Page 58 of By His Rule

14

LORELEI

Kian was right. Damn him.

The sandwich he bought me was one of my favorites. Did he know, or was it just a damn good guess? I’ve no fucking idea, but all afternoon I’ve been grateful for his moment of thoughtfulness, even if it was accompanied by a side of demands.

Our afternoon has been busy and full of meetings, just like he promised. One of which was with Martin and his new assistant, Charlie.

She was lovely, and I’ve no doubt she will be great at her job. I wasn’t sure if I was jealous that she was down there embarking on the job I was meant to have, or happy that I managed to score myself something better…

Is it better?

On paper, I’m sure the role of Chief Financial Officer Assistant trumps that of Finance Manager Assistant. But the reality…

I bet she didn’t have a sandwich dumped in her lap and was told to eat.

But equally, I bet she hasn’t spent the day trying to push her boss’s buttons just to see how long it takes to make him blow, purely for her own amusement.

I smirk. Maybe my first day hasn’t been all bad. Even if I was meant to go home an hour ago.

I’m lost in the numbers filling the spreadsheet before me when the ding of the elevator floats around the room. I don’t look up. I’ve no reason to. Melissa is positioned to greet anyone who dares come up here. I, however, have been strategically hidden behind a big plant.

I’ve no idea if he’s actually done that on purpose, or if it’s just a happy accident on Kian’s part that I can’t see what’s happening in my own workplace, but whatever. I guess it stops me from getting distracted.

“Oh my gosh, look at you,” Melissa gushes, giving me a tiny hint about who might have just invited herself up to the top floor of the building.

I haven’t seen her husband again; I can only assume he spent the rest of his day at the Warner Group office, trying to strengthen his argument for why that chain of hotels is right for them.

“She’s growing nicely,” my best friend says. I can picture her clearly rubbing her rounded belly with a wide smile on her face. “How’s my girl done today?”

“Your girl is hiding behind the plant,” I call out at the same time as a deep voice growls, “Managed more than six hours.”

“I warned you, dear brother-in-law, my girl will stand up against all your bullshit and throw it straight back.”

Pride is evident in Tatum’s voice, and it makes a wide smile spread across my face.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” he muses, his form moving on the other side of the plant, making my stomach erupt with a million wild butterflies.

Tate laughs. “That you’re jealous of the way I boss your big brother around and you want in on the action.”

“Oh yeah, it was definitely something like that,” Kian mutters before he finally appears, approaching my desk, looking as suave and put together as he was first thing this morning.

Asshole.

I feel like a hot mess after running around the city all day and trying to focus harder than I’m sure I ever have in my life to ensure my notes stand up to Kian’s exacting standards. And don’t even get me started on this spreadsheet I’m attempting to make and populate.

I like to think I’m pretty skilled where spreadsheets are concerned, but this is pushing my limits. And I do not want to get caught Googling formulae by Kian.

I’ve got a list in my notes for all the things I need to look up tonight to make this work before showing him tomorrow.

My stomach knots just thinking about it.

Will anything I do ever be good enough for him?

Something tells me no.

He makes a show of looking at his stupidly expensive watch before glancing at my screen.

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