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“I wasn’t—that’s not what…” The blush that filled her face was hotter than she could ever remember. “Sorry. I just came by so we could complete the paperwork you said you needed me to fill out. I can come another time.”
“No. It’s fine.” He raked a hand through his hair and turned toward his desk. “You’ll need to fill out a W9 and sign an NDA. There’re some other forms that you’ll need if you want your paychecks to be deposited automatically to your account.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a manila folder. His eyes locked with hers and a chill swept down her spine. She couldn’t tell if it was because he was so obviously upset about something or if it was something else entirely.
“Well? Are you going to take it?” he bit out.
Eloise lurched forward, taking the folder from his hand. “Sorry.” She lifted it. “Do you want me to do it now?”
“That would be preferable.”
“Oh, I just thought since it was so late…” By the look he gave her, she could tell he wasn’t interested in what she had to say. He shifted his focus to some paperwork that sat on his desk. This had to be the most awkward situation she’d ever been in. Eloise cleared her throat, and he looked up. “Could I have a pen?”
Shane motioned toward a pen holder on his desk. “Be my guest.”
She plucked one from the cup and settled into the chair that faced his desk. A few minutes later, her phone buzzed again. Eloise pulled it out and read another message from Marc.
Marc:You probably think I’m desperate now, but I don’t care. When you get these messages, don’t hold it against me. I’m available tomorrow for breakfast if you want to get a coffee.
She pressedher lips together and let out a soft laugh.
“Something funny?”
Her head snapped up and she found Shane staring at her. Shaking her head, she shoved the phone back into her pocket. “No, sir.” A smile touched her lips once more. “It’s actually your cousin. He wants to take me to breakfast tomorrow.” Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall. “I guess it’s technically today.”
“No.”
Eloise’s focus shifted to Shane again. “No?” She let out another laugh. “Are you seriously telling me I can’t go on a date with your cousin?”
He got to his feet and placed his palms on the desk. There was a spark in his gaze that might have made a normal person shiver in their boots, but she wasn’t going to let him intimidate her. Even still, she was careful not to elicit further fury as he pinned her beneath his stare. “That’s what I’m saying. You’re not going on a date with my cousin.”
This time her laugh was louder, and it seemed to fill the entire room. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
Her smile faded from her face. “Excuseme?”
“I forbid you to see my cousin.” He said it with such a serious tone she was momentarily thrown off.
She shot up out of her seat and shot a death glare at him. “Youforbidme? I’m sorry. Where do you get off? Is this why Brielle hates you now? You have a serious problem if you think I’m just going to roll over and do whatever you tell me to. You’re my boss, not my father, not my boyfriend. You can’t tell me who I see or don’t see during my personal time.”
They seemed to be participating in a battle of wills. The way Shane refused to break eye contact made her wonder just what he had against her. Maybe he didn’t want her dating his cousin because he was still hurt from Brielle’s rejection.
Well, he should be upset if this was how he treated her sister. This was modern times. Men didn’t have the power to control their women anymore. She lifted her chin and her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you have against me, but you might as well let it go. If your cousin wants to go on a date with me, then I’m going to tell him yes.”
He pushed away from his desk, then charged around it. She stiffened, though there was nowhere to escape due to the chair digging into the back of her legs. She had to stand her ground or risk toppling backward like an idiot.
Shane held up one finger as he towered over her. He opened his mouth, then he shut it. Finally, he shook his head and strode out of the office, leaving her alone.
Eloise sucked in sharply, gasping for breath her lungs had refused to offer her in that tense moment. Her wide eyes darted toward the door. She hadn’t feared for her safety; that wasn’t what this feeling was. She was fine, but she’d never seen someone so upset about something so benign.
Her thoughts shifted back to the conversation she’d had with Brielle about Shane and his lies. What if his dishonesty wasn’t a lie for the sake of lying? What if he did it for a bigger reason? To protect something?
The papers in her hand slipped and fluttered to the floor. She dropped to gather them, then shot one more look toward the door. Good thing she was about done. She’d just leave them on his desk and let him deal with it.
Now she just had to deal with what was going on with Marc.
7
Shane
