Page 281 of Savage Bosses

“And since you were late—yet again—I expect the contract from the Perryton Firm to be on my desk before you leave, even if it takes you all night. I expect coffee on my desk in the morning, made by you, not from—” he scowls in the direction of the Starbucks cup. “If you really value and want this job the way you say you do, then prove it.”

I gasp. No words leave my mouth. I watch him turn and walk away. Any passion for him inside me competes with my growing contempt for him. I snatch the coffee and bag with the Danish and drop them over the side of my glass desk. They land in the metal wastebasket with a thud. I wish it was him I could shove in the trash.

One o’clock is usually when I break for lunch, but I stay at my desk reading through the Perryton file. I promised myself that I would finish it and get caught up with my work by the end of the business day.

It’s just too bad that I can hear the grumbling in my belly.Maybe I should pop down to the cafeteria and grab a chicken sandwich and something to drink.I instantly change my mind as I glance at the piles of file folders and binders cluttering my desk. I rub the back of my neck and return to my work. No rest for the weary.

An hour later, I glance up at Vanessa standing in front of my desk.

“Hey, I missed you in the cafeteria at lunch. I figured you didn’t have time to grab lunch, so I brought you a sandwich and cola,” she says.

“Oh my God! You are a life saver.” I grab her offerings and thank her.

“It’s just ham and cheese on rye.” She gives me a sweet smile. “How’s your day going?” She sits on the edge of my desk.

“It’s been hellish, but I’m making the best of it.”

“I can’t imagine. Sterling is usually fair and understands his employee’s circumstances. He goes out of his way to help whenever one of us is in need. This is so out of character—the way he is with you,” she says in a confiding tone.

I give her a suspicious glance. “I guess he ran out of compassion when it came to me. I was late, though. Twice, as a matter of fact. I must not let that happen again.”

“You are a positive woman, my dear. I admire you for that.” She smiles at me as I finish up the sandwich. “You were really hungry, huh?”

I laugh. “Very, and that hit the right spot.”

Vanessa raises to her feet. “Glad I could help. I better get back to work.”

“Thanks again,” I tell her before she walks off.

Later, I finish my cola and have the sudden urge to pee. I run to the nearest bathroom to handle my business. When I stand from the toilet, I guess I move too fast because I become so dizzy that I fall back down. Then, my stomach turns. I stand and whirl around just in time to puke into the toilet.

Damn it. The stress is getting to me. This is the same way I used to feel before exams.

I clean myself up and hustle back to work. When I get back to my desk, Sterling is standing in front of it with a frown on his face.

“Slacking off again, eh?” he says as I take a seat behind my desk.

I glance up once seated and take my time to reply when all I really want to do is cuss his ass out. “Actually, I had to use the restroom, I—”

“Ayana, since you have so much time on your hands to dawdle, I need you to go to the finance department and retrieve some files.” Sterling crosses those muscled arms of his over his broad chest. It must be a signature move he uses to intimidate people. It’s working a little. “Do you think you can find time out of your leisurely schedule for that?”

Tyrant!

Sterling West is a beautiful, blue-eyed tyrant that I want to slap. Instead, I paste on a smile and say, “Sure, I can do that for you. Is there anything else, sir?”

The arrogant ass turns and walks away without a word.

My gaze follows him.Who the fuck does he think he is? And who the fuck dawdles?

I stand up and walk across the hall to the elevator. When the doors slide open, I punch the number button hard, chipping a nail. “Damn it.” I pass my thumb along the jagged edge. Could this day get any worse? I make my way down to the finance department. I retrieve his files and head back up to my floor.

I stroll over to his closed office door and knock. There is no invitation to enter, so I knock again and wait.

Sheesh, I was only gone fifteen minutes or so. Maybe he’s in his restroom.I turn the knob, walk in, and halt in my steps.

My eyes lock on a woman and then my boss. He glances up, but his gaze barely lingers on me before returning to the sleek-haired woman at his side. I notice his hand on her shoulder before moving downward to pause at the small of her back. I feel a hint of resentment at the way he dismisses me, and the feeling of their closeness permeates the atmosphere and sets my emotions on edge.

I wonder who she is? The two look much too comfortable for her to be a new hire.

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