Page 14 of Richard

Richard felt the blaze of the other man’s glare and backed down instantly, his anger and frustration dissolving. Spinning away from the desk, he marched over to the liquor cabinet and poured a stiff drink. “I would offer you a shot, but it would not go well with whatever you are taking.”

“I need a clear head anyway. What was going on back there?” Lenny jerked his head in the direction of the studio. They had been there for the past three hours, and Richard had been grouchy as a bear with a sore head.

Nothing had been done to his satisfaction. He had sent one singer rushing out in tears and another so terrified the guy had frozen and refused to perform.

He had been the hardest on Lenny, making him go over the lyrics and having him try it out in different ways, and still he was not satisfied. He had been unreasonable, and that was not like Richard. He was a perfectionist, yes, but his singers always benefited from his rigid standards.

Tonight, he had been insufferable.

“Nothing.”

“Try again. I am not one of those callow newbies who cringe at the sound of your voice.

You are not yourself, and I want to know what the hell is going on.”

“You think because you are ill, I am supposed to hold my punches?” Richard bit out. Tossing back the drink, he relished the sting of the liquor coursing through his esophagus and hitting the lining of his stomach. It also reminded him that aside from the club sandwich his assistant had foisted on him, he hadnot eaten anything else.

Pouring himself another two fingers, he wandered back to his desk and sat down. “That was unfair.”

“To say the least.” Lenny stared at him quizzically. “When was the last time you got laid?”

Thick dark brows lifted, and a wry smile touched Richard’s lips. “How is that any of your business?”

“You made it mine the minute you start taking it out on us poor unfortunate souls who happen to cross your path. You could always ask her out, you know," he added casually, settling himself against the comfortable padding of the chair.

Richard did not pretend to be ignorant. “Out of the question," he refuted grimly.

“Because of your stupid rule.”

“It’s there for a reason," he growled. It had been two weeks since he assigned the contract to the advertising agency. At first, he had avoided dealing with her, telling himself that if he stayed away, he would put her out of his mind.

But she had been visiting with Lenny one evening when he happened to stop by and the sight of the two of them laughing and behaving familiar had set his hackles up. He had been brusque and rude, leaving only after a few minutes.

Lenny had called him while he was on his way to the club and told him in no uncertain terms that he needed to apologize to her.

“What the hell is the matter with you?”

“Nothing!” he snapped back.

“She is very good at what she does.”

“I know.” His head was pounding, and the liquor was turning around in his gut. The attraction he felt for her was not going away, but he could not afford to mess things up by getting involved with her. “One of the reasons why taking her to my bed would be a hell of a bad idea.”

“She is hurting.”

Richard stared at him sharply. “And you know this how?”

His friend shrugged his shoulders. “We talked. The asshole is calling her. Apparently, he wants to meet, told her he is still in love with her and made a colossal mistake.”

Richard’s fingers tightened on the glass. “Is she going to meet him?”

“She said no. But she is still reeling from the past.”

“Which makes it foolhardy for me to get involved in that kind of mess.”

“She needs someone.”

Richard barked out a laugh. “To ease the pain, you mean?”

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