Page 22 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

She doesn’t say anything for several seconds, her studious gaze never leaving my face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask self-consciously.

She blinks once before her lips tilt up in a smirk.

“I’m just wondering if it’s killing you to be so civil to me. You’re like a shapeshifter. I’m having a hard time thinking of you as the same dickhead I met last week.”

I inwardly sigh, asking for strength from some higher power. “I’m trying my best here, Ms. Cameron.”

“Save it. Why are you being so nice, anyway?”

“Because I’m a good person?” I suggest.

She does that cute snorting thing again. “Yeah, right.”

I watch as she thinks something over, her expression distant before her eyes widen.

“Please tell me someone didn’t put you up to this. Carson?”

Seeing as I refuse to lie, I simply stay quiet. Her eyes narrow and I watch as her fists clench.

“I can’t believe he talked to you, and what? Asked you to go easy on me? Be nicer?”

“Your brother’s not the reason I’m acting like this,” I state. “I’m doing this because I handled the matter in poor taste at the beginning. I’m usually better at keeping my cool, but for some reason you can be pretty aggravating.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Now, are you going to leave or do I need to ask you to?”

A muscle twitches in my forehead and my eyes narrow. Our gazes connect and hold for I don’t even know how long. Then we hear the doorbell chime and Emilia looks up at the person who enters. I don’t turn around, my eyes still fixed on the infuriating woman across from me.

“Hey, Emilia,” a feminine voice says.

I hear footsteps walking toward us, which is when I finally look up. It’s a young woman with brown hair and a smile on her face.

“Paige, you’re here early. How was your night?” Emilia asks, her tone friendly and warm.

“It was okay. Is something wrong?”

“Nothing,” Emilia replies. “Mr. Harrington was just leaving,”

My jaw clenches but, having no other choice, I rise to my feet, gripping the coffee cup in my hand.

“This isn’t over, Ms. Cameron.”

“Don’t let the door hit your face on the way out, Sterling Harrington,” she says sharply.

CHAPTER 7

Emilia

Paige squeals as soon as Sterling Harrington walks out the door. I inhale a steady breath. I wonder what it is about his presence that always manages to throw me off-kilter. I think it’s his energy. Mine must be repelling his.

“Was that really Sterling Harrington? As in the famous Sterling Harrington?” my part-timer questions.

“Famous for what? Being an ass?” I say drily.

“Oh, come on, Emilia,” Paige gushes. “Apart from him being one of the most attractive men I’ve ever seen, his family’s also, like, mega rich.”

“I know,” I murmur. “About his family being rich, not about him being an attractive man or whatever,” I feel the need to clarify.

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