Page 48 of Boss On Notice
“It’s your boss. We’ve been told that as soon as you walk through the door, we’re to make your order. If you want your order changed, then call us and let us know ahead of time.”
I’m still processing this new perk that I have.
“It doesn’t hurt working directly for Orion Lord, does it?” Colby says.
Oh, it hurts, Colby. It hurts a lot.
* * *
When I makeit back to my desk with my latte, Orion is on the phone. He tells whoever he’s speaking to that he’ll call them back just as I sit at my desk.
“Enjoy the wait?” he asks, sounding and looking proud of himself.
“Thank you,” I say. My tone is professional.
“And listen, about Heather…”
“Nope,” I say, raising a finger. “You don’t have to explain.”
“But I want to explain.”
“Nope,” I say again, shaking my head adamantly. “It’s your personal business, Orion.”
“Orion and not O?” he asks, grinning. What a perfect set of teeth he has—clean, pearly white, and straight. That smile of his is such a perfect little mouse trap.
“Sorry about that.”
“Call me what you like,” he croons seductively.
Of course, he’ll flirt. He’ll also fuck me. He’s laying out the cheese. “No. I’ll refer to you as Orion. And, really, let’s forget about Friday night. Yes. It was fun for me too.” My fake smile feels like it’s going to swallow my whole head. “I got it out of my system, and whew…” I fold my shoulders forward, loosening my back. “I’m over it. I don’t want sex from you anymore. No more sex.”
Why in the world is he smirking?
“Then no more sex it is.” He’s still smirking.
“I mean it, Orion. Just work.”
“I thought we were working on being friends?”
My lips are quivering again. That’s because I want to blast his ass out and call him on this mind-fuck he’s trying to put on me.
I square my shoulders and look him dead in the eye. “You’re my boss and I’m your employee. How about we get through this part of our relationship first?”
Orion frowns thoughtfully, rubbing his palms together. “We had a family dinner last night to discuss foundation business. Heather was invited because she works with the foundation. Fifi, my mother’s bichon frise who is in love with me”—he smiles, full of himself—“jumped in my lap and made me spill wine on my pants. I took my keys out while Marta, the housemaid, treated the stain for me. She likes me too.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so full of yourself. You have a problem, Orion. And I fell into your trap once. And now that I’m out, I’d be a fool to go back for more.”
He throws his hands up as though he’s totally confused. “What did I say? I’m explaining to you what happened.”
I shake my head. He doesn’t even hear himself. “You need women to fall in love with you, even Fifi. I mean, that’s why you’re an expert at fucking. You thought you can make me come hard and then I’d be putty in your hands.” This is so cathartic for me. I’m on a roll and now it’s time to give him the punch line. The one that has been repeating itself over and over in my head like a broken record. “A vibrator can do what you do, honey. And I don’t have to put up with its lack of respect!” I breathe deeply, catching my breath after that tirade.
His eyebrows ruffle and he tilts to one side and then the other as if chewing on every word I spoke. “You think I’m an expert at fucking?”
I jerk my head back. Although, I’m not surprised he asked me that. “Mr. Lord, did you send me a new set of psychological quizzes for the AI software?” That was an aggressive change of the subject and I’m proud of myself for it. My expression remains as stoic as a nun’s on Sunday morning. I’m not letting him charm me into breaking the ice queen I have summoned from somewhere deep inside me.
“Okay, Lila, I’m your boss. We’re kind of friends, almost friends. And no more of my expert fucking.”
I don’t break. “Exactly. And the AI quiz?”
