then barked, “Meeting adjourned.” Getting to my feet, I snatched up my laptop, then stalked out.
I’d barely closed the door to my office when Elliot stormed in, his face beet red. “What the fuck was that?” He slammed the door behind him, almost breaking the smoked glass on either side.
I set my laptop on my desk, even though I wanted to hurl it through the window. I took a breath, calming myself before I answered. I wasn’t known for random outbursts of anger, but whenever it came to Athena, my usual composed demeanor deserted me. I had to get a grip, though. If Elliot guessed the real reason I had such a problem with Athena working here, it’d be me going through the window, hurled to my death by my best friend.
I arranged my face in conciliatory fashion. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m tired, grouchy, and I took it out on you. I just thought you might have mentioned it to me first. Of course I’m fine with Athena taking on a role in the company. It’ll be really good for her, like you say.”
Elliot’s deep frown disappeared, his customary smile returning. “I thought a long overdue fuck with your Asian friend might have improved your mood. Clearly not.”
I let the misconception lie, grinning at him. “A good night’s sleep, and I’ll be back to normal.”
“God help us.”
“Don’t you have a contract to arrange with HR?”
“Indeed I do. I was thinking of starting her tomorrow.”
My eyebrows shot up. “So soon?”
“Yeah, why not? The paperwork can catch up.” He sauntered over to the door. “Have a good day, angel face.”
“You too, asswipe.”
He laughed, then left me alone with my thoughts.
I put my head in my hands. Fuck. I needed to find a way to deal, and fast.
8
Athena
“Night, Athena. Don’t stay too late.”
I smiled at Aaron, the head of my department, and a top-notch guy. I’d been so nervous when Elliot had introduced us on my first day—Wednesday—I’d dropped my purse. The contents had gone everywhere, and a solitary tampon had rolled across the floor, stopping at the feet of my new boss.
Oh, the shame.
Aaron, to his credit, hadn’t mentioned it then or since. Elliot, on the other hand, ribbed me about it at every given opportunity.
“Night, Aaron. See you Monday.”
I shivered, pulling my wrap closer around my shoulders, not because it was cold—the air conditioning kept the temperature even—but because it felt strange that everyone had left already. I wouldn’t be far behind, but I wanted to finish the current piece of work, otherwise, come Monday, I’d have to try to figure out where I’d gotten up to.
The sound of low chatter reached me, and the voices grew nearer. I held my breath, recognizing Ryker’s deep baritone. He was talking to Elliot. Quietly rising from my chair, I padded closer to the door. I wanted to see if they mentioned me.
“Don’t forget to be at Mom’s for eight tomorrow,” Elliot said, referring to the damned dinner Mother Dearest had arranged to celebrate my homecoming.
“I won’t,” Ryker replied. “Will you let her know I’m bringing a date?”
I pressed a fist to my sternum as pain licked through my chest. He’s bringing a date. Every time I thought about Ryker with someone else, another piece of my heart snapped off, crumbling like a stale cookie. Watching him with another woman was tantamount to being tortured. If it were any other event I’d duck out, but as I was the supposed guest of honor, I’d have to sit there, suffering in silence while he put his hands on a woman who wasn’t me. Touched her, whispered to her, laughed with her.
I briefly wondered if I had time to arrange a date of my own, but I’d lost touch with so many people in the last six months, it felt like an exercise in futility, especially this late. My shoulders slumped.
“Ooh, a date. Good to see you’ve finally given up celibacy. No sex makes you crabby as hell.”
“I wasn’t celibate. I just gave women a swerve for a while.”
I straightened. Wait, what?
“Glad to see you’re back behind the wheel, so to speak. Maybe your mood will improve. Ever since Japan you’ve behaved like an asshole. Clearly a night or two with your Asian friend didn’t even begin to scratch the itch.”
“Rubbish,” Ryker scoffed. “I’ve had a lot on my plate, that’s all.”
Since Japan. Since he found me in the club. Could the two events be related?
“Sure you don’t want to come for a drink?” Elliot