Page 4 of Boss On Notice
I sit down fast and save my two weeks’ notice in a personal and locked folder. “What’s on my desktop.”
He’s on his feet, moving in my direction. “What’s on your desktop?”
I slyly click my mouse to collapse the document. “Nothing.” I frown, irritated by the way he’s hovering over my shoulder. Also, I don’t know if I believe him. Orion reading my two weeks’ notice sort of explains his “You’re so great, Lilly” comment. He’s trying to butter me up because he needs me.
I twist my neck to look up and then scrutinize every lift, wrinkle, and pull of his facial expression. If he had read my two weeks’ notice, then he has an expert poker face. I’ve never known Orion to care enough to withhold his thoughts. He believes everybody wants to know exactly what he’s thinking or feeling simply because he’s the great Orion Lord. But his long legs are like stalwart tree trunks, blocking me from getting away from him. And I swear his crotch is only a few inches away from the tip of my nose. I’m tapping down a panic attack, a real-life panic attack. He’s blocking me in. I’ll never be able to get away from him.
“Listen,” he says.
“Could you…” I breathlessly say at the same time.
“I need you to go to Vegas with me this weekend.” Of course, he takes the floor, making my jaw drop.
Then I recall the one reason why he isn’t in Vegas right now. Yesterday before he left early, he sent Achilles bunk numbers for the week, which in turn made Achilles warn him not to show up at the wedding until the reports were accurate. He had fucked up my beautiful error-free report on purpose. I wanted to chop his head off.
“Then you sent Achilles my error-free report,” I say.
Finally, he puts space between us. “I knew that bothered you,” he says as though he just solved a grand mystery.
“Well, yes, Orion.”
He’s on his way back to his desk.
“I spent two weeks working on that report. I put a lot of effort into it just for you to screw it up in one sitting.” Gosh, I’m brazen this morning. I’ve never been this way with him to his face and I like it.
Orion plops down in his chair and squints at his expensive watch. “Listen, I need you in Vegas with me this weekend. We’ll need to leave soon.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“What about Heather?”
He stops admiring his watch. “She’s not coming.”
My face contorts into several expressions as I try to process how to respond to his latest demand.You can go to hellmight be too harsh at the moment. Maybe in two weeks it’ll be the perfect thing to tell him. Unfortunately, I still need him for a final paycheck. However, the short answer isno, Orion Lord. I will not go to Las Vegas with you. I don’t want to be anywhere near you during my weekend off.But then a small voice in my head asks why. Orion, why are you asking me to go to your brother’s wedding with you? It’s odd, very odd. He has a million women, women, who would jump at the chance to be his wedding date.
I stare at my computer screen. If only it could talk and tell me if he had indeed snooped and read my notice.
“I’ll pay you triple your salary,” he blurts as if he’s strategically sweetening the deal. “And we’re flying private. You’ll have your own room in a luxury hotel.” He smirks naughtily. “Far away from me if you prefer. And all of your expenses are to be paid.”
Far away from him? Why would he say that? I turn my head slightly to eye him suspiciously. “Are you sure you didn’t see what was on my screen?”
He chuckles. “Why do you keep asking me that, Lila? Is there something you’re hiding?” One corner of his mouth rises into a devilish smirk. “Are you skimming off the top?” He laughs softly. “After all, I give you a lot of access to my accounts, more access than I give anyone else.” He seems as though he’s about to say something else, but then he presses his lips and rubs his chin.
Well, at least he’s back to calling me Lila, which is a mild relief. But still, I can’t stop shaking my head. “But why do you want to pay me to go to Vegas with you? I’m sure there is a line of beautiful women who will jump at the chance to go with you.”
His smirk intensifies. “And you wouldn’t get in line?”
I shake my head rapidly. “Not really.”Hell no is more like it.
He’s stroking his chin again. “Why is that, Lila? You don’t think I’m a catch?”
Did he really ask me that question?
“There’s that face again,” he says.
I even out my expression. “What face?”
