Page 4 of Strictly Business

I choke on air. “How should I know?” I reply, my brain immediately trying to block out the image. But, of course, it doesn’t work. It lingers despite my best efforts.

“You’re his assistant.” Her smirk stretches wider. “Doesn’t that mean you bring him a change of clothes when he spills coffee on himself?”

“That only happened once,” I defend, meeting her gaze, which is practically glowing with amusement. “And I didn’t stick around to watch.”

Jade clicks her tongue, shaking her head like I’m a lost cause. “What a missed opportunity. I would’ve whipped out my phone and filmed a little movie,” she quips, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief as she clearly plays out the scenario in her head.

And, despite myself, I start to imagine it too.

My mind drifts to Nicholas in his office, unbuttoning his crisp, white shirt slowly. Each button popping open, revealing a teasing glimpse of his toned chest. I can practically hear the fabric tearing as he rips the shirt off in frustration, his muscles glistening in the dim light from the spilled coffee… before he—

“Oh look. I made Amara blush,” Jade interrupts, pulling me back to reality. Warmth spreads across my face, and I quickly try to hide it, but it’s no use. Jade laughs, poking my cheek with a mischievous grin. “Babe, you’re as red as a tomato.”

I swat her hand away, embarrassed and irritated by the image that slipped into my mind. “I have pale skin,” I mumble, turning my attention back to the screen. “I can’t exactly help it.”

Jade’s laughter bubbles up from behind me. “It’s adorable how shy you get when we talk about Nicholas.”

Sophie shoots Jade a warning look. “Stop teasing her.”

Jade just waves her off with a grin. “Oh, come on. It’s too easy.”

“I’m not shy,” I mutter, trying to sound convincing, but the warmth in my face betrays me. “I just don’t like thinking of him like that when I work with him,” I say, trying to push the image of Nicholas out of my mind.

Jade leans in closer, crossing her arms over her chest. “You might not want to, but you definitelylikethinking about it. I knowIdo,” she adds, smirking.

I open my mouth to protest, but before I can, a voice cuts through the tension.

“Good morning, ladies.”

Sophie straightens up, and Jade tilts her head, her eyes narrowing as she looks over at our boss, Nicholas Blackwood, who’s walking past my desk.

“Hi, Mr. Blackwood,” Sophie greets him, slipping into a professional tone.

“Good morning, sir,” Jade adds, trying, and failing, to hide the mischievous glint in her eyes.

Nicholas gives them a brief nod, his eyes scanning them before landing on me. “Amara.” My name rolls off his tongue like melted butter… Smooth, rich, and way too tempting. My stomach does a little flip as I meet his gaze, and my heart beats just a little faster than it should.

“Can I see you in my office?” he asks.

“Of course,” I reply, swallowing hard, suddenly hyper-aware of how much of a mess I must look. My hair’s probably frizzing out of control, and I’m pretty sure I have coffee stains on my sweater.

With a sharp nod, Nicholas turns and strides toward his office, his tailored gray suit hugging his broad shoulders in a way that’s completely unfair to my concentration. The door swings shut behind him as soon as he enters.

“Phew,” Jade sighs, dramatically pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. “Anyone got a change of panties?”

Sophie rolls her eyes, clearly over Jade’s antics. “He’s our boss, Jade.”

“So?” Jade shrugs nonchalantly, a teasing smirk spreading across her face as she glances at me. “You say that like you’ve never watched a rom-com.” She pauses, eyes glinting with mischief. “Can I see you in my office? Is it just me, or is that code for sex?”

I shoot her a glare. “It’s code for work,” I say, turning off my screen and standing up.

Jade lets out a dramatic scoff, nudging my shoulder. “Yeah, I bet he works youreallyhard.”

Warmth floods my face, and I grab Nicholas’s coffee, trying to ignore the way her words make my mind wander. I head to his office, knocking twice before hearing a low, “Come in.”

I push open the door, and Nicholas’s gaze lifts as I step inside. My eyes fly to Ethan, who’s lounging in one of the chairs with that laid-back grin of his. He smiles at me, tipping two fingers in a casual salute.

I place Nicholas’s coffee on the dark, polished wood of his desk, which looks like it came straight out of a high-end catalog, so clean and perfectly curated, it makes my desk look like a disaster zone by comparison. The bookshelves lining the walls are filled with decorative pieces, none of which are books.

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