Page 36 of Bossed By the Orc

“If you need anything, you ask me. No one else,” Dristan huffed, going back to his overflowing inbox.

“I can sort those first,” I told him, leaning over him to click on the tab with his schedule. I held my breath, struggling not to inhale his woodsy scent. Every time I got near him, something primal and visceral in me wanted to throw myself into his arms so he could take me back to his cave.

Reining those urges in, I took my seat again, using the laptop Dristan had assigned to me to open his emails instead.

“This schedule’s full,” Dristan growled. “I specifically booked this morning off. I canceled the meeting here.”

“I know,” I told him, pointing at the small fifteen-minute slot he’d deleted without a second thought. “I put this one back.”

He narrowed those piercing yellow eyes at me. “Why?”

“I think you should hear the pitch again and actually listen this time,” I said, biting my lip. “I think it was unfair the way you kicked him out the last time after he worked so hard with his team to put everything together.”

I saw the storm brewing in his eyes and prepared myself for his ire.

“It’s the minotaur, isn’t it?” he growled, his fist clenched in front of him. But I wasn’t going to be intimidated by him.

“Yes, it’s the minotaur,” I shot back, glaring at him with as much ferocity as I could muster. “His name is Garrett, and this time, you’re going to listen and not kick him out before he even gets two words out.”

His nostrils were flared and he was seething, but the knock on the door distracted us before he could go off on a tirade. Garrett stood there in a suit this time, his forced smile telling me more than anything else how nervous he was.

“Hi, Garrett,” I called, giving him an encouraging smile. “Please come in. We were just talking about how much Mr. Everlock is looking forward to hearing your presentation.”

Dristan’s scowl couldn’t possibly get any fiercer, but I gestured Garrett forward anyway. The male’s gaze swung between us for a few moments before he cleared his throat.

“Good morning Mr. Everlock. Miss…” he trailed off, horror in his eyes as he realized that I’d never given him my name.

“You can call me Penelope,” I said with a welcoming grin and Dristan’s scowl somehow grew darker. “You can start whenever you’re ready.” I knew I was pushing it—pushing Dristan.

I was crossing boundaries that I wouldn’t usually, but I’d seen the work Garrett’s team had put in. All the nights they’d burned the midnight oil, and I wanted to give them their chance to shine. My palms were sweating, but I tried to be inconspicuous as I wiped them on my skirt.

“I distinctly remember requesting an e-mail,” Dristan gritted and I turned my winning smile his way.

“He sent an e-mail. And after looking it over, I just knew that he needed to explain everything to you so you can ask him any questions you had in person,” I explained with more pep than I needed to. The toe of my shoe somehow found its way onto his foot and the small grunt that left him told me that he received my message loud and clear—aware that I was still pushing my limits, but praying he would go along for my sake.

Play. Nice.

“Go on then,” Dristan sighed, leaning back in his chair while it made a loud, protesting squeak.

Garrett’s smile was much less forced now. “Thank you for giving me another chance, sir,” he gushed and I watched Dristan’s lip start to curl before grunting again as I dug my shoe in.

“You’re welcome,” he sounded out, the words dangerous on his tongue.

I hid my grin, turning back to nod at Garrett. He started his pitch with much more enthusiasm than he had the last time. He handed us little packets to reference and I was impressed. He’d done so much research, and it showed.

“We believe that with very little capital on our end, we can get in early and break into this sector. It’s open for the taking.” He ended his presentation with a little nod, his eyes not leaving Dristan.

I had to give him credit for not losing his cool, since Dristan’s scowl hadn’t changed at all. He sighed, leaning back in his chair again and I knew that I only had maybe a day or two to get his new chair before this one died under him.

“Okay,” Dristan said, after a long moment. “Even though this could have been distilled into an e-mail.” The side-eye he sent my way burned a hole in my cheek, but I was too busy smiling at Garrett, “I’ll give it a chance. Give the numbers to Fionel.”

Garrett’s eyes lit up and I knew that as soon as he stepped into the elevator, he would be dancing with glee. “Thank you so much, Mr. Everlock,” he enthused. “My team and I can’t wait to get started with this.”

Dristan’s scowl was back and he waved the male off, dismissing him. Garrett didn’t seem offended, but I still dug my shoe in again for being so rude. Dristan’s pained expression made me grin.

“Thank you too, Penelope,” Garrett called, waving at me. I beamed at him, waving back and Dristan turned annoyed eyes my way.

“What?” I asked, pulling my foot off of his.

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