Page 42 of Left of the Slash
“You good now?” Rob asks, watching me close my eyes and get recentered.
“I guess,” I reply. “I’d still rather chase him into his office like the villain in a horror movie and beat the shit out of him.”
Rob scoffs, then asks, “Why?”
“What do you mean,why?” I reply with my brows drawing together.
“Why do you want to beat that dude up? He's weak as shit. It wouldn't even be a fair fight.”
“That’s the point. A little bitch like him shouldn't be talking crazy, especially about my private life with Olivia.”
Rob points a finger. “There. That’s it right there.That’swhy you want to beat him up. I was standing outside for at least the last half of that argument. Olivia was actually inching her way closer to your door, but I mouthed to her that I would take care of it. I know that the two of you are a thing, but she's still the CEO, Q. You can't risk your livelihood like that. Not to mention,” Rob looks over his shoulder at the empty doorway before leaning closer to me, “you're not supposed to be catching feelings for her, bro.”
“I’m not,” I snap quickly, my body naturally defensive in an instant.
“Yes, you are,” Rob says. “I heard it, Q. As soon as Nick mentioned trying to get with Olivia, you lost it. I could hear it in your voice. All of that soft spoken, professional, code switching shit you do when you're at work was completely gone. Youbecame fucking Q King from Wilmington—Quincy’s son—and you were ready to move the furniture in here. I heard it, bro, and you might not be able to see what’s up, but I'm telling you, you're starting to get a little too close. You already told us that she's not interested in anything serious with you.”
“I'm not getting serious,” I say. “What’s the big deal? I'm not allowed to make sure that she's not being disrespected? Plus, he was insinuating shit that isn't any of his business, and he was doing it loud as hell. You just said you heard it from outside the door, and I can’t have everybody in the building knowing about my personal life.”
“Come on, Q, you know what I'm talking about.”
“Nah, you're reading it wrong, bro. He was being disrespectful to be both meandOlivia. Plus, I'm his superior now, so he has no choice but to come correct.”
Rob pauses a minute, eyeing me closely like a piece of art. He shakes his head, then nods. “Is she your girl, Q?”
“What?”
“Nah, don't play dumb now,” he says. “You are not suddenly hard of hearing. Is Olivia Lucero your girl?”
I scoff, scrunching my forehead as a feeling of being flustered comes to life in my chest like a baby alien. “What? Bro, I'm not doing this with you. Don't you have some work to do?”
“Just answer the question, Q,” he demands, never breaking eye contact. “Do you think of Olivia as your girl?”
I lean back in my chair as far as it will go, and I just stare at Rob. I want to tell him he's crazy. Of course I don't think of Olivia asmywoman. She's not mine, and I'm not confused about that. We’re just having sex. Exploring. Learning together. Having fun. She's showing me the ropes of the BDSM lifestyle, and it’s not serious. There isn't anything more to it than that. I want to say all of it to him, but the words get stuck in my throatlike I've swallowed quicksand. I don't respond. I can't, and I can tell from the look on Rob’s face that we both know exactly why.
Rob shakes his head, but just as he inhales to speak again, there's a tap on my open door. Olivia sticks her head in and smiles. My chest nearly erupts, because it’s the first time she has smiled at me all day, and I hate that it makes me feel anything at all … but it does.
“Hey, Q—Quinn,” she says, stumbling over my name again. “Everything okay?”
I nod, forcing a smile. “Yeah, we’re good. Just Nick being Nick.”
She presses her lips into a line, then says, “Yeah, I know. Don't let him make you lose your head.” After I nod, she continues. “Listen, I was wondering if you're free for a strategy dinner. Maybe we could hit a restaurant or a bar or something and go over our plans for the EWB proposal. My schedule is full for today, but maybe we could put something on the books for tomorrow, if you don't mind.”
“Of course I don't mind,” I say without thinking. “Just shoot me a message for when and where.”
“Perfect. Will do. Thank you, Sir,” she says with a sly smile, then she disappears.
My heart thuds from hearing her call me Sir again, and I don't know how I'm even going to be able to finish out the work day. My body reacts to Olivia’s presence in ways I can’t comprehend. It’s like she sets off tiny nukes beneath my skin each time she's near, and the fallout is a state of euphoric horniness. I want to fuck her, kiss her, hold her, cuddle her, and blemish her skin all at the same time. I keep thinking about the way her face turned red when I choked her in her office, and I'm desperate to see it again.
When I look away from the door, I find Rob staring at me with an open mouth and bugged out eyes. He shakes his head, then he lets out a small, entertained chuckle.
“Wow,” he says. “I can't believe it.”
I shrug, shaking off the leftover remnants of the effect Olivia has on me. “Can't believe what? What are you talking about?”
“You're really falling for her,” Rob says, his face shifting to an expression of serious concern.
I scoff again. “What? I amnotfalling for her. She wants to meet up and you know why. You expect me to say no?”
