Page 26 of Ruthless Wars

Returning to a more relaxed state against the back of the chair, he quirks his lips into a sexy half-smile I can practically taste. Again, my phone vibrates, recapturing my attention.

coop: How about I offer you a seat on my *board*? Wink-wink.

Snuggling back into the massive chair, I curl a leg beneath me before texting back.

margot: Is that a *firm* offer, Coop? Because after last night, I’m going to need assurance you’re *up* for it.

coop: Depends. I like a challenge, but your last offer posed no challenge at all.

Quizzically, I give him a confused glance. His lip curls up as he reaches one finger into his breast pocket, tugging something out to give me the slightest glimpse of my black lace panties.

A rush of heat flies up my face and neck until Evie leans in.

Harshly, she whispers. “Are you seriously sexting right now?”

Protectively, I clasp my phone to my chest. “Of course not,” I insist, as cool and collected as my blazing cheeks and mild panting will allow.

No dick pic—no crime.

“I don’t know about any of you,” Coop says, almost indifferently, “but I’m getting a little hungry. I’ll blame low blood sugar on my sudden inability to concentrate. Since we’ve still got several more hours ahead of us today, how about we take a break until, oh, I don’t know ... one thirty?”

The nodding heads and intermittent smothered yawns coming from both sides of the table mean he isn’t the only one who could use a bite, or a break. And I, for one, could definitely use a nibble.

Diplomatically, Jean waits for my subtle nod before agreeing. “One thirty. You’re welcome to the private room across the hall where we have box lunches available for you and your team. If you need more privacy, we completely understand if you’d prefer another venue, and can make any number of recommendations.”

“The room across the hall will be fine,” the busty little vixen with the glasses says enthusiastically, deciding for her team.

I hate myself for glaring at Allison. Repeatedly.

Obviously, the girl is young, ambitious, sweet, and energetic. True, Long Multinational always seeks people with these exact traits to add to our corporate talent pool. But today, each of her highly coveted attributes have been annoying as shit.

With a final eye dagger hurled, I finally quit with a huff.

Still in hand, my phone vibrates, catching my attention.

coop: Stick around, temptress.

Pouting, I shoot back a smartass reply.

margot: You’re not the boss of me.

“Your office?” Evie asks, unabashedly trying to take a peek at the phone I’ve been preoccupied with.

Everyone’s heading out, including Coop. But patting his breast pocket, he gives me every assurance he’ll be back.

“Yes,” I say, going along with Coop's ruse. Lifting my voice, I hide my phone between my chair and its leather cushion before I say, “Let’s go.”

On our way to the elevator, I begin checking my purse feverishly, totally faking my irritation. “I swore I just had my phone.”

“You did.” Evie’s skepticism rings in her tone. It’s hard to fool someone who knows all your tricks.

Well, not all of them. Counting on Evie’s FOMO to be in full swing, I double-down on devaluing her importance.

“Evie,” I say, laying on the sweetness while trying not to be too fake about being totally fake. “Would you be a dear and check the conference room while I head up and strategize with Jean?”

A vein throbs on Evie’s forehead as she narrows her eyes on me. “What?”

“Sorry, Evie,” I say, backpedaling quickly but smiling inside at how I’ve hit the right nerve. “What was I thinking? You and Jean start, and I’ll be right up.”

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