I don’t know how many new starts it’s going to take to get things on track with Kit, but here I am, standing outside his office, ready to try again. I thought about what went down for a long time last night. I decided that my love for my sister and helping her through college, as well as my love for my job and this company, outweighs any hate or odd chemical reaction I have for him. That’s why I have to stay and make amends, even if it means caving to a man I can’t stand.
I take a deep breath and knock on Kit’s office door. I hear a feminine giggle from inside and I immediately know he’s got company.
“Can this wait?” Kit calls. I swallow back my anger, practicing my best civil smile from the safer side of his door.
“No, it can’t,” I reply through gritted teeth. There’s silence inside for a moment. I clasp my hands together, pursing my lips.
I envision all sorts of things going on in there. Especially because it’s Kit. It seems he can make anything feel naughty.
A moment later, the door swings open; Kit isn’t smiling. He leans his arm against the door to prop it open and fixes me with an intense stare. I stare back, hoping he doesn’t notice how heavy my breathing has become.
Then he opens the door all the way and lets out a middle-aged woman in a business suit. I start blushing when I realize they probably weren’t hooking up like I thought they were.
“Thank you for your time, again, Kit, and say hello to your dad for me,” the woman says.
Kit smiles charmingly and nods, then moves to allow me past.
“Come in, Miss Croft.”
I step into his office. I can smell his cologne, and it makes my lungs feel greedy for another breath. I can’t help it. I move to sit down in the spare office chair and watch him.
“I’m surprised that you’re...getting into the groove of things so well.”
To my surprise, Kit doesn’t get angry. He laughs, shaking his head as he makes his way back to his desk. He sits down and puts his feet up.
I guess that’s as good a start to the conversation as I could have hoped for. But then I remember why I’m here and fix my face into a stern frown. I’m not here to be friends. I’m here for the sake of business.
“How can I help you, Alex?” Kit asks. I notice he looks a little worse for wear. His voice catches like he’s been smoking, and his eyes are raw from lack of sleep. Apparently taking on a full-time job hasn’t stopped him from partying.
“I don’t want anything in particular. But I do hope to find a way to work out our differences,” I say, trying not to sound too invested. In fact, I need this meeting to go smoothly. I know I’m on thin ice already. I can’t afford to slip up. “I thought we could maybe do lunch, or dinner, on a day you might be free...”
Kit’s lips curve in a wicked smile. “Assuming I’m free,” he corrects.
“So? Make me a priority,” I tell him cheekily. “I am one of the most important employees you have on your payroll. I think we would do well to sit down together and get to know one another.”
“Why not do that here?” Kit asks, amused by my retort. There’s a softer look in his eyes, like he’s coming around to the idea of us being friends instead of enemies.
I shrug, keen on getting him out of the office so we can step out of our formal roles a bit. We may have started on uneasy ground, but I’m pretty sure that having a moment to relax and relate to each other as people, not only boss and employee, could help. “I merely hoped to maybe find a place outside of work so we can both feel less stressed and more open with each other. But just so you’re not mistaken, my intentions are purely business related. We’ll be working closely together, and since you rejected my ideas for the app, I’d like to hear your thoughts on some new designs.”
“About that—”
“I’m over it,” I interrupt, but I keep my eyes on the desk instead of his face. “I just want to talk in a less formal setting. Maybe outside of office hours. I think it will relieve some of the...tension.”
Kit smiles slowly, an intelligent spark in his eyes. “Is that what you want?”
“I’m sure you mean nothing by that,” I say, an edge to my tone to warn him off. “But yes. That is what I want.”
“All right. Dinner it is.”
“Where would you like to meet? Are you available tonight?” I ask, balancing my work diary on my knee. Kit laughs.
“Well, Ms. Croft. You might have asked earlier. Some people have plans on a Friday night, you know.”
My heart sinks a little. “Oh. Well, I guess I can do any time.”
Kit smiles, kicking his feet off the desk and standing up. He puts his hands in his pockets, ever the image of the loveable scruff. Minus the loveable part.
“Well, I guess I’m free Monday evening.”
“No dates lined up for the start of the week? How unusual,” I tease. I know I’m pushing the boundaries, but hey, I have to get my own back somehow. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem fazed. He smiles, leaning against his desk.
“Monday’s a work night,” he tells me. “Friday’s for parties. In fact, I’m hosting one at my place tonight.”
“How interesting for you,” I say, already jotting dinner in for Monday. Kit shifts, clearly trying to get my attention, but I make a point of doodling in the margins.
“You should come,” he finally says.
“No thanks,” I reply a little too quickly. It’s not that I don’t like parties. I do. I just don’t know if I want to be at one Kit is hosting—looking all gorgeous and sexy, relaxed after a full week’s work. Years working under Alastair have taught me that these British boys enjoy a good party but I’m not here for that: work is my number one priority.
“Come on...half your department is going.”
That catches my attention. “They were already invited?”
Kit smirks. “Well, I didn’t think it would be your scene.”
I close my diary with a loud thud, standing up. I’m not angry, as such. I’m just disappointed that none of my team told me about this. Now I look like an idiot.
“You thought right,” I tell Kit with a slick smile. “I’ll pass.”
“Wait!” Kit says as I turn my back on him. Is that desperation I detect in his voice?
“I should have extended an invite earlier. I’d like you to come.”
“Oh really?” I say, turning back to him. “Because we’re such good colleagues?”
I can’t help but dread that he didn’t invite me because he was preparing to fire me.
“Because we should make an effort to get along,” Kit says coolly. “You got your dinner date. Indulge me by coming tonight. I’m sure your co-workers will want you there, too.”
I doubt that they would care either way, but he does have a point. He’s doing the dinner on my terms, on my territory. I won that battle. I guess I don’t have much of a choice. He’s my new boss, after all. And I really want us to get along.
I suck my teeth, pretending to be indecisive if only to see Kit squirm. I bet it’s not often a woman turns him down.
And why does it give me such pleasure to be the first? But I cannot indulge in this petty feeling for long.
Eventually, I nod.
“All right. I’ll see if I can fit it in my busy schedule,” I say, trying to keep things light. Kit’s mouth twists into a grin.
“Ah, yes, you have such a busy schedule this evening.”
I blush, but try to keep my cool. “My commitment to Netflix is pretty important to me.”
“So it seems.”
His eyes are laughing at me, taunting me. Somehow, though, this doesn’t feel like Kit trying to get one over on me. It feels like banter.
There’s an unexpected ease between us that wasn’t there before. Maybe it’s because we’re alone, here in his office.
We’re standing in the place where he’s got the control. But with this meeting over, I feel like the one who’s taken the wheel.
I turn to leave again, but Kit steps closer and takes my arm. “Alex. Can you wait a moment?”
I turn back to him. He’s standing closer than we’ve ever been before. My breath catches in surprise, but I don’t allow it to faze me.
I lift my chin, keeping my expression blank. Kit isn’t smiling now. In fact, his tiredness looks even more intense now, and I can almost detect sadness in his eyes. Even in his worse-for-wear state, he still looks deliciously good, and I hate myself for recognizing it.
“I just wanted to say... I’m sorry for how I treated you the other day. I know it must have hurt you...and I apologize for that,” Kit says.
I blink in surprise. I wasn’t expecting that.
“Did your father put you up to this?”
“No, I didn’t tell him. This is all me.” Kit rakes a hand through his hair. It’s only then that I register he’s still holding my arm with his other hand. He fishes in his pocket and when he removes a paper from it, I immediately realize what it is.
It’s a freshly printed—if slightly crumpled—copy of my design for the main page. I pull out of his grip to read over the page. It’s covered with notes, presumably Kit’s. At a glance, they’re thoughtful and constructive.
“See you tonight, Ms. Croft,” he says softly, opening his office door for me. I leave feeling even more conflicted than when I went in, asking myself the question: Is the real Kit the one who destroys people’s work in the blink of an eye, or the man I just met in his office?