Page 12 of A Forbidden Spring
“Seriously, I needed this so much today. Thank you,” she says, her eyes sincere. “The kids are getting so big, and while I love their adventurous spirits, it’s exhausting.” The words are delivered with a wry grin that has me chuckling as I walk her to the reception area to check out.
I say goodbye and greet my next client, telling her I’ll be back to grab her in a few minutes as I make my way back down the hall, stopping short when I see Holly come out of Merrick’s office.
Her eyes are downcast as she smooths her shirt down, her fingers swiping at her lipstick before a wicked smile settles there as she meets my gaze.
The little tramp.
“Got something to say?” she purrs and I roll my eyes.
“Enjoy.”
“Oh,”—she eyes me up and down—“we did.” I scoff as I cross the threshold into my room. “And Wren? When it comes to Merrick, he’s mine, so don’t bother. He’sveryuninterested in anything to do with you.” Her haughty tone grates on me, her intention to piss me off clear. “He thinks you’re patheticjust likeyour proposal.”
My hands clench into fists as she turns and strides away and I burst into my room. The dim lights aren’t soothing right now, and my heart is beating hard in my chest as I force myself to go through the motions, changing the linens and getting everything ready for my next client.
I shouldn’t have let Holly get under my skin.
I know better.
But as I run through my checklist, I can’t help the way my mind strays to all the times I’ve seen Holly leaving his office, how dismissive he’d been toward me, and all the other bullshit that had just feltoff.
The bitch had stolen my proposal, and I won’t go down without a fight.
There’s enough in my savings to start my own business because I sure as hell don’t need this place.
Hands shaking, I try and center myself before going out to retrieve my client. She doesn’t deserve anything but my focus and care. She’s here to relax, not to endure the drama raging inside me.
Taking a fortifying breath, I paste a smile on my face and head to the lobby because in a few short hours, I’ll get to tell MerrickI quit.
* * *
MERRICK
“Say it again,”I demand, my voice a dangerous rumble as we face off in my office, Wren’s chest heaving and her cheeks flushed.
“I quit.”
“Respectfully, no.” The words don’t hold an ounce of respect, but I can’t fucking handlethis,on top of everything elsetoday.
Not when I’m juggling all the other bullshit. Disappearing money, dodging advances from the former owner’s daughter, and figuring out how the hell said daughter is taking so much time off without burning through her allotted time has a headache blooming behind my eyes.
“You’re sleeping with Holly and that’s gross, but that’s your business.Mybusiness is you dangling my proposal over me like you ever gave a fuck about trying to make it work. I’m sick of the games, and you can fuck right the fuck off for insinuating that I’d copy anything from her.” She scoffs, “I’m Winston Sterling’s daughter. I sure as hell can write a damn proposal on my own, and I’ll deliver it without blowing you in your office to get ahead.”
Stalking around my desk, I move to stand in front of her, as her chin lifts defiantly. “I amnotsleeping with her. I’m not doinganythingwith her. Do you hear me?”
Anger and lust spark between us, the tension close to boiling over as she pokes a finger against my chest.
“Could have fooled me.”
“Jealous, Hellcat?” I murmur, pushing into her space until I’ve backed her against the wall and caged her in with my body.
“No. I’m just angry. And I already told you;I quit.” She says the words through gritted teeth, but there’s no mistaking the way her pulse flutters at my proximity.
“Bullshit.”
“You think I care what or who you do in your off time, Mr. Ellis? Or hell, what happened earlier today,” she huffs but it’s breathy like she couldn’t quite pull off the indignation. “I can assure you I don’t.”
“Let me make thiscrystal fucking clear.Nothing happened today or any other day with anyone in this building. And I canassureyou, Miss Sterling, that I don’t make a habit of sleeping with my employees.”
