Page 9 of Left of the Slash
“Shit. I'm sorry. You okay?” I ask, still gripping her by the waist.
She turns to look at me, and her brown eyes cast a spell that makes me bite my lip just to keep myself composed. We lock eyes, and they stay locked for far too long. What is it about her gaze that makes me want to grip her even tighter? Something in her calls out to the most devious parts of me, and I desperately want to answer.
“I'm fine,” she finally replies, pulling herself from my grasp so aggressively that I think I've offended her by touching her. I only did it to make sure she didn't fall, but Olivia looks pressed as a small trench forms between her brows.
“Sorry,” I quickly say again. “I didn't mean to grab you like that. Just didn't want you to topple over.”
“It’sfine, Quinn,” she snips, dusting off her button-up like I got it dirty. “Just get to work, please.”
I stand there with a dumb look on my face that can only be described as befuddled as Olivia side-eyes me before walking away. She stomps down the path until she passes her assistant and disappears into her office, and I'm left wondering what happened to the good rapport we had the last time we spoke. I even made her smile, but now it’s all frowns and glowering for me.
While I stand frozen at the entrance to the executive wing, Jon steps out of his office wearing gray slacks and a tan button-up. I grimace when I see him, because how does he not know that those clothes don't match? He looks over at me, shaking his head.
“Colder than you thought she’d be, huh?” he says.
I roll my eyes and head for my office. “Don't start, man. It’s too early.”
When I reach my door, Jon steps over his threshold and meets me in the entrance “Hey, listen. I think you and I may have gotten off on the wrong foot yesterday. That meeting was tense, and you're being brought aboard at a time when the company is in rough seas. It wasn't fair for me to expect you to understand the depths of the drama, and I may have come on a little strong. I apologize if you were offended.”
It takes a gargantuan amount of energy not to snap. I’m sleepy, worried about the company, and annoyed by how Olivia just treated me, and he just gave the lamest version of an apology. Apologizingifsomeone is offended, is not apologizing. It’s bullshit.
However, I know that Jon is trying to extend an olive branch, he just sucks at it. I'm new up here and I’d be a lot better off if I didn't burn bridges I haven't even finished building yet. I don't like him, and I'm sure he still doesn't like me—bullshit apology aside. So, I'm going to keep my friends close and my enemies closer. Given the circumstances, it’s the smartest move to make.
“Yeah, I got you,” I reply after a sigh that gives away my true feelings. “Yesterday was tough, but it’s cool. I have a lot to learn.”
“You sure do,” he says, still full of arrogance. “This breach was a big deal, and I've got a feeling that even more could go wrong soon. I know Olivia is trying, but I’m not sure how we’ll fare under her leadership. Time will tell, I guess. But for now, arewecool?”
Now why would he say something like that? He has a feeling that even more could go wrong soon? What the hell does that mean?
Sidestepping his comment and storing it for future analysis, I slowly nod, just wanting the conversation to end. “Yeah, it's cool. All good.”
He lets out the fakest sigh of relief. “Good. All right, bro. We’ll talk soon. Kill it today.”
Before I can reply, he turns on his heel and walks away. Now I know it’s official … I can't stand that fucking guy.
When I step into my office, I find status reports already stacked on my desk in brown folders. I’ll have to review them all and make sure security is up to par across the board, and add extra scrutiny since we’ve had a breach. It’s going to be a busy day, and when I open my email I find ten messages pertaining to security threats.
“Fuck,” I whisper to myself, but then I get a new message. It pops up right at the top of the screen and I immediately recognize that it’s from Olivia. There is no subject, which I find odd, so I click it as fast as I can.
Quinn,
sorry about my response in the hall. That was awkward. I just don't want anyone knowing that we’re working together on this, and I knew Jon was watching. Thanks for making sure I didn't fall. What are your shoulders made of? Steel? I’m going to be sore for days. Anyway, I look forward to working with you on the breach. Wait until the building clears out after work, then come see me in my office to go over your progress for the day. Thanks.
-Olivia-
I smile much bigger than I should while reading an email from my boss. So she was putting on a show? I can get down with that.While Jon is running around thinking she's cold to everyone, she clearly has a warmer place for me, and I fucking love that. I try to brush past the message and start doing my routine work, but now that I've heard from her, I can't keep my mind off of the end of the day. So I type up a subtle response that will tell her how I feel without giving away the excitement rushing through my veins.
Looking forward to it.
-Q-
EIGHT - Quinn
The day has gone by entirely too fucking slowly. I spent every waking minute bogged down by spreadsheets, paperwork, data, and programming logs. Every hour felt like two, and by the time Rob made it to my office with an update on the breach, I had already missed lunch and was ready for a fucking nap. It was a hell of a day, but the clock stops for no one and before I knew it, the building was beginning to clear out. I sat at my desk and watched as my colleagues shut down their offices, flipped off lights and said goodbye for the evening. Eden was the last to go, waving to Olivia as she clutched yellow folders in her arms and walked past my office without realizing I was still in it. In a flash, there was no one left but Olivia and me.
I shouldn't be thinking like this. I'm aware of the situation, and I know it’s a waste of energy trying to test the waters of my boss, but as I stand up and turn off my computer, I'm desperate to diveinto her ocean. Olivia Lucero is so goddamn gorgeous that I can't help the way my brain thinks when I'm around her. The way she commands the room, taking shit from absolutely no one, and moving like she's the queen of the world. I should take it as a sign that I need to fall back, but I see it the complete opposite way. I want to be close to it. I want to harness it and see if it’s who she really is deep down, or is it how Olivia gets through her day as a woman commanding men. Is she giving off the energy she thinks will work best against the misogyny, or is her interior just as tough as her exterior? Fuck. I should drop it, but … I don't want to.
I know that when I step into her office, Olivia is going to look incredible. I know her perfume will seduce me through my nose and wake up my insides like smelling salts, and I know the thoughts that will run rampant in my head. But I have to keep it together. Not only is she the CEO, she's eight years older than me and surrounded by pictures of her dead father. I'm crazy for thinking like this.
