Brazen Bossman: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 28
P.
***
P,
If you weren’t scared of the fact he came to your apartment to check on you, I’d go with romantic. It’s all about intention in the grand scheme. The man clearly doesn’t want to hurt you. He drove, in the city no less, to make sure you were safe, and he wasn’t even getting laid. That, sister, sounds like a keeper to me. Have the conversation with him. Be real and be honest. And if you decide you do want to practice the horizontal mambo with him, go for it! You only live once.
Ida
Chapter 10
Nathanial
I’ve always prided myself on being able to keep my emotions in check. I’m generally cool, calm, and collected to the outside world, and I release my stress in private ways. Usually with a workout, a drink, and a fuck.
But there is no way I’m able to hide the pure rage and jealousy I feel when I see that fucker Ryan dropping Piper off in our lobby after her lunch hour. Especially after being so busy the last few days, that she and I have barely spoken to one another.
I am fresh off a lunch meeting myself, when I step through the elevator doors and the wide glass doors slide open, welcoming me into our crisp, white reception area.
Piper must feel me as I feel her, because she glances over her shoulder and clocks me with her eyes instantly. The beautiful orbs go wide.
“Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here, Robbie, was it?” I clap Ryan on the shoulder twice.
“Uh, it’s Ryan, actually,” he says. “Nice place you’ve got here, Lennox.”
“Ah yes, Ryan. That’s it. I couldn’t remember which average R name you had. I almost said Ryan. So close.”
Am I being a petty asshole? Absolutely. But it feels good and I’m all for chasing what feels good.
“Ryan took me to get some lunch, since I was neck deep in work and needed a break,” Piper chimes in. “Today has been stressful, and I wasn’t going to even leave my desk.”
I watch closely as he places his hand on the small of her back, and all I can imagine is ripping that hand off and beating him with it. I have an unearned sense of ownership over Piper and this man is completely trying to piss all over her. Fuck that.
“Breaks are required in our office, Piper, so you would have had one regardless, but lucky you that Sir Ryan was able to swoop in, right?”
“Nah, I’m the lucky one.” Ryan adds in before looking at his watch. “Damn. I’ve got to get going.”
“That’s a shame. I was so enjoying this conversation,” I say with obvious snark.
“Well, I’m sure I’ll be back sometime. That is, if Piper will have me.”
She clears her throat and looks from me to him before smiling. “Sure. I’ll call you, okay?”
“Okay.” He shifts his body and opens his arms to hug her, and she leans in, returning the affection, but her eyes move to me and stay locked the entire time.
“Good to see you, Robbie.” I snap my fingers. “Shit. Ryan. I’ll get it one day.”
“It’s a pretty easy name, and you seem like a smart man, I have no doubt you’ll get it,” Piper chimes in.
Ah, there she is. I was wondering when the little raven-haired spitfire would appear.
“Well, I’ll leave you to your devices. Piper, I’m certain you have an email or two from me that need tending to today. I’ll be in my office, should you need anything.” I shove my hands into my pockets and make my way down the hall and into my office, closing the door behind me.
I sink down into my desk chair, unbuttoning my suit jacket as I go, and opening my laptop so I can access the security cameras on our floor.
As soon as the screen comes to life, I see Piper talking to Kate at the front desk and Ryan is nowhere to be found. Good. He must have already left.
Piper is talking very animatedly, moving her hands wildly, as she usually does when she’s pissed off. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to piss her off… just a little.
That’s my favorite side of her. The passionate, fired up, wild Piper I’ve known since day once.
And just as I suspect, that tornado of a woman is barreling down the hallway toward my office right now.
Piper
Who the fuck does he think he is? What the fuck is he trying to play at? Fire is bursting from my ears when I leave Kate at her desk and march down the hall toward his office. I’m allowed to have lunch with a friend, even if he has a penis, because for one, I don’t belong to anyone. I can do whatever I want. And for two, he’s a friend who wanted to treat me to lunch. Nothing more.
I don’t even knock. I don’t care anymore.
I burst through the door and begin speaking without preamble.
“Who the fuck do you think you are? What are you trying to do here, Nathanial? Please enlighten me, because I’m really fucking confused. You don’t get to tell me that we need to stop whatever this is between us, then come to my apartment to check on me and tell me we need to talk, flirt with me, and make me feel all kinds of things, and then snap at me