Page 38 of Forbidden Boss (Manhattan Billionaires)

I let out a snort. “Right. Isn’t that the point of having me at your side?”

His jaw clenched. “I didn’t like it, Jordan. Don’t do it again.”

“You got the contract, didn’t you? Would you rather I sit there like a wet sock and drag the mood down?”

Eyes flashing, he stared me down.

But I wasn’t intimidated. I took a step closer, so we were nearly nose to nose. “I made him laugh and stroked his ego so you could come in and close the deal. That’s the whole reason I’m here. And, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m really,reallygood at it.”

I poked him in the chest for emphasis with every word until he snatched it before I could finish the last poke. His fingers dwarfed mine as he clasped my hand, clutching it between us. I could feel the calluses on his palm, the heat of his skin against mine. My breath caught.

He stared into my eyes, then dropped his gaze to my lips. I felt like a doe who’d just realized she was in the hunter’s crosshairs, trembling and ready to bolt.

Rome clearly wasn’t as affected as I was. He dropped my hand and took a step back as he straightened his tie. “Let’s debrief on our way back to the office.”

On trembling legs, I followed him into the car. He didn’t look at me as we went over the lunch, then talked about what would be required for the rest of the week. There was only one more event for me to attend, and I’d have Sunday off.

I barely heard him. The more I sat there in his car, listening to him order me around, the angrier I got. By the time we got to the office building, my jaw was clenched and my fists balled. I stomped after him to the elevator, resenting the fact that I had to trot after him like a little lapdog and that I was the one who’d signed up for this in the first place.

The elevator doors closed, and we leaned against opposite walls, glaring at each other.

He arched a brow. “Why do you look like that?”

“Like what?”

His lips twitched at my barked response. “Like you want to bite my head off.”

“I just think you’re taking a lot of liberties with my job description,” I said. “You want me to parade everywhere on your arm and make pleasant conversation, and then you get mad when I do. You think you have a right to tell me whether or not I can date just because I signed a contract with your company.”

He pushed off the wall and prowled closer. We traveled up toward the top floor, and I suddenly realized I was trapped here with him. It only took him two large steps to stand toe-to-toe with me, his broad chest pressing against mine. Both of his hands came to rest on the wall on either side of my head.

“You seem to have forgotten one thing, Ms. Jordan,” he enunciated, eyes flashing. His head dipped slightly so I could feel his breath against my cheek.

“What’s that?” I asked, trying to sound tough. My fingers curled into the handrail behind me, and my breath stuttered. He was so close. So overwhelmingly male. So…angry.

“While you work for this company,” he said in a low, dangerous voice, “you belong tome.”

His face dipped, but his lips remained just out of reach. His eyes bored into mine, pinning me in place. I could feel the warmth of his body all down my front, feel his breath against my lips. My world narrowed to the spaces between us. The fraction of an inch between my mouth and his. The brush of his suit jacket against my breasts. The touch of his knee between mine.

The elevator came to a stop, and Rome pushed off the wall, straightened his tie, and faced the doors a moment before they opened. He stepped out like he didn’t have a care in the world while I tried to catch my breath, clinging to the handrail, watching his retreating back.

He paused just on the other side of the elevator doors to glance back at me. “From now on, your presence is required for daily dinner briefings with me. My office. Five o’clock. Until then, talk to Clara about the next few events you’ll need to attend.”

Without waiting for a response, he disappeared around the corner and left me panting in the elevator. The door began to close before I shot my arm out to stop it. Wobbling, I clutched my purse to my stomach and made my way to Clara’s office, eyes darting to the frosted glass door across from hers. The one that belonged to Rome.

I gritted my teeth.

He’d done that on purpose just to knock me off-balance. The jerk. Straightening my shoulders, I strode to Clara’s door and knocked on the jamb. She looked up and waved me in.

I gave her my best smile. If Rome thought that little stunt was all it took to get me to take off running, he was dead wrong. I was here to stay, and I wasn’t going to be stupid enough to fall for an arrogant billionaire who thought he could boss me around.

FOURTEEN

ROME

I lockedmyself in the bathroom attached to my office and leaned against the vanity. My pulse pounded. I could feel the blood thrumming in my fingertips, my toes, my cock.

The woman drove me nuts.

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