Page 41 of Romance with Mr. Bossy Pants

First, I’d find myself getting mad at her, and next, I’d admit I was too harsh on her and would want to make things right.

Dang it, I don’t care.

She’s not relevant enough to have this effect on me.

I return my attention to Jonathan in time to catch a loophole in his presentation. “Hold on. The projections for Q3 on slide seventeen – there’s an oversight there. The market analysis doesn’t account for the recent regulatory changes. How does this affect our publication?”

Silence descends into the room, and everyone exchanges glances. Ugh. I hate it when they do that.

“I need a solution, not blank stares,” I press impatiently.

“There’s an easy way around it,” Chloe says softly after another minute of silence, automatically earning everyone’s attention. She comes in swiftly with yet another home run idea.

Silence.

“That is brill –” I catch myself and draw in a breath. “That’s a possibility.”

Nods of agreement ripple through the room again. However, my pride is disrupted when I catch Alex, ever so casually, placing a hand on Chloe’s under the table, eliciting a smile from her. Suddenly, the room feels a hundred times hotter, and a tightness grips my throat. With a subtle tug, I loosen my collar.

“Is the air-conditioning still on?” I ask.

This is ridiculous. I’m the CEO, not a schoolboy with a crush.

Get a grip, Daniel. Figure it out. Figure out what you want.

As if on cue, my phone buzzes. “I have to take this. Let’s reconvene on Monday morning.” The words are barely out of my mouth before I stand up and bolt out of there.

Back in my office, I pace frantically, my thoughts on nothing and everything all at the same time. After a few minutes, I can’t stand the tension anymore. I pick up the phone to dial Chloe’s office. “Can you come into my office, please?”

When she enters seconds later, I don’t waste a moment before I circle her to close the door. “What was all that about?”

“You asked for a solution, and I gave one. I’m not trying to score points if that’s what you think.” She clearly prepared for this.

I take a step closer to her so that we can feel each other’s breaths.

“I’m sick of hearing that!” I retort, the words tumbling from my lips like coins from an old school slot machine. “If an apology is what it takes for you to stop driving me crazy, then so be it. I’m sorry for being mean and unreasonable. Heck, I’ll even buy you lunch for the month.”

“You’re the one who’s driving me insane, not the other way around,” Chloe exclaims, jabbing her finger in my chest, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins.

My pulse quickens. I’m tempted to grasp her finger, pull her close, and plant my lips firmly against hers in a passionate embrace. It takes every muscle in my body to stop me from caressing her, giving into this overwhelming urge to taste her.

OMG. No, Daniel.

How did I get here? How did we get here? And why can’t I fire this woman already?

“It’s too late for apologies. And I sure don’t want your food.”

“Then stop it. Whatever it is you’re doing to me, because it’s making me very uncomfortable.”

“What am I doing?”

I search for words, but they’re elusive. What is she doing to me?

Breathing heavily, I muster the only words I can. “Just … leave, please.”

Chloe’s eyes flare wide. She stares at me with piercing, yet innocent eyes, and for a moment, I recoil under its intensity. I imagine she’s thinking of ways to murder me in cold blood, but she suddenly leans in closer. There’s a significant height difference between us, but right now, Chloe seems like a giant.

“Move,” she commands. I hesitantly do as she instructs.

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