Page 52 of Fractured Faceoff

“I hear you wanted to see me?” Michelle asked briskly as she crossed over and stood behind Carla’s desk.

Isla nodded sharply before glancing at me briefly then back at Michelle with determination hardening in those brilliant blue eyes of hers. “Yes,” she started again firmly while keeping herself close within my embrace.

The HR manager’s sharp gaze swept between us, taking in the situation like a hawk sizing up its prey.

I leaned forward slightly, flashing a confident smile. “Well, Isla and I have known each other for a while now,” I said smoothly. “Thought it was timeto make it official.”

Michelle’s brows lifted in surprise. “You two?” She glanced back and forth between us, assessing our body language. “Dating?”

“What can I say?” I replied with a casual shrug, keeping my tone light. “I’ve always had a thing for blondes.”

Isla shot me an incredulous look, but there was a hint of amusement behind it that made my heart race. I loved pushing her buttons, especially when we were in front of people and she couldn't react the way I knew she wanted to.

Michelle smiled, a knowing look passing across her face. “Well, come on back. I’ll need you to sign some paperwork and interview you.”

Isla stood up first, brushing off the invisible dust from her slacks before stepping into Michelle's office. I followed closely behind, closing the door softly as we entered the small room filled with filing cabinets and framed team photos.

“Have a seat,” Michelle instructed, gesturing to the chairs in front of her desk.

We settled into the chairs—Isla next to me—her presence radiating tension and warmth at once. It was strange how quickly we’d slipped into this act.

Michelle shuffled through some papers on her desk, glancing at us over her glasses. “So, how long has this been going on?”

I glanced at Isla first; she nodded ever so slightly as if giving me permission to take the lead.

“A couple of days,” I said confidently, watching as Michelle scribbled notes down on her notepad.

“Interesting timing,” she remarked dryly. “And here I thought you were just getting over your breakup.”

My jaw tightened at her tone.

I leaned back in my chair, the air suddenly feeling thick as Michelle shot her question at us. “Are you two serious about each other?”

I opened my mouth, ready to unleash some quip about how she could take a flying leap with that assumption when Isla leaned forward.

“We’ve known each other for years,” she said, her voice steady and confident. “We grew up together. I’ve always had a crush on him.”

I blinked, caught off guard. My heart did a little flip in my chest. Had she really just said that? I admired her for it; she’d managed to navigate this minefield like a pro.

“It surprised me when he agreed to come here,” she continued, the corner of her mouth quirking up into a sly smile. “To Detroit. I mean, his brother's here. He had a messy breakup and wanted to be with family, with people who supported him. Turns out, he realized he had a thing for me after dealing with his own broken heart. It seems quick, sure, but it’s always been building between us. We were always… inevitable.”

Her words hung in the air between us, the tension in the room shifting as Michelle took it all in.

“Interesting,” Michelle said, raising an eyebrow as she scribbled down notes. “How serious is it?”

This time, I wrapped my arm around Isla's shoulders, pulling her closer without thinking twice. “Serious enough that I’d walk through fire just to keep her happy,” I replied smoothly, feeling the warmth of her body against mine seep into my skin.

Isla shot me an amused glance but didn’t pull away—she leaned into me instead.

“I know it sounds cliché,” I continued, keeping my gaze fixed on Michelle whilemy thumb absently brushed against Isla’s shoulder. “But I’ve never met anyone who can light up a room quite like Isla does. Even when things are tough?—”

“Like now?” Michelle interjected flatly.

“Exactly.” I smirked back at her before turning back to Michelle. “But yeah, I don’t just want to date; I want to build something real. I've fucked around before, pardon my French. But I'm done with that."

Michelle nodded slowly, considering our exchange like it was some high-stakes game of chess unfolding before her eyes.

“All right then,” she finally said with a hint of approval creeping into her tone.

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