Page 31 of Intense
He scowls, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. Almost.
“He’s doing well.” He pauses, like it pains him to say it.
“Thanks to you.” He winces as the words leave his mouth.
I smile brightly, shoving the moment down his throat.
“Good. I’m glad.”
“Why are you here?” I ask.
We don’t like Finn joining us. He doesn’t just intimidate, he drains every room of any scrap of goodwill. He scares most of his staff senseless. Everyone except Hallie and me.
But Hallie isn’t on my side anymore.
She was always his little pet project. The only one he ever smiled at. The only one he ever bothered to protect. And now she’s married to his damn brother.
“Investigating, Dr. Miller.”
My palms go clammy. I force myself not to step back, but my body betrays me with a slight flinch.
“Investigating what? Is it to do with your arrest?” I ask, keeping my tone as flat as I can manage.
He taps his finger against the side of his nose, infuriatingly smug.
“None of your business, is what.”
I roll my eyes, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me unnerved.
He leans in, and I hold my breath.
“I was never arrested, Stephanie. Just erase that encounter from your memory,” he whispers.
“Whatever you say, wizard,” I mock, rolling my eyes again, knowing that it irks him.
“I hope you’re looking forward to this weekend.” He winks, as if he doesn’t already know he’s going to win.
Smug bastard. He knows how much I really don’t want to go.
“You mean a free trip to Vegas and to be forced to spend even more time around you? Yeah. I can’t wait,” I say sarcastically.
I wish I didn’t care. I wish I could let him win and not sulk about it. But it’s every. Single. Time.
Promotions—always him.
Awards, still him.
Even after that, he has to keep the competition going, like it’s a game only he can win.
My eyes form slits as I watch him come up with his next little jab at me.
“Do you like losing? Is that why you’re still here?” he asks smugly.
“You think I’d make it that easy for you, Dr. Quinn, and just leave? Not happening. I get far too much enjoyment out of making you work for your position.”
“Hmm. I’m glad it keeps you entertained. To me, it’s more like having gum on my shoe I can’t get rid of. But, to each their own.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. I can just imagine smashing my palm across his cheek to wipe that smug grin off his annoyingly gorgeous face.
