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With everything that’d been going on in the past month, she’d put a dent in her savings account. After recovering for several weeks, she’d had interview after interview this past week now that she no longer had to cover up the bruises.
She’d been getting antsy, often lying awake at night wondering if she could make rent next month. Normally, she could turn to her family for some temporary help, but she couldn’t reach out to them. Not yet.
“Hello, Jenna. No, he’s not expecting me. As you might have noticed, he’s expecting this beautiful lady. Kayla Walsh, was it?”
Kayla hated that Mr. Boxer was acting all chivalrous. He was not supposed to come out of his annoying, flirtatious, manwhore box.
He was supposed to keep irritating her so she could keep up the act of not being affected by him. If she softened toward him, he would get to her. His approach to her up to now told her as much.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there. I’ll tell Donovan you’re here, but I’m sure that you’ll have to wait until he’s done meeting with Duncan.”
Kayla’s smile mirrored Jenna’s and for the not-so-observant passerby, it might seem like the two women were being friendly. For Kayla and Jenna, it was clear they would never be friends, not in this lifetime.
She gave Jenna a look that said she was not to be toyed with. “Yes, please call him and let him know I’m ready for him.”
Jenna’s eyes narrowed, shooting daggers at her. To make matters worse, Duncan muttered that he was “over this shit” and walked toward an office door, which Kayla assumed was Donovan’s.
“Duncan! Wait! You can’t go in there. I have to call Donovan first to—”
Before Jenna could finish her sentence, Duncan opened the dark wooden office door without knocking.
It gave Kayla an unobstructed view of a tall, built man in a tailored suit with raven hair who stepped out of his embrace with a woman with straight strawberry blonde hair. He looked so similar to Duncan that Kayla was sure the men had to be related.
The woman was wearing a tight black minidress with black pumps, the kind with a red surface underneath. She wore impeccable makeup and a diamond bracelet with a matching necklace. Even if she was a little flushed, the woman maintained a certain air about her to show being interrupted during her rendezvous didn’t faze her.
Jenna gasped in shock behind Kayla. “I’ve had enough of this! I quit!” She turned and stormed to her reception desk to pull out the bottom drawer. Jenna took out her purse, which she slung in a determined swing over her shoulder as she strode off toward the elevators.
“Duncan, ever heard of knocking?” Donovan held his head up high and his shoulders straight. Donovan Mills was unapologetic in his attitude, as was the strawberry blonde next to him, her eyes pinned on Kayla.
“Don, that makes number three this month. Why is it so hard for you to behave and not scare away your assistants?” Duncan said while looking over his shoulder at Jenna, who was pushing the elevator button multiple times, as if that would make the elevator come sooner.
“Dunc, I think it’s more that she’s disappointed she didn’t get a taste of me,” Donovan said while readjusting his cufflinks. He then straightened his tie and looked at Duncan as if to say now that he’d handled the loose ends, he was ready to proceed with his day.
“Hmmm, and it’s quite the taste,” Strawberry purred next to the mahogany desk which Donovan was now leaning against. Duncan groaned, and Kayla rolled her eyes at her statement.
“And that is your cue to leave us,” Donovan said in an even voice. The woman looked up at Donovan and tried to pout her lips, but before she could do so, Donovan put his index finger over her mouth.
“Shhh. No need to drag this out. We had our fun, and now it’s time for you to leave.”
As if hypnotized, she nodded at Donovan and sauntered toward the door.
“Keep in touch?” the woman asked as she looked hopefully over her shoulder at Donovan. When he didn’t answer, her shoulders sagged a bit, but she kept on moving toward the elevators.
Entering the office, Kayla turned and looked around. It was a corner office with a full view of downtown Austin where the sun reflected in the blue-glass exterior of the Frost Bank Tower. In the left corner stood a black leather couch, a coffee table, and some filing cabinets, but what caught her eye were the multiple paintings hanging on the wall. They seemed expressive with dark coloring and abstract figures.
“Do you like my paintings? I’d love to make one of you.” Kayla noticed the tension coming from Duncan at this statement from Donovan.
His jaw set tight, he narrowed his eyes at him. Donovan was an attractive man, but in a different kind of way than Duncan. Donovan oozed authority and sex, but he had something dark about him she couldn’t pinpoint.
He resembled Duncan if you ignored the wavy inky hair, but he was an unattainable version of him.
Even though she’d just met Duncan ten minutes ago, she had no doubt that he was a player. But he seemed accessible, and he had a certain playful, roguish air about him she found attractive.
Kayla enjoyed butting heads with her former partners, joking around and teasing each other. She most definitely didn’t get the teasing vibe from Donovan. No, he was not the joking-around type. He was in control and made sure everyone knew it.
“That will never happen, Don.” Duncan strode across the office and stood next to Kayla, who in return took a few steps aside so she stood at an arm’s length from him.
Duncan sighed, and when she looked in his mint green eyes, she was a little stunned by his serious expression.
He looked straight back at Kayla as he said, “She is not one of your playthings. Forget it, bro.”
