I’m a little smug and not the least surprised when everyone at work is hung over except me the next morning. I’m fresh as a daisy, in fact.
After coffee and a croissant, I went to the gym before heading to the office. I arrived early and watched my colleagues dribble in like snails, looking as though they might collapse from fatigue.
“I heard people talking about last night,” Ellie says, approaching me before our morning meeting. I shake my head and turn away to log on to my computer. “Something about Kit and a woman in the parking lot.”
“They weren’t doing anything but talking, even though she obviously hoped for more,” I tell her.
She perches on the edge of her desk.
“Oh really? Well people think it was you and him, actually. They saw you two talking outside.”
I almost gasp at that. I’ve always looked down on fraternizing in the office. It’s just not good for anyone involved, and I would never be party to it.
I realize everyone is watching us. They’re all craning their necks, trying to listen in on our conversation. I fight off a blush. I can’t believe I’ve been mixed up with some little nobody from who knows where, one of Kit Walker’s floozies.
“That wasn’t me. And if whoever is saying that wants to keep his or her job, I suggest they stop spreading slander,” I say loudly. I look over at Angela and her face falls. I’m not messing around here and she knows it. She’s usually the most talkative of the team and I suspect she’s the one who began the rumor in the first place.
“I just—” Angela begins.
“I don’t care how fun it is to gossip about the new boss. If I hear anyone disrespecting him like that again, you’ll have me to answer to. You would never speak that way about Alastair, and Kit deserves the same respect. Anyone who feels differently will be having a very serious conversation with me about their place in this company. Is that clear?”
Everyone nods silently, the buzz from last night’s antics completely ruined. But I don’t care. I won’t have people talking about me that way. Kit might be happy to tarnish his reputation time and time again, but I am not.
I stand up, ready to deal with anyone else who thinks last night was a joke.
“Am I the only one around here interested in the fact that our app design needs to be finalized by next Friday? That’s just a week, and the new boss is coming in today expecting to see what we’ve got so far.”
The members of my team mumble halfhearted replies and robotically shuffle to their workstations. It angers me even more to see them so put off by the idea of hard work. I slam my hand against my desk and they all jump as though I’ve given them a new lease on life in their zombie-like state.
“All right, this isn’t good enough. None of you are fit to be here. I won’t allow my team to show up in a state like this. I want you all to go home. Now. I’ll see you on Monday morning for a much-needed regroup. Get some rest, hydrate. And bring me your absolute best on Monday.”
I figure it’s unlikely Kit will even show up to work, considering everyone seems to have had too much to drink last night. I doubt Kit’s ever woken up before noon a day in his life.
People rise from their seats, collecting their things in a daze. One by one, they filter out in silence. I’m about to sit back down when I notice Ben hanging out by the door, listening to everything.
He looks surprised when I spot him. His eyes are red and raw, and he’s sporting a bruise on his forehead that he’s tried to hide beneath his hair. But I can see right through his pale blond bangs.
“And what exactly happened to you?” I ask with a laugh, raising an eyebrow as he slumps into a vacant chair. He groans, leaning his forehead against a computer keyboard.
“Nothing,” he says without conviction.
“Come on. Spill.”
He sighs dramatically. “I fell over challenging Tim to handstands.”
“Don’t blame me!” Tim squeaks as he walks past the door, also looking worse for wear as he leaves. “You brought that on yourself.”
“Well, I still expect that you’ll be in top form Monday, Tim. Concussion or not,” I say cheerfully. “And you, Ben? You know better.”
“It’s not that bad...” Ben claims moodily, rubbing at the sore spot on his head. “But you’re right. There’s no excuse for unproductive behavior.” Ben salutes me sarcastically. “I can’t leave for the day since I have my own team to manage, but now that you have some peace and quiet, I hope you have a good one.”
“You too.” I nod and turn to my desk while Ellie comes and kisses my cheek.
“Thank you, you’re the best boss.”
I groan. “Get out of here, Ellie, and please don’t put me on the spot on Monday.”
“I won’t! Promise!” She heads out. But Ben is still lingering by the door.
He looks like he wants to say something, but he keeps his mouth shut. Without another word, he turns and leaves me alone with my thoughts in an empty office.
* * *
I work alone for most of the day. It’s good to have the office to myself. I play some quiet music on my speakers and revel in the fact that there’s no general chitchat in the background to distract me.
Sometimes, it’s nice just to be on my own.
As the day passes, I gradually calm down. I convince myself that office rumors are just a fact of life. It’s nothing personal toward me. In fact, I’m sure that whoever spread the rumor wasn’t intending to be malicious, but just indulging in a little girly gossip. For her, hooking up with the hot new boss would be seen as a triumph. For me, though, I can’t stand the thought.
Maybe it’s because Kit is a one-way ticket to heartbreak and ruining the reputation I’ve worked so hard to earn for myself. Being seen as a no-nonsense woman who can get ahead by skills and merit rather than sleeping my way to the top is important to me.
Either way, I don’t want inappropriate things being said about me behind my back. I want to make it clear to everyone that I wasn’t that girl and that their new boss deserves as much respect as Alastair.
I remember our conversation in the parking lot and have to admit, there’s something about him. I can’t get him off my mind.
It’s three o’clock and I’m still dazed when Kit bursts into the office. He’s wearing a perfectly cut gray suit, and is so handsome he hurts my eyes. I sit up a little taller.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Croft.”
“Hi,” I say, concentrating on my computer screen even though I haven’t typed anything in half an hour.
Suddenly the air feels charged. It’s magnetic. Pulsing.
Kit slowly paces the room, looking around in confusion.
“Well, its not as lively as I expected...where’s the rest of your team?”
“I...” I hesitate, my stomach in knots. I never once thought that Kit would actually show up at work today. “I sent them home for the day.”
Kit frowns at me. I want to cringe at his annoyance. But business has taught me that once a decision is made, you have to stand firm.
There’s a wry expression on his face. “And why did you send them home?”
“They weren’t in any fit state to work, and I gave them time to regroup.”
“You can’t just send employees home, Alexandra.”
I swallow. Alastair never put me on the spot like this. “I—I did.”
“That’s my job.”
I grit my teeth for a moment and then look up at Kit, forcing a smile. “Your father taught me that I control my team. He never interfered—”
Kit snorts. “Huh. That’s what my father told you?”
“That’s what he taught me.”
Kit’s arrogant smile makes me want to slap him, but I sit still, glaring back at him. “Well, my father isn’t here now. I’m in charge. Bring them all back in.”
My eyes widen. “Work finishes in two hours. I’m not going to drag them all in from different parts of the city. They’re useless today anyway. They let me down and I don’t want us to turn in something sloppy.”
“I’ll decide if they’re useless. Get them in here.”
I lean back in my chair, shocked but stubborn.
Kit’s anger grows. His cheeks are flushed and his smug smile is fading by the second. “Did you not hear me, or are you simply playing deaf, Ms. Croft?”
I shake my head. “I made a call on what to do and though you may not like it, I need to stick by it. This is my team and usually—”
“Your team works for me. In my office, in my building.”
“I’m sorry if you don’t like the way I run my team.” I bristle. “Tell your father if you want, but I did what I thought was best. I apologize for the inconvenience to you, but they’ll be back top-notch on Monday.”
Kit is furious now. I can tell by the creases in his forehead, his pursed lips, his hands curled into fists. Well, take that, Kit. Now you know how it feels.
“You’re walking a dangerous line, Alexandra.” His voice is deep and sultry, and it surprises me a little. It’s the first time I’ve sensed any dominance in him. A shiver runs down my spine, but I’m not afraid.
In fact, just the opposite.
How is this turning me on?
I feel a rush of heat in my body as Kit plants his hands on my desk. He leans forward, his eyes a bright gold, his body oozing angry male energy.
I meet his stare head-on while I clench my thighs under the desk.
“There are a lot of things that my father taught you that won’t apply in the future. Don’t think because you’re his favorite you have any leverage with me,” Kit says, in a deep voice that makes my skin grow goose bumps.
I’m breathing a little unsteadily. He starts calming down as we continue our face-off. His anger is replaced by something else, just as fierce and quiet.
“I suppose we got off to a bad start.” I’m trying to appease him.
“Keep pushing me, and you’ll get to see bad,” he warns me. So he’s not easily appeased.
Before I can answer, Kit storms out of the office and slams the door. Alone, I fully register the blazing warmth between my legs, the tingles on the back of my neck, my nipples pushing brazenly against my shirt.
What the hell has that man done to me?
* * *
I’m really worried about my argument with Kit hours later, and yet when I call to give my first report to Alastair and apologize for our altercation, he sounds thrilled.
“Congratulations, Alex, you’ve brought out my son’s managerial qualities.”
I sigh. “I didn’t mean to. I feel really bad about it.”
“Well I couldn’t be more pleased. Report back soon,” he says.
I sigh and rub my temples before I log off my computer and straighten my desk, then head home alone to make some pasta, text my sister and try to forget this day ever happened.
And later, as I get into bed and punch my pillow into shape, I can’t help but wonder if I deliberately provoked my new boss. To get back at him for provoking me. In more ways than one.