Page 73 of Ask Me Something

Chapter Fifteen

The mock pitch had gone as expected in that the content had been on point, but we needed to work on the transitions between Logan and Charlie. Charlie was one of my senior managers and had been in the advertising business for seven years. He was a family man who stayed calm under pressure and was easy to work with. Logan, on the other hand, was young and trying to make a name for himself. Although I admired a go-getter attitude, it had to be controlled, which is what I’d coached him about earlier in the week. This wasn’t a one-man show. If we weren’t all on the same team boosting one another, then there was no place for him. He’d taken the criticism in stride, and I was pleased with his progress.

Brian came into my office after the mock to share his thoughts and those of Josh in a recap session. As always, he picked up on the details and nuances that would make the pitch much better. Since he was part of this high-profile presentation, executing the introductions, he and I needed to ensure we were on the same page, too. I made my notes and knew we’d perfect it in the upcoming two weeks. “We’ll start working on the changes come Monday.”

“I’m glad that you’re not insisting on doing it today.”

Being in charge sometimes meant I needed to take a step back and reward my staff instead of piling on more work. “They did a good job today and should have the weekend off before I crack the whip again.” Next week would mean long nights.

Sitting back in my visitor’s chair, he regarded me. “Logan appears anxious to please you.”

I shrugged, wondering what he was getting at. “That’s what anyone who wants to be successful strives to do: make their boss happy.”

“But not everyone wants to please you quite the way I think Logan does.”

I shot him a warning look, not liking his tone or what he was implying. “You aren’t being serious right now, are you?”

“I’m only making an observation. That’s all.”

The hard look in his eyes told me different. “Okay, because it sounded like you were implying something inappropriate was going on.”

“You told Josh that he was very attractive.”

My temper started to rise. “Josh posed the question, and I answered. And yes, he is attractive. It’s advertising, Brian. Everyone is good-looking, or if they’re not, then they’re put together and have great personalities. We sell ourselves in order to sell our services. That’s why you don’t want me parading young, pretty associates in the pitch in front of what’s-her-face. And why I have to be very careful to dress conservatively. Because looks matter in this business.”

The truth was that Logan was hot, but I didn’t personally find him attractive. Matter of fact, I’d never been into any of my good-looking colleagues, with the exception of the one sitting in front of me.

“I agree with you, but he wants to fuck you, and that’s simply fact.”

My face heated. “Are you kidding me? He does not. Where is this coming from?” I was exasperated and wondering how the hell we’d started down this road.

He shook his head. “I have a secret for you, Sasha. Men rank a woman in their head on a scale of one to ten regarding how badly they’d like to sleep with her. Especially the young, single guys.”

“I don’t need this shit here. He may or may not want to sleep with me, but guess what? I only have control over my thoughts. Not his and not yours. And if you’re going to sit there and tell me that I need to act differently or that I’m somehow encouraging it, you can walk your ass out of here. I’m not even all that nice to him most of the time.” The more I thought about it, the more fired up I was getting.

He smirked. “Being tough on him only makes him want to fuck you more.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. You do realize that you’re acting irrational, right?”

His jaw clenched. This side of him was so out in left field. “It’s very rational that Logan, along with any other man who sees you, would want to sleep with you. The only difference I’m pointing out is that he’s hoping it will happen on a daily basis. Reasonable thought goes out the window when I have to watch a man trying to accomplish that goal in front of me.”

“Is this the point where I’m supposed to reassure you that isn’t ever going to happen?”

His laugh was void of humor. “Only you would take a shot at my ego instead of boosting it at this point.”

“If you need your ego stroked over your misplaced jealousy, then you made an arrangement with the wrong girl. Now, I have work to do.”

I could tell he wanted to say something else on the subject by the barely restrained anger reflecting in his eyes.

“Fine, I’ll let you get back to work. I’m meeting with Mark for dinner, and then I’ll see you back at your place later. I want you to wear those red, fuck-me shoes you have on and nothing else. I’ll text you when I’m on my way so you can wait for me on your knees in the middle of your bed.”

I sucked in my breath and narrowed my eyes. “We’re not doing this here.” I didn’t know how I could verbalize how that command in my office made me feel, but his words incited my indignation.

“Do what, exactly?”

“You’re dominant in the bedroom because, frankly, I let you, and I like it. But you can’t come in my office where I’m in charge and say something like that to me. I can’t mix the lines like that. It pisses me off and makes me feel weird about being given a sexual demand where I work. I—”

He got up, clenched his jaw, and let out a breath. Moving closer toward me, he raked a hand over his face. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it. Obviously I didn’t think about the entire conversation.”

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