Page 33 of Insatiable Hunger

This was never supposed to happen. I have plans and visions, reasons for everything that I do, and he wasn’t a part of them. How can one fucking hook-up frommonthsago cause this much destruction? Because that’s what will happen if I don’t put an end to this now… I will implode and he will wreak havoc on every carefully laid out plan I’ve created. I can tell simply by the way my body reacts to him in his presence. The way my mind won’t let me forget him.

Elias is my kryptonite and having him in my life in any capacity will be cataclysmic.

Chapter Seventeen

Zeke Alvarez

Everything that could go wrong today has gone wrong. Shipments are delayed—again—rigs are broken down, the air conditioner in the building went out and we can’t get an HVAC guy in until tomorrow. Who fucking cares that it’s blazing hot outside, which translates to scorching hot inside.

I’m fucking sweating and I’ve had to fire someone already today, and it’s not even noon. So, when my door opens and Jordan pops his head into my office, I’m already on the verge of destroying the whole office.

“Yes, Jordan?” It’s a real effort to keep my annoyance out of my tone.

“Sir.” He closes the door, taking a seat in front of my desk. He has his MacBook with him like always. “I just wanted to let you know I’m back and that the trip went well.”

Jordan went overseas to meet with one of our potential new distributors. That used to be a job I handled myself, but he’s taken over it in the last few years. He’s friendly and professional, and he’s able to obtain good working relationships with people I may have not been able to.

“Very well,” I grit out, not taking my eyes off the computer screen in front of me. “Is that all?”

“Actually, no, sir.”

Eyes dragging to him, he’s watching me timidly from behind his dark-framed glasses. With an exasperated sigh, I mutter, “Well, get on with it, then. I don’t have all day, Jordan.”

I’m not used to him looking so… nervous. The way he’s chewing on the inside of his cheek has me guessing this isn’t about work at all.

And that pisses me off.

“I just wanted to make sure we were cool.”

“Cool?” I repeat, the vein in my neck throbbing as he takes for-fucking-ever to get to his point.

“Yeah, after the charity event where you saw me with your stepson. I obviously didn’t know who he was when I invited him, but I just want to be sure it won’t cause any issues between us and our working relationship, sir.”

It’s not going to be a problem because you won’t be seeing him any longer.

Knowing I can’t say that without looking suspicious, I grit my teeth and fold my hands on top of my desk. “It’s fine, Jordan. It’s just one date.”

He smiles, bright and white, clearly unable to read the damn room. “That was actually our third date, sir, and he’s coming over tonight.”

My eye twitches as I grind my molars together. “Is that right?”

Nodding, he adds, “I’m cooking dinner for us.”

“How thoughtful.”

The grin on his face slides off when he takes in my dry response and the deadpan look on my face. “You’re sure it won’t be a problem, sir? He’s an adult, so I didn’t figure it would be, but I know since we work together, it may be weird.”

My hands are tied here, and I fucking hate it. If I tell him it’s a problem, it’ll look weird. Inappropriate. So, instead, I run a hand down my face, exhaling. “Jordan, you’re a grown man and can do what you please, as is Elias. Now, please, I’m really very busy and don’t have time to sit around and chit-chat about your love life. So, if that will be all, I’d suggest getting back to work.”

He looks startled, but he quickly pulls himself together, closing the laptop and getting up. “Of course, sir. I’ll see you later at our three o’clock meeting.”

As soon as the door closes and I’m alone, I drop my head into my hands, grumbling, before grabbing my phone and shooting off a text to the bane of my existence.

Me: Heard about your little date tonight.

Me: Cancel it. I’ve already told you once, you’re not fucking my employee, Elias. Cancel the date.

Why?

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