Page 19 of Forbidden You

“What, Kayla? You want a job. I got you a job. I’m yourbossnow. We had fun. But we’re nothing more than a nice memory. You know that, right?”

His painful expression makes me believe he has a harder time with his own words than I do, but fine. He wants to play it like this? He’s got it. But I’m not going to let any man treat me like dirt anymore.

My sarcastic chuckle echoes through the garage as I drag my feet to the passenger side, averting my gaze. “Yeah, I know,Mr. McKay. Doesn’t mean you have to act like a dick, though.”

***

You can imagine the drive to his house being painfully awkward as we both just sit in silence. I watch the city pass by, still feeling pissed as fuck, while he just keeps his eyes focused on the road. The tension is excruciating, thick enough to suffocate someone. I vote for him.

Part of me wants to smack him. To take back control and tell him to treat me better than that. But self doubt holds me back, feeding me the lies that have been living rent free in my brain for months if they weren’t shouted at my face by a lesser man.

‘You’re so stupid.’

‘Did you really think I wasn’t going to fuck any one else?’

‘You’re nothing without me, you ungrateful bitch.’

‘How dare you talk back to me?’

Before I know it I’m spiraling down, vigorously swallowing the lump in my throat away to hide it from the man beside me, making this the worst car ride I’ve ever experienced.

After ten minutes, he pulls his car into another underground garage.

I let out all my pent up emotions in a deep sigh, doing my best to relax my muscles when he parks the car next to the elevator.

Maybe I should just take my chances on my own and go.

As much as it feels like a dream to be working for a publishing company without any credentials, I don’t want to be a burden either. And that’s exactly how I feel, like I’m nothing more than a bug on his shoe.

It’s bad enough that Rae clearly had to beg him to give me a job, though I’m suspicious she did it as much for herself as for me. But it sucks more that the person in question doesn’t want you there. To feel unwanted. I felt like that for such a long time, I can’t take it anymore. I left Stanford for a reason. I can’t go back to that.

To that feeling.

And don’t forget that I slept with my newbossonce upon a time. Imagine how the rest of the office will respond to that if they ever find out. I’m sure making friends will become a lot harder.

“Look,” he kills the engine, then turns his body toward me, giving me an apologetic look. “Maybe that was a bit harsh.”

I study his face, taking in the smooth skin on his jaw. A dusting of stubble is coming through, tempting me to run my thumb over it when his mouth relaxes to a somewhat more friendly looking position.

He’s not him.

“It was,” I confirm, holding up my chin.

I might not have the courage to stick up for myself, but I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t a dick-ish move.

“But,” he continues in a slight growl, “I do mean it. We have to keep this professional. I’m sure you and I are already getting some backlash for the fact that you’re not qualified. Let alone if anyone finds out we slept together. There will be no flirting. Do you understand?”

I roll my eyes, annoyed he’s talking to me like I just jumped him like a poodle in heat. If anything he’s just as guilty after the triple eye fuck he’s been giving me.

He still wants me just as much as the first time we met and it gives me just that little boost to push back.

“I might have been going after your dick last summer, but in my defense, I was going through a break-up, and you crashed Rae’s birthday.”

“Technically, she took us there.”

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes, then lock my gaze with his, giving him a serious look, my confidence somewhat resurfacing. “I’m here for the job, Bodi. Not to give you blow jobs.” I pause with a smirk, pretty content with my comeback.

He gives me a what-the-fuck-look in response, though I swear I can see a smile hiding in the corner of his kissable lips. “Unless you want me to,” I add playfully, with a shrug.

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