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I can’t help but smile. “You’d really assault someone for me?”
His lazy grin spreads heat across my chest. “I’d kill someone for you, sweetheart.”
Xavier slams his palms down on the table. “Am I interrupting your conversation, Miss Hayes?”
I cross one leg over my knee. “Kind of.”
His eye twitches as he stares at me, saying nothing.
My eye roll is reflexive. “What is the big deal? Are you so inept at your job that you need me to run your meeting for you?”
His eyes deepen to a stormy blue. “Your insolence knows no bounds. You were not only late to work but a board meeting. You came in with a bad attitude and then have the nerve to sit inmymeeting and call me inept?”
He knows where I was, yet he’s talking to me like this? I don’t have to fucking take this shit from him.
I let go of Huxley’s hand and stand up. I collect my bag and walk to the door.
“Where are you going? Sit back down!” he shouts.
I shake my head to myself. “No.”
“Sav—“
Huxley is cut off by Xavier. “I will handle this, Ray. If you walk out that door, there will be consequences.”
I open the door. “Fucking fire me then.”
“Want to grab some lunch?” I ask Huxley when he walks into the office an hour later.
“Miss Hayes, meet me in my office.” The bastard walks off before I can protest.
“I’m not getting involved,” Huxley says. “Just go and apologise.”
“What for?”
“You embarrassed the CEO in front of the board. Go and play nice,” he comes closer, “And I’ll reward you later.”
“Where are you going?” I ask as he grabs his phone and leaves his office.
He gives me a sheepish look. “He asked everyone to clear the floor. Even Francesca.”
Ready to face his unfiltered anger, I knock on Xavier’s door and wait for him to call me in. When I enter, he is aggressively tapping the keyboard behind his desk. He doesn’t acknowledge me, so I slide into the seat opposite him.
“Stand,” he barks.
I jump at his order and awkwardly stand next to the chair. “What do you want, Xavier?”
He slams the laptop closed and walks around until he is standing in front of me. His long legs are clad with a deep navy suit. His feet are adorned with the shoes he only wears to board meetings. As he folds his arms over his chest, the fabric from the jacket hugs his muscles. The finishing touch to the godly man is the matching tie that hangs around his neck.
“My name is Xavier Rivers, and I am the CEO of XR Securities. I built this company from my bedroom into the multi-billion-pound company it is now worth. I worked every day and night, recruited and trained the best in the country to make this company what it is.” He takes a step closer. “My name is Xavier Rivers, andImake the orders. When I speak, people listen. When I ask a question, I expect an answer. When I stand before you, I demand respect.“ He steps closer. “Is that clear?” he shouts.
I don’t flinch at the boom of his voice. Standing before me isn’t the Xavier I know. He isn’t sweet or gentle. He is a CEO.
“I can’t respect a man who promised a dream then used me like every man that paid for a private dance. You made me feel cheap.”
He looks taken aback by my response. I hate the way he seems more sad than angry. “You’re the one that hasn’t given me an answer.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “I won’t make that decision for you! I won’taskyou to leave her!”
