Page 16 of Power
He tilts his head almost inquisitively. “You don’t like rocking the boat, do you, Bailey?”
“Uhm…” I lick my lips nervously again. I’m going to need to apply some serious chapstick when I get home tonight.
His gaze softens when I flounder and shake my head.
“Give me five minutes to sort this out. Sit, I’ll be right back.”
“No, Owen, you don’t have to do that. I’m sure you’re busy.”
“Never too busy for you.”
A sliver of ice slides down my spine at his low, husky tone.
These Jackson brothers are something else entirely.
I’m still not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
ChapterTwelve
Owen
I marchoff to the I.T. department to resolve the issue with Bailey's log-in. I'm seething with rage at Laura. She should have known better than to mess with this. Archer is going to be furious when I tell him that she is fucking about with Bailey. I doubt very much that this is an oversight. It was her duty to make sure that Bailey's log-in credentials were correctly configured for working with Archer. She needs access to the higher security programs. I take a deep breath, trying to contain my temper, yet the fury won't subside. I can't comprehend why Laura did this. She is playing with fire.
I arrive at the I.T. department and am quickly attended to. After some back and forth, the problem is resolved, and Bailey will be able to log in. Relieved, I thank the staff and leave to find Laura to demand what the fuck game she thinks she’s playing.
Determined to confront her about her lack of attention to this issue. I stride to her office, anger and frustration clawing at me. I know it’s only because it is Bailey that it’s affected me this way. Any other employee, I wouldn’t give a shit and leave them to resolve it themselves, as Bailey offered to do. But not her. She is exceptional and she isn’t supposed to run around sorting out issues that shouldn’tbeissues.
I arrive at her office and stop short. It is in darkness.
She isn't here.
I lean in the doorway, staring at her desk. It all looks exactly the same as when we were in here last night. She hasn’t been back in since then.
Curious.
My anger dissipates at this transgression as this now becomes a puzzle to solve. Was she prevented from coming back in, or did she make a choice not to? Either way, Archer needs to know.
Pushing up from the doorframe, I straighten my jacket cuffs, and return to Bailey at her desk, taking in her delicate beauty. A wave of love washes over me, an emotion I'm becoming all too familiar with. I stand there, mesmerized, before finally shaking myself back to reality.
I watch her for a moment from a short distance. She is blowing her cheeks out and spinning around in her chair. She draws to a halt and lets out her breath when she spots me. She stands up quickly, her cheeks flushing prettily. I force myself to move forward. This woman does things to me deep inside. Not usually one to care about anyone or find anyone that attractive, this woman has bewitched me. She has since I first laid eyes on her back at university. I spotted her across the courtyard and knew instantly that I wanted her. Of course, once I realized who she was, she became off-limits. It was the most gut-wrenching moment of my life, knowing I couldn’t approach her, or touch her, kiss her, or drive my cock deep inside her.
“Owen,” she prompts when I don’t say anything, lost in my memories. I love the way she says my name. It’s not in that posh way that my family and anyone in our elite circle uses, which makes it sound more like Owwn, but she makes it two syllables. Ow-en. I want to hear her scream it as I wrap my hands around her throat, choking it off her lips as I tighten my grip on her flawless neck, seeing the fear flash in her eyes when her breath is cut off from her.
I blink, not allowing myself to finish that fantasy, which inevitably ends up with my cock in her. All of my fantasies of her end that way.
“You’re sorted,” I say levelly.
She nods and looks around. “But what do I do? There’s nothing here.”
I smile softly, thrilled with her eagerness to dive straight in. She has a work ethic that drives her to be the very best. It surprises me that she hasn’t already found something to do, but I can see she is nervous, especially about approaching Archer after what he did to her earlier. I’m trying not to think about it, trying not to be so envious of his fingers inside her that I want to commit fratricide.
“Here,” I say and push open Archer’s door. His office is empty, but there is a stack of folders on the edge of his desk. “Do you know how to use the Datrax system?”
“Yes,” she nods eagerly. “We learned it in Economics.”
I nod. I already knew that, but I wanted to hear her say it. “Perfect.”
Leaving the office with her on my heels, I place the stack on her desk. “Start here, and I’m sure Archer will have other tasks for you when he returns.”
