Page 31 of Owen North


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Her breaths come a little quicker as her face and shoulders harden more than they already had. “If I was, it would be none of your business.”

“Everything you and I do with any of the staff is each other’s business, Jill. Just like anything either of us do with the clients is also each other’s business. That’s what owning a company together means.”

“I’m not an idiot, Owen. I don’t need you to mansplain business to me. And fuck you for coming in here and asking me that question.”

Jill doesn’t swear and doesn’t appreciate it from anyone else. The fact she’s sworn at me twice today already tells me where our relationship is at. It’s not in a place that’s good for either of us.

I’m about to ask her for a do-over of the conversation,of the entire morning, so I can tell her I don’t care who she sleeps with. That what I care about is our company and that maybe sleeping with the staff isn’t such a great idea. However, as I open my mouth to say all this, she looks toward the office door behind me and motions at someone to come in.

“I’ll just be a minute,” she says.

I turn and lay eyes on the woman I met at Seth’s wedding two nights ago. The woman I spent one of the best nights of my life with. The woman I haven’t been able to get out of my head.

Charlize.

Our eyes lock. “Okay,” she says slowly to Jill like she’s having trouble getting the word to leave her mouth. “Umm, do you want….” She gestures toward the door, her beautiful blue eyes widening as she takes me in. “Should I…. Do you want me to wait outside?”

“No,” Jill says. “We’re just finishing up here.”

I struggle to draw my gaze from Charlize, but somehow manage it so I can say to Jill, “Actually, we’re not.”

Jill looks at me. “Actually, Owen, weare. I’m not having this conversation with you.”

“I’ll just wait outside,” Charlize says.

I glance back at her as Jill says quite fiercely, “No, Charlize. You stay. Owen’s leaving.”

Charlize’s eyes meet mine again. They flare like she’s highly perplexed with this situation.

I don’t blame her.

I too am confused as to why she’s here, but at least I’m not also dealing with the fact I walked in on the person I slept with two nights ago in the middle of an argument with their ex.

I glance between them. “How do you two know each other?”

Jill frowns like I’ve asked her the strangest question. “Marla is sick. The agency sent Charlize over.”

Charlize and I didn’t discuss what we do for work the other night. It was refreshing to meet a woman who was more interested in me as a person than me as a CEO.

I eye her. “You’re filling in for the day?” Marla is Jill’s assistant and has been sick a lot lately.

Before she can answer, Jill snaps, “Yes, she is, and we have a lot to go over before you and Julian try to screw me over yet again in our weekly meeting. I’d appreciate it if you leave so I have time to do that.”

My brain is still trying to process the fact Charlize is here. That she’sworkinghere.

I’m slow to respond to Jill’s request for me to leave. So slow that she snaps at me again.

“Owen!”

I look at Jill. She’s glaring at me like she wants to slap me again.

I gather my thoughts and give her a pointed look. “This conversation isn’t finished.” I turn to leave, slowing my departure as much as possible so I can run my gaze over Charlize.

She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. And the most genuine. She left in such a hurry yesterday morning that I missed out on time with her. Time I wanted, because one night with her was far from enough.

Today, her long blonde hair is in a bun, and it’s the sexiest bun I’ve ever had the pleasure of looking at. She’s wearing make-up, but it’s subtle enough that her natural beauty shines through in ways I like. Her curves are covered by a dark gray skirt that ends just below her knees, and a white blouse that she’s teamed with flat shoes.

I can’t drag my gaze from her.

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