Page 28 of Greed: The Savage
“And you weren’t?” he bit out.
Addien discovered the Marquess of Thornwick had a weakness after all—his honor. It mattered so much, he’d blown his temper and his control in front of her. Armed with that valuable knowledge, she felt empowered.
“You are my superior, Malric,” she hurled, taking a step toward him and then another, “but it does not mean you have any right to me. What I do with my time, who I talk to, what hours I keep.” With every clipped challenge, she stalked him.
Big and broad, Malric stood unyielding, daring her with his size and stare to keep coming.
That insolence drove her fury higher. “What I talk about is my business, not yours.” She finished her march all the way up to him.
He curled his harsh upper lip. “Don’t you mean ‘who’?”
She yanked back. He’d heard… He knew the girls had been ribbing her about Roy?
Addien swiftly got herself under control. “Why ain’t I surprised a foine gent like you isn’t a club gossip like the rest of the nobs you keep company with?”
Anger rolled from his honed frame.
“Well, Malric, here’s a tidbit for you. Yer fancy title here?” She gave him a derisive once over. “It don’t mean shite. Yer nothing. Yer no one here. Yer just a man playing with power.”
He went motionless.
She’d gone too far. Feral heat and boundless fury poured from his honed frame.
Addien’s heart pounded in her breast.
He waited until she lifted her eyes to his.
“You may say whatever you may about me, Addien,” he said coolly. “It means less than nothing to me.”
Addien’s mouth went dry.
“I have tolerated you during your time here,” he whispered. “You have challenged me at every turn. You have infuriated me.There is, however, a difference between your shows of spirit and failure to apply yourself to your duties.”
There was an air of finality hanging upon his coolly detached voice that ratcheted the terror in her breast.
Malric dropped his arms and he dropped the death knell. “This afternoon, in a show of pity…” His lips curved like he found it distasteful to just utter that word.
Oh, God. He’s going to cast me out.
“I vouched for you to Dynevor, putting my reputation on the line,” he ground out.
Her throat closed up.
“I provided you with an assignment.”
I cannot breathe.
Malric shook his head in disgust. “And yet again, you failed to comply.”
Malric dropped his arms.
Then he was walking away.
No!
Blind terror crippled her voice, and she stood in a trap of her own obstinance.
When he exited through those kitchen doors, there was not a shadow of a doubt she’d sealed her fate at the Devil’s Den. He was as determined as Satan, trying to convert the innocent into a sinner.
