You did the minimum needed. And then you kissed and would have most likely fucked, my best friend in your office. That doesn’t sound like someone who is a hard worker.”
She frowns.
“You’re really not going to give me an advance?”
“No, but don’t worry. My bedroom is yours until you get paid at the end of the month. Although, I have a strict no men allowed rule that I doubt you will be able to follow.”
“Fuck you.”
“I’m letting you stay in my condo for free. I think you should be thanking me.”
“Thank you, Knight, for ensuring that any feelings I had developed during our drunken and high night together have completely vanished. I will work hard and earn my money. And then I’ll be out of your life, forever.”
“Good, you’ve finally learned.”
She leaves without another word. It’s for the best, I remind myself. I’d rather destroy her now than later.
“I’m leaving for the day,” Cole says sticking his head into my office.
I growl. “Get the fuck out, Cole.”
Cole doesn’t leave. He steps inside with his smug ass expression.
“Dammit Cole!” I slam my computer down, and it breaks. “I thought you kissed her the first time to mess with me.”
“I did.”
“Then, what the hell was that?”
“You are holding back. You aren’t going to pursue her beyond whatever stupid thing you hired her to do. I was helping.”
“I don’t need your fucking help, Cole. I need you to get out of my life.”
Cole laughs. “That’s what you think? Mila slapped me. It stung worse than your weak ass punch too.”
Mila slapped him. Shit. And I pushed her away even further.
“Mila wants you. Although, I’m sure you were an ass to her and now you’ll be lucky if she keeps working for you.”
I was, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“I meant what I said about our deal. I’m selling my company to someone else. You don’t deserve it.”
Cole shrugs. “I have more than enough money. What are you going to do about Mila?”
“Nothing.” Not a damn thing. I shouldn’t have even hired her. She can’t help me. No one can. It was a gut reaction. I thought she could help, but she can’t.
Cole shakes his head. “Tell Mila now that you broke your computer and she needs to get you a new one, rather than waiting until later when the Apple store has closed.” And then he’s gone.
I need to lock my damn door. I get up to do just that when Abri steps inside.
“You talking to me yet, Ace?” Abri asks with a smile on her face. She brushes her hand over my chest, and it takes everything in me not to grab her wrist and throw her out of my office. But that’s precisely what she wants.
“No, not after what you did.”
She cocks her head to one side and twirls her auburn hair. Anyone else would think she looks like an innocent teenager, not a dangerous twenty-four-year-old.
“What did I do?” Her smile grows larger, and she bats her eyelashes like she couldn’t have possibly done anything wrong.
“Nevermind,” I mumble under my breath. I step back and watch as her hand falls into the space between us. I want to retreat behind my desk again, but it would be a victory for Abri. I’m not going to let her win. Even for a second.
Abri knows me too well though. She skips over to my desk and takes a seat like this is as much her office as it is mine. It was once. It’s one of the many reasons I want to sell this company and start over.
“I heard you hired a new me and gave her my old office.”
I clench my teeth together to keep from growling. I hate her behind my desk, and I don’t want her to notice Mila. I should have never brought Mila here. I keep my expression blank and indifferent. Abri doesn’t need to know Mila is a weakness.
“I did. You weren’t exactly cutting it as my assistant anymore.”
Abri rolls her eyes. “Partner, if I recall. My title was partner.”
I shrug. “You seemed like an assistant to me.”
“If the new girl isn’t up to the job, all you have to do is ask me nicely, and I’ll take my job back. I’ll even let you call me your assistant.”
I snicker. “You haven’t had a hard day’s work in months. I doubt you even remember how to work hard.”