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I grip the frame of my tablet so hard my fingers ache. I’ll show him. I’ll deliver the best presentation that’s ever gone out from this office. I spin around and head for the door.
"Oh, and Lena?"
I pause.
"Next time, I’ll make you pay if you barge into my office."
23
Lena
That alphahole. That gloating, self-satisfied, smug-assed… charismatic hunk of masculinity.Gah! Stop that, don’t go there. Focus on how much you hate the guy.And I do. I press the heels of my palms into my burning eyes. I’m so tired. After walking out of JJ’s office, I called an emergency meeting for the creatives and gave them JJ’s feedback. To say they weren’t happy about the changes he wanted was putting it mildly. The head creative threw a fit. He’d refused to work on the copy and threatened to walk out, until I’d promised him I’d get him a commission if we won the account. Not that I have the authority to do that, but if we don’t win this account, my days at Kane Enterprises are numbered. So, I stretched the truth and incentivized him. He finally got down to work, and after brainstorming with the rest of the creative team, he sent me the revised copy. By which time it was already 6 p.m. I ordered pizza for the team, on the office account—which JJ could well afford—then buckled down with the design team to mock up the ad images. I had these in place by 8 p.m. Then I returned to my desk, and surrounded by the now empty cubicles of my co-workers, I started reworking the presentation.
It’s nearly 10 p.m. now, and I’m not even halfway through the slides.Fuck, fuck, fuck.My nose itches, my throat aches, and my eyes burn. I lean my head back against the seat and take a breath.I can do this. I want this. I do.My stomach grumbles. When’s the last time I ate? Breakfast was a banana as I rushed out of the house, and then... I haven’t eaten anything since. No wonder I’m feeling faint. I need to get through this presentation, though. I can’t fail at my first assignment at Kane Enterprises. I square my shoulders, then look up and cry out, "What the—"
"Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you," JJ murmurs from his position next to my cubicle. "Just got you this." He places a paper bag next to my computer.
I glance at it, then at him. "What’s this?"
"You skipped lunch."
"So?" I fold my arms cross my chest. "What’s it to you, anyway?"
"You need your strength to work on the presentation. Can’t have you keeling over now, can I?"
"Of course not." I turn back to the computer and begin to type onto the keyboard.
"Eat first," he growls.
"I’ll eat when I’m taking my next break."
"Eat. Now," he snaps.
I stiffen. "I told you. I’ll eat when I’m ready."
He moves forward. The next second he’s grabbed the back of my seat and turned it around so I’m facing him.
"What?" I scowl.
"Don’t disobey me."
"Who do you think you are that I should obey you?"
"I’m your boss and you live under my roof. Also..." He hesitates. "I’m your boyfriend’s father. It’s in my interest to make sure you are taken care of."
I stare at him, then burst out laughing. "Really? Really, you’re going there now?"
"There’s nothing to laugh about. Eat your dinner first, then continue working."
"Okay, Daddy," I murmur. There it is. I said it aloud. There’s no going back now. But damn if I care anymore.
His nostrils flare. His dark gaze grows intense. He lowers to his knees and glares into my features. "What did you say?"
"You heard me." I toss my hair over my shoulder. "You’re the one making moves on your son’s girlfriend, I hope your conscience can cope with that."
"You’re the one who can’t look at me without blushing, who shuffles her feet and can’t stop twitching her butt whenever she’s in my vicinity."
"Hey, don’t blame your stalker tendencies on me."
