Page 117 of Bargain With the Boss
My stomach dropped and my heart landed squarely at his feet. “It’s okay, Matt.” My voice was shakier than I’d hoped, but the guard just stared at us.
“Are you sure?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
He gave Xavier a hard look which he ignored. Xavier’s gaze never left me.
God, he looked good. I’d never actually seen him in a full suit. It was charcoal and fit him as if the designer had used him as the inspiration for the design. It showed off his wide shoulders andtrim waist. The crisp white shirt underneath was definitely not off the rack either. His tie was perfectly knotted and a bold blue that made his eyes glow.
His usual windswept curls were ruthlessly wrangled in a tight cut making him look rich, capable, and professional in a way that made everything inside me hum.
This wasn’t the charming Xavier.
His eyes flashed with an intensity that made my pulse hammer. “I came to take you home.”
“I am home.”
“The hell you are.”
“You were more than clear the last time we spoke, and we have nothing more to say.”
“My behavior was unacceptable. I need to talk to you about that—about why I reacted like that.” His fingers curled around my elbow, drawing me closer. “Duchess, I fucked up, but I lo?—”
The purposeful click of heels made me turn.
Not now.
Michelle Keller strode into the outer office where we were. She wore a pink Chanel suit with five inch nude heels and her timeless Bulgari set at her ears, neck, and wrist. Her hair was the same shade as mine, but cut in a knife-edge blunt cut that fell at her equally angular jawline.
She looked every bit the rich CEO and I instantly felt frumpy.
My skirt was wrinkled from sitting for hours being the fixer she’d groomed me to be.
“What is going on out here?” She looked around, stiffening at the group of people that had gathered below to see what was going on.
Xavier came up behind me and his warmth warred with my need to be strong and capable in front of my mother. For once, I just wanted to lean on someone for a second.
“Who is this?” My mother’s voice was stiff and cool. “I requested a meeting with you—alone.”
“Mother, this is Xavier Hastings.”
She narrowed her gaze. “I don’t know a Hastings.”
“Because I haven’t touched your portfolio. You’d remember if I did.” Xavier’s voice was smooth and arrogant which made me half turn. “However, I’m not here for that.”
“You’re dismissed.” My mother’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t like you.”
I barely swallowed a laugh. Once she realized who he was she’d dislike him all the more.
“I’m not going anywhere.” Xavier’s voice rumbled just behind my ear.
My mother glanced from me to him. “Sydney, is this a friend of yours?”
Xavier moved up beside me and took my hand, linking our fingers. “More than a friend.”
I tried to shake him off and he held on tighter. “What are you doing?” I whispered.
The disdain on her facehurt. “We have work to discuss, you can tell your…friend to leave.”
