Page 22 of Ditching the Dragon (Fated Dates)

I know where her office is, so it’s not as if she can hide.

I’m only a few seconds behind her, but my mate and her friend have enough of a lead that they barricade themselves in Annie’s office.

Straightening my suit and cracking my neck, I draw in a deep breath and knock on the frosted glass of Annie’s office.

Her performance reviews and internal evaluations establish her as a rising star at the firm—exactly what I’d expect from my mate.

She’s exceptional in every way.

Violet swings the door open and stares at me like she’s concerned I’m here to kidnap her friend.

Which is fair. Because I absolutely am.

She opens her mouth, but before any sound escapes I lift a single finger.

“Out,” I demand.

“I think it’s best that I—”

“I said leave, Violet. I need to talk to Annie.”

Violet checks with her friend, but my mate only sighs dramatically and shrugs to agree with me.

The woman knocks my shoulder on her way out of the office, and she gains a few points in her favor. I like loyalty, even when it’s directed against me.

Gliding the chair out on the other side of Annie’s desk, I squeeze into it and lean forward with my elbows resting on my knees. I’m as close as I can physically be to her, behind her desk, without vaulting the surface.

“You left me,” I accuse.

Her shoulders slump, and she searches the room. Her distressed gaze skims over the people outside her glass-encased office.

“We can’t discuss that here,” she whispers.

“I own the place. I can discuss whatever I want.”

“No, you can’t. I’m a subordinate now.”

“Actually, we have a pre-existing relationship. Our pairing is perfectly legal.”

“It was a one night stand, not a relationship.”

Grinding my jaw, I withhold the things I want to say in response. Annie is mine. She always has been and she always will be.

Instead, I suck in a breath and say, “however you want to classify it, it existed before I bought Parsens.”

I wouldn’t have bought it before you.

“And the people who accuse me of sleeping my way to the top?”

“Would be idiots, but even so, they won’t be employed idiots after that.”

Annie groans and hides her face in her hands. She mumbles a curse.

“Why are you here, Wick?” she asks. “This is a nightmare of epic proportions. People will already be talking about the fact that you’re in my office. I’ll have to find another job now.”

“Like fuck you will. You don’t work for anyone else.”

She drops her hands onto the desk.

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