Page 11 of Tangling with the Boss

If I do, I’ll probably rope myself to the headboard and beg my boss to ravish me just once for old times’ sake. Sane, normal assistants don’t do that.

So, nope. Not crossing any lines in here, thank you, brain. Instead I tiptoe back to the safety of the living area and slide on my strappy high heels with a wince.

Ouch.I stand up straight and shake out my arms. My feet throb like crazy, and it’s already been a long day, but I’m sure that my silvery heels and pink cocktail dress do nothing to hide that fact. At least I’ve redone my ponytail, smoothing down those stray, frizzy hairs, and dabbed some gloss on my lips.

The key sliding into the lock gives me barely any warning. The door swings open, and Leo strides inside, barreling into the kitchen.

He’s still in his work clothes from earlier, the white shirt open at the collar and rumpled by our kiss—and duh, of course he hasn’t changed yet. I’ve been hogging his apartment.

Leo’s black hair is wind-ruffled, and dark shadows cling beneath his icy blue eyes. He looks wan as he chugs a glass of water; today is taking a toll on him too.

Is he okay?

Wish I could cancel this party. Even though it’s selfish, even though I’ve put in months and months of stressful work, I’d love nothing more right now than to close that door and block out the rest of the world. To hole up in this penthouse with the boss and let him persuade me again to stay with a kiss; to switch on his fancy remote-control fireplace and curl up together on the sofa for more… negotiations.

Because Leo kissed me.

Hekissedme.

Doesn’t make any sense.

But my stupid heart doesn’t care about logic and boring stuff like that—it’s too busy doing cartwheels around my chest.

“You look…” Leo trails off with a frown, placing his empty glass down with a thud.

My excitable heart sinks, finally simmering down, and I pluck at the pink fabric. Itseemedfine when I checked myself in the bathroom mirror, but maybe this outfit is all wrong. “Oh. Okay. I could change back into the purple dress from earlier?”

“What?” Leo’s frown deepens, then he jerks his head from side to side. “No! That’s not what I—no. You look nice. That’s what I was going to say.”

“Nice,” I mumble. “Thank you.”

And I’m not digging for compliments, I swear, this man just scrambles my brain with a fork whenever he’s near. But Leo huffs and folds his arms, leaning back against the counter like I’m being difficult.

“Beautiful. You look beautiful, Hazel. Alright? Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Um. No? No one wants compliments through gritted teeth.

“I’ll head up to the roof,” I say, all business. No point wallowing, is there? And arguing sure won’t make things better. Besides, I’ll be gone in two short weeks, and these tiny stabs of disappointment won’t hurt me anymore. “You change and follow, then we can greet the guests as they arrive.”

“Wait, Hazel.”

“Mm?” Tugging my dress straight, I won’t meet the boss’s eye. Why should I? He kissed me, then bit my head off. Life is too damn short for this nonsense, and that is why I’m leaving.

“Will you stay?” Leo presses, gripping the counter hard, and it’s so freaking rich of him to ask me that now, right after grumping at me over nothing.

“No.”

The boss puffs up, outraged. “But I kissed you. We agreed—”

“Wedidn’t agree on anything. You tried something and it didn’t work. Nice attempt, though.” My heels clack on the floor as I march past, and jeez, I hate playing hardball like this. Hate walking away when I can feel the misery pouring off him in waves, but what else can I do?

This man could crush my heart without a second thought—and he doesn’t even want it. He wants me to stay as his assistant, nothing more, and he’s willing to toy with my feelings to win his prize.

I should be madder than this. I should stomp and yell.

Instead, I’m just tired.

“Follow me up when you’re ready.”

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