Page 5 of My Orc Billionaire
“Get out!” I roared, taking pleasure in the way those innocent eyes widened as she stumbled back. “Get the fuck away from me!”
Chapter Two
Riven
Oh God,oh God. I backed away so quickly, I almost dropped my tray. This wasn’t the first time I’d been stuck in a weird situation involving a male client, but thiswasthe first time I was genuinely afraid for my life.
What the shit had I been thinking?
That just because all the orcs I knew were deep-down nice guys—even grumpy Cairo, who fixed my sedan last spring—thisone would be too? That just because I was cool and professional, my client would be too?
Balancing my carefully arranged dessert platter on one palm, I scrabbled for the door handle behind my back with the other hand, my wary gaze never leaving his.
I needed to know which direction to jump if he came for me.
But to my surprise, Mr. Abydos whirledawayfrom me, his palm slamming into the frame of one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Fuck,” he growled, and I could see his eyes scrunch closed in the reflection. “Get out of here.” This order was lower, less frightening.
Well, no, I mean the whole thing was pretty freaking frightening, but at least this time he wasn’t glaring at me.
It gave me the courage to inhale—and yes, up until then I was too shocked to inhale, don’t judge—and try to get my galloping heart under control. My knees were weak, I felt light-headed, and I was embarrassed how close to tears his roar had brought me.
If you walk out this door, you can kiss this job goodbye.
I needed this job. Dear God, Ineededthis job.
Two years ago, I hadn’t taken shit from anyone. I was small, yeah, but I could command respect and obedience in the kitchen. Had cancer really taken that from me too?
Fuck no.
I took a deep breath. “Mr. Abydos, if I’ve done something wrong?—”
“You’re here. That’s wrong,” he bit out. “I’m going to fucking kill Sylvik, he knows better.”
That sweet guy who was his assistant? Frowning, I straightened, pushing away from the door, suddenly angry on Sylvik’s behalf. “Knows better than to what? To dig through a bunch of applicants to find one who met all your requirements, was willing to jump through all your hoops,andwho had a resume and menus you’d approve of? The times I’ve spoken to him”—granted, only twice—“he seemed kind and capable and concerned about your needs.”
That big hand curled into a fist against the glass, and when the clouds lit with lightning, it outlined his large bulk.
“Sylvik knows better,” the orc growled, “than to hireyou.”
Ouch.
Okay, by now I was too irritated to be scared. Both my hands gripped the tray, and I scowled as I stepped away from the door. He might not want me here, but I wasn’t going to leave without giving him a piece of my mind.
If you really want this job, you ought to consider begging.
Fuck that, this guy was an ass.
“Look, Mr. Abydos, you haven’t even tried any of the samples I brought?—”
“I don’t want them.”
“I took yesterday and today off work to bake.For you.” I didn’t quite march indignantly toward his desk—it was more like a nervous sidle—but at least I wasn’t running away. “That’s two days of pay I really need, and the least you could do is try what I made you. Mr. Sylvik said you had a soft spot for chocolate?”
The orc’s forehead clunked against the glass. “…rip his throat out and feed it to him,” he muttered.
His anger was beginning to sound almost impotent, and I found myself snorting. “That’s going to be difficult to do without a throat,” I quipped, only to swallow the last word on a gasp as Mr. Abydos whirled around to glare at me.
I don’t know why I was less scared of him now—maybe because I hadn’t run away originally? Maybe because I was desperate. All I knew was that now that I was really looking at him, I could appreciate how…uh…isintimidatingly hota description?Intimihot?
