, it has,” I confirmed. “Frank’s calling a meeting about it later on today, sharing the good news. We got it on the back of WHM, Lydia, you should be proud.”
“I am proud.”
“So, what’s the issue? Spit it out, you look wretched.”
She finally met my eyes. My pulse raced, adrenaline pumping. Those fucking eyes, every fucking time. Weeks of fucking her senseless at Explicit had only made it worse.
“I just got accosted by Emily Barron, by the photocopier. You know Emily?”
“Emily Barron.” I pretended to think, an inkling of where this was headed creeping up my spine. “Blonde girl, yes? From your team?”
“She was angry, with me. Do you know why?”
I shook my head, smooth. “I have no idea.”
“She told me you’ve blown her out of the Salmons project, that I’ve been assigned to it instead.”
“And?”
“Is it true?”
“So what if it is?”
She sighed. “Emily’s been working on the Salmons’ deal for weeks. She did all the pre-sales prep work with Tony Carter. It’s her deal, James, she wants to project manage it.”
“I don’t give two shits what she wants, I’ll pick the teamIwant for a deal that size.”
Her eyes widened. “So, youareassigning me to Salmons? With you?”
I choked back irritation. “Yes, I’m assigning you to Salmons. Frank’s already signed off on it, we’re good to go once phase two of WHM gets wrapped up.”
“I think you should give it to Emily,” she announced, arms folded.
“On what grounds? That she’s worked hard? Give me a break, Lydia, that doesn’t mean shit.”
“It means shit to her. She hates me for it.”
