I’d waited as long as I could to see where that sexy redhead worked, because I knew for a fact it wasn’t in Brock’s office. When someone saw me watching his door I’d had to come up with a stupid excuse and head back to my own.

But even with the obsession I normally felt for blocking that hacker out of this server permanently, in a way that he’d know I was the one who kicked his techno-ass, I couldn’t focus anymore. There was one false start after another as I sat at my desk.

Stacy poked her head in, that naughty smile back. I’d only just two hours before bent her over my desk yet the look she gave me said she wanted to go another round.

“You want to get lunch today, Ethan?”

Frowning I muttered, “I’m working through lunch hour, Stacy.”

She shut the door. “You can always eat in.”

Leaning back in my chair I smirked, “Didn’t I already do that?”

“Want seconds?”

Chuckling I shook my head, said, “I think we’ve both had enough meals for one day,” and focused back on the middle screen, then looked to the right one, 0’s and 1’s flashing before my eyes.

She paused, unsure of whether or not to push harder. I didn’t look up from my work again because I knew if I did she’d see that as an invitation for determination. My dick was limp for her now, and there was nothing she or I could do about it. She was adorable, but that redhead in the break room got under my skin in the weirdest way. It was her I was thinking about.

Did that make me an asshole?

I didn’t think so because the truth of the fucked up situation was plain – I hadn’t planned this. None of it. But something about those cobalt eyes dug into me, and I needed to find out what it was.

In my periphery I watched Stacy’s perfect legs hurry toward the door, but then I felt her pause. Instinctively I knew she was trying hard to invent one last thing to say.

I made a mistake in fucking her.

It was a snap judgment.

Any man would have done the same in my shoes.

But now I was regretting it.

Most men wouldn’t.

“Ethan?” she said, her voice quiet.

I glanced up, inhaling patience and feeling like a jerk. “Yeah?”

“I’m here if you need me.”

“I know that. Thank you. We had fun today. You’re cute as hell.” It was the least I could do to flatter her, and it was an honest compliment. It wasn’t her fault I’d just met a woman who made her look like a child.

But my kindness worked. Stacy lit up, the disappointment and insecurity vanishing in an instant, thank God.

“You’re really cute, too,” she smiled.

With a little wave she was gone.

I leaned back in my chair and exhaled, hoping that was that.

My mind flew back to the break room.

I’d had a singular reaction to the redhead the second those cobalt peepers locked onto me. She was my age, I thought, but she wasn’t like any of the women I’d come across because she held herself like someone from the 1940’s, a real class act. Her fucking attitude pissed me off, and I sure as hell didn’t like being called a skater.

That’s what was really weird. I normally couldn’t care less what people thought of my clothes, my life choices, or me. Confidence isn’t something I lack. But in that one insulting speech her Highness told me I was beneath her. And I did not like that one bit. A princess won’t take a pauper to bed.

Plus she was ready to have me fired and she said it with such self-assuredness that I didn’t doubt for a second that she had the power. Probably had worked her way up since interning during the first year at whatever Ivy League school she’d attended. I know she hadn’t gone to M.I.T. because I would remember her. And she had to have worked at Wyntech for many years. Only time would make her so sure of herself, and give her the power to ax someone who wasn’t wearing the right clothes for her taste.

Unless she was the daughter of Charlie Reed.

Hmmm. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

Of course.

It made so much sense.

That’s why she ran off as soon as she learned who I was. Her father must have told her about me.

I’d yet to meet Charles Reed so I hadn’t seen if he was a ginger, too, though of course he’d have a lot of grey by now if she was his kid, just like my dad, Jake Cocker. I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me that she was part of the family here. For being a genius I could really be stupid sometimes.

Guess no one’s perfect.

Yeah, right.

I’m pretty perfect.

With the puzzle of who she was solved, I went back to my binary code dreaming of a way to take this cunning fucker to his virtual knees.

When it was around seven o’clock and I came up for air, I realized I was fucking starving. Muttering to myself, “You have to remember to eat, Ethan,” I got up, grabbed my jacket and keys to head home.

The hallway outside my office was quiet. That door must be soundproof because I never heard anyone talking all damn day. I liked that. Good workmanship was to be admired. Dad taught me that when I worked at his and Mom’s construction company as a teenager. If something was made properly it won’t be a problem later, he’d say.

I’ll never forget that.

I pushed the button for the elevator and it was waiting for me. Unusual, but since I was about to gnaw on this stainless steel framing in lieu of a juicy burger, I was grateful. I stepped on and pressed for the lobby.

The doors began to close.

“Hold the elevator please!”

I shoved my hand through just in time.

They whooshed open and my heart jumped in my chest.

The redhead locked eyes with me.

She almost told me to go on without her.

I could see her sexy mouth open to object and her heels took two steps backward.

“Just get in the damn elevator,” I smirked.

She hesitated, her purse on her shoulder and an encased laptop under arm. She stepped aboard, neck high and long. I liked her hairstyle – it was twisted in an elegant way. Despite the lobby button being already lit she pushed it, hard, and stood a step ahead of me for distance. Cold as ice, this one. I wanted to warm her up, or make her so cold she cracked. Couldn’t decide which would be more entertaining.

I stepped up to her left side, as an equal, but very aware I was in jeans and this Fuck The Man t-shirt. Probably should clean up my sneakers, too, but it never occurred to me until today. “Leaving early?”

She cut me a quick, angry look. “It’s after seven and I’ve been here since six!”

“Amazing what they’ll let you women get away with these days.”

She snarled, “Excuse me?”

“Only an thirteen-hour-day. I mean, wow. You think you’d want to show the men what you’re made of.”

Her right arm twitched and I was pretty sure she wanted to hit me. I could have told her I was fucking with her, but where was the fun in that?

Stiff as steel she stared ahead, but then cocked a look at me one last time before she walked into the lobby so fast that if it were a dirt road I’d be coughing up dust with pebbles embedded in my skin.

I jogged before I even knew what I was doing. I don’t chase women, but maybe that’s because they never ran.

“Hey! You want to grab a bite?”

What was I doing? There was no way she’d say yes. I claim starvation for my lack of better judgment.

She whirled around. “Are you kidding me?”

“Nope, not joking.” The security guard looked up from behind his desk, eyeing us. I glanced to him and quietly said, “I’m starving, and I figured you might be, too.”

“After what you just said to me in there?!?”

The guard rose up. “Is there a problem—”

“No, Neil, I can handle myself.” She locked eyes with me to dryly add, “Even if I am just a woman.”

I almost started laughing. Boy, had I reeled her in good. Hell, I guess all men did that with women we liked. Poke the bear, see what she does. Gets your blood pumping.

I motioned to the bodyguard that everything was cool and fake-whispered, “She likes me, Neil. She’s just mad that I told her I like her, too, but think she’d look better in a dress.”

What the fuck was wrong with me?

Her Highness lost her composure and shouted, “You’re unbelievable!”

I pinched my skin. “Nope, I’m real. See? Feel that!”

Shaking her head she strode quickly to the revolving doors, calling over her shoulder, “Don’t follow me, Ethan! And Neil, make sure he stays there until I leave. Then let him go, and only then!”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He headed for me like he was going to restrain me. Laughable. The guy had no idea how good a fighter I was. Together, Ben, Eric and I had kicked our fair share of ass in our limited years, although our cousin Sofia Sol made us look like amateurs. Still, old Neil here thought he was ready to wrestle me to the ground. Yeah right.

I held up my hands and backed away. “It’s all good, dude. I can take a hint.”

With suspicion he eyed me and stayed close. His eyes kept darting to her as she walked in front of the building on the sidewalk leading to the parking garage. We could see her through the glass and man, she was furious.

Neil muttered, “You’re not going anywhere until she gets in her car.”

“You can see that far? Are you a superhero?”

He glared at me. “You just stay put.”

“Whatever you say, Neil.”

“It’s Mr. Drummond to you.”

“Whatever you say, Mr. Drummond To You.”

I took a step back as he took one forward.

The second I felt he was actually going to punch me, I smirked, “Try it. I dare you.”

His fist hesitated and his nostrils flared.

I was so steady in my challenge that he second-guessed his ability to do any real damage to anyone but himself. After a sufficient number of minutes had ticked by he stepped away from me. “You can go.”

“Yeah, fuck you,” I muttered on my way out.