Page 97 of Reconciling With the Rival

“I’m a fucking genius.”

She turns her head toward me. “What?”

“This sex pact. It was a great idea, and you can admit that, go ahead,” I say, waiting for her response.

“Over my dead body, Leo,” she says as she gets up, her legs shaking so much that she can barely walk properly.Mission fucking accomplished. “Now, get out. We’re not cuddling.”

“Do you want to order food? I’m fucking starved after all that.”

She nods her head as she grabs her robe. “You order. I have to clean my sheets.”

I smirk as I remember the mess we made. “Your usual from the Italian place?”

“Sounds perfect,” she says as she starts to strip her sheets off while I’m still on them. “Do you mind?”

“No,” I say as I get up, grab my clothes, and head to my room, needing some joggers to throw on. “I’ll throw on a film or something. We can watch it together while we eat.”

“Fine,” she says, slamming the bathroom door in my face.

And now, we’re back to normal—just how it’s supposed to be.

Getting thoroughly fucked andending the night with a good meal is about as good as it gets with Leo. For once, I have no complaints.

Neither of us has said much as the movie plays. Leo put on some sort of action movie, and after the orgasms I had, I don’t have the energy to make any comments.

“How’s your week been?”

“Leo, we live together.”

He looks over at me. “So?”

“So, you’ve seen every single part of my week. Nothing has really happened.”

“Do you still like working for Loft Media?”

“It’s been my dream to work in this field, so yes. It’s fine.”

He cocks his head at me. “Just fine?”

“I’m fucking exhausted, Leo.” Not just from tonight, but from everything lately.

“So tell me about it.”

I stop myself from snapping back at why he wants to know. “You wouldn't understand,” I say as I get off the couch to grab some more food. Sex makes me fucking hungry.

“Make me understand, then.”

His answer surprises me. “You’ve only been at this job for a few months, but I’ve been here for a while. I’ve worked my ass off on every account, every campaign, every client.”

“Anyone who sees you at the office knows that, Ella. It’s obvious.”

I set my plate on the coffee table and turn toward him. Before I can stop myself, I give him an honest answer. “No matter how much I do, it never feels like enough. I’ve barely moved in any direction since I got here. I was up for a promotion, but Brody got it over me, which was a bunch of bullshit.”

He says nothing, so I keep talking.

“You have no idea what it feels like to be a woman in a male-dominated office. People look at you differently, you’re constantly being underestimated, and earning respect from the guys at the office is basically a nonstarter. I’ll never be one of them, so they don’t bother listening in the first place.”

“Yeah. I guess I don’t know what that feels like.”

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