Page 6 of Grumpy Alien Boss

"You will obey me, however." I step closer, letting my glamour slip just enough to reveal a glimpse of red in my eyes.

"Oh yes, Sir." Her voice drops to a husky whisper, eyes shining with a heat that matches the fire in my blood. "I'll always, always do what you tell me. But I reserve the right to tell you when I think you're wrong."

Bold. Brazen. Beautiful. Everything about her calls to the primal instincts I keep so carefully leashed. I want to conquer that defiant spirit, to feel her surrender beneath me.

"That is both acceptable, and commendable."

She stands close enough for me to feel the heat of her body, to catch the hitch in her breath. Alone in this elevator, every cell in my body screams to claim her. To crush those tempting lips beneath my own until she melts against me.

But I am here for Veritas. An ally, not a lover. When the elevator doors slide open, I am almost grateful for the interruption. The sexual tension crackles between us, a living thing that grows more dangerous with each shared breath.

I need to maintain control. I am Vakutan. I do not surrender to base urges like some primitive beast.

No matter how much I want to.

I lead Olivia through my office suite, watching her take in the stark modernist decor. Her broken heel clicks against Italian marble as she follows me to a sleek glass desk positioned right beside my own.

"This will be your workspace." The words come out rougher than intended. Her proximity makes my scales itch beneath the glamour. "You'll handle my schedule, calls, and appointments from here."

I retrieve a lanyard from my desk drawer, the security badge gleaming with holographic encryption. My claws flex as I hand it to her.

"Full access to the Tower. Twenty-four seven."

Her fingers brush mine as she takes it. The contact sends electricity racing through my veins.

"And these are your network credentials." I slide a tablet across the glass. "Complete administrative privileges for all Rook Enterprise systems."

Her eyes widen. The scent of her surprise mingles with vanilla and spice.

"This is... a lot of trust to place in someone you just met."

"Trust must be given before it can be earned." The warrior's philosophy slips out before I can stop it. "The question is, can you handle the pressure that comes with such responsibility?"

She straightens her spine, chin lifting in that defiant pose that makes my blood burn. A fierce smile curves those tempting lips.

"I know I can."

The certainty in her voice resonates with something primal inside me. Yes. I chose well. This small human with her warrior's heart will either prove herself worthy or break under the weight of what's to come.

"Then let's begin."

CHAPTER 3

OLIVIA

The numbers blur together on my screen as I scroll through another financial projection. My shoulders ache from hunching over Dar—Mr. Rook's massive mahogany desk. The leather of his chair creaks as I lean back, rubbing my tired eyes.

"What the hell?"

The V-Truth holdings report flashes red, denying my access code. I double-check my credentials, but the system keeps blocking me. Strange. Mr. Rook gave me full clearance for everything related to the Asian market analysis.

A fresh coffee scent wafts from my mug, grounding me as I take a sip. Two weeks in, and I've already memorized which elevator brings the best pastries, learned three different coffee orders for Mr. Rook depending on his mood, and mastered the art of scheduling meetings across seventeen time zones.

My fingertips tap against the polished wood. The V-Truth data is the last piece I need for this report. The rest of the projections look solid—better than solid. Our Vietnamese tech startups are outperforming expectations by thirty percent.

"Add it to the list," I mutter, jotting down a note on my tablet. Mr. Rook returns from Singapore tomorrow, and I'll need to brief him on everything I've found. Or haven't found, in this case.

The setting sun paints Manhattan's skyline in amber through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I've been at this for hours, but that's what it takes to keep up with Darwin Rook's pace. The man operates on a different frequency than normal humans—like a shark that never stops swimming.

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