that I kissed them. He just ended the relationship. He wants you, even though he will never admit it because he has an ulterior motive. And he thinks fucking you will get in the way of that.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think him fucking you is exactly what you both need. He needs to forget about his past and find his future.”
Cole adjusts his tie and touches the side of his cheek where a bruise is forming. I don’t know whether to thank Cole or punch him.
So I slap him across the cheek.
“Jesus, woman. What was that for?”
I storm toward my door. “For kissing me. Don’t do it again. Ever. Or I’ll do a lot more than slap you.”
“Fine, no more kissing.”
I pause in the doorway. “And for the record, I can fight my own battles. I can decide if I want Knight to fuck me or not. Knight might need to get laid, but it’s not what I need. I need the money. I need to finish my degree. Graduate and get a real job where I take care of myself. I don’t need a man to help me with that.”
I leave my office. My body shakes to my core. I’m furious. And turned on. Not because of Cole’s lackluster kiss, but because of the look in Knight’s eyes when he saw what happened. I’m a fucking mess, and all I’ve done is kiss Knight.
I meant everything I said to Cole. I can’t fuck Knight. I’m here to get paid and then move on with my life. That’s the plan I’m sticking to. No matter how charming, or good-looking he is. No matter what naughty words are whispered in my ear. I won’t give in. I’ve let one bad boy ruin my life before. I won’t do it again.
10
Knight
Why does Mila keep fucking kissing Cole?
He’s not that good-looking, he has the personality of a sloth, and he’s the ringleader of bad boys. The opposite of everything Mila claims to want.
I stare at my computer screen, angrily scrolling through my various emails and appointments for today. I can’t work, not when I can’t get the image of Mila and Cole kissing out of my head.
My door opens without a knock. I don’t look up. I don’t care if it’s Cole or Mila coming to beg for my forgiveness. I don’t want to see either of them right now.
“I updated your schedule so you can fit in the Thompson meeting tomorrow at nine between your eight-thirty and ten o’clock meetings,” Mila says.
I don’t look up. I’m sure my devil eyes would scare her off if she saw what was going through my head right now.
“I also want to assure you that I’m a professional. I will keep my private life private from now on. It was unacceptable what happened, and it won’t happen again.”
I shake my head but keep my mouth shut.
“Knight?”
I can’t take it anymore. I look up and see her standing across the desk from me glowing. I haven’t called her into my office for the last three hours because every time she leaves it, clearing her body from my mind takes twice as long as her voice to leave my head when I talk to her on the phone. I can’t have my productivity hampered that much.
“I’m on my way to pick up your dry cleaning. Is there anything else you need before I go and then head out for the night? I talked with HR, and they said you would write me a check for my advance so I can get an apartment.”
“Yes,” I hiss. “There are some things I need you to do for me before you are done for the night.”
She sucks in a breath but otherwise doesn’t flinch.
“I need you to generate July’s P&L, prepare an update for our investors, read the ten articles that were submitted to be included in the company newsletter, give me summaries of the spreadsheets Daniel sent me, find a place to host the fall party and finish answering my emails.”
Her eyes get big, but she doesn’t argue. She was expecting me to add more to her plate. I want to threaten her job if she so much as looks at Cole again, but I don’t want to bring up my bastard of a best friend again.
“Done.” Her eyes narrow and her lips thin. “My advance?”
I smirk. “I don’t think you have earned your advance yet.”
She raises an eyebrow. “I’ve worked my ass off for you today.”
“Liar.