Page 19 of Worth the Risk

“Why not?” He pushes away from me, taking a step back.

“Because,” I say without actually having a reason why. “It’s just silly. I’m over it now.”

“Really?” He slides his hands into his pockets. “Because a minute ago you told me it was your outlet to get over the breakup so you could convince me to take more videos.”

“Well, yeah, I just meant I’m not taking requests from people.”

“Why not? Scared you won’t be able to get the likes?” He bounces his eyebrows at me, knowing I hate backing down from a challenge.

“Fine,” I agree, “I’ll do it. But the video her comment is on has to get at least a million likes.”

“And how does a video get that many likes exactly? Is that normal?”

“I wouldn’t say normal.” I try to hide my smile, knowing he has no idea how social media actually works. “But right now, you’re only at just over three hundred thousand likes so maybe if someone famous comments you’ll get there or if they repost the video.”

“So you’re saying you don’t think it’s possible.”

I shrug. “Possible, yes. Probable, no.”

“Well now, I’m not one to back down from a challenge.” He flashes me a wink.

“Okay then.” I pick up my phone and open the video, typing out a response to the commenter.

One million likes and a famous person has to comment or reshare the video.

I add the part at the end without Austin’s knowledge, knowing damn well the likelihood this video will receive that many likes is so low it won’t even matter. And if it ever does, by then, we’ll both have completely forgotten about this entire silly thing.

“Done.”

A devilish grin slowly slides across his lips.

“When are you posting the video you took earlier?”

“I don’t know, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow.”

“I think you should do it now.”

“And I think you should get out of my office so I can get back to work.” I glance at my watch. “Actually, Miguel, the lawyer I’m interviewing, should be here any minute so you really need to be on your way, please.”

He glances down at the floor as he pulls his hands from his pockets before taking two steps closer to me. He reaches his hand out, gently cupping my chin like he did before. “Be a good girl and do what your boss tells you.”

“A good girl?” I smirk, and his smile instantly fades.

“It wasn’t a request, Taylor.” His voice is stern, and my stomach coils tightly at the way his eyes are burning into mine. It’s intense and sexy and so damn confusing. I want to play along. I want to defy him, see how far he’ll let me push him before he breaks character, but I don’t. Instead, I reach for my phone, his hand still on my chin, keeping my gaze on him.

“Okay,” I say softly, his hand falling away as I swipe over to the app. I pull up the video, adding a caption before hitting submit. Then I look back up at him.

“There’s my good girl.” He lifts his hand out toward me again, this time gently swiping my bottom lip with his thumb. Then he steps away, breaking contact and walking toward my office door with a chuckle.

Since the second I met Austin, everything about him has exuded confidence and control. He’s charming and quick-witted, but he can just as easily command a room with his presence merely by walking through the door. Between his stature and magnetic personality, there’s never been a question about who’s in charge at this firm.

But something about the way he’s playing this little game with me has me… confused.

Is it a game? Is this just his way of entertaining my little fantasy world online or is this something that’s going to completely fuck up my world?

CHAPTER 8

Austin

---