Page 82 of Resisting the CEO (Dirty Hot Resistance 2)

Someone has been snooping around.

A knock on my door has me looking up and narrowing my eyes. “Mr. Hunter.”

Jace looks wary on seeing me. “Is Kendall around?”

“Why?”

“I have something to discuss with her.”

I stand up. “Why don’t you come in?”

He enters.

“Take a seat.”

He tenses. “I think I’ll come back later, when Kendall comes back.”

“I don’t think so, Mr. Hunter. Take a seat.” I lock the door behind me and lean against it, my hands in my pockets. “Let’s talk.”

Jace watches the door and then his eyes flick towards me. “About what?”

My expression betrays nothing. “About Kendall.”

For the first time since I’ve met him, I see a hint of alarm on his face, and nervousness flicker there before he tamps it down. “What about her?”

I smile, a cold look in my eyes. “You’ve been following her around, going to her home, trying to befriend her. And yet, you’ve not made a single attempt to form any kind of friendships in this office. You’ve kept yourself isolated from your colleagues. But when it comes to Kendall, you’ve been very proactive.”

Jace stiffens at my words. “She’s a friendly person.”

I snort. “No, she’s not. She’s as friendly as a rattlesnake. You only managed to befriend her through a lot of effort. What I want to know is why. What do you want from her?”

“Nothing. She and I just get along.”

His words ring false and I can see the way he’s trying his best not to fidget. I stalk towards him, my presence menacing, and I can feel his eyes following me as I round my desk and sit behind it facing him, careful to keep my tone soft, “Let me explain something to you, Jace.” I call him by his first name, deliberately, and from the sharpening of his eyes, he also realizes it.

I lean back in my chair and pin him to his seat with my eyes. “There is nothing I won’t do to protect Kendall. Now, she thinks you’re just her friend, but I’ve been around long enough to know that you want something from her. I see you watching her sometimes when she doesn’t know. If I have to get rid of you to protect her, don’t think I won’t.”

Jace’s jaw tightens. “Are you threatening to fire me?”

I smile now, my eyes malicious. “Oh, I wouldn’t do that. I’ll simply transfer you somewhere else. Your skills are invaluable, after all.”

Sitting mute, he pales.

I continue, “You’ll have a better salary, more perks. You just won’t have access to Kendall.”

My words have the desired effect on Jace who stands up. “You can’t do that!”

I widen my eyes, mockingly. “I can’t? I’m offering you a better salary, even a better position. What about that seems unfair to you?”

He’s at a loss for words.

I watch him with cold satisfaction. I was right. It was Kendall he was after.

Jace struggles, a conflicted look on his face. “I’m content with my job here.”

“And I think you’d be better suited there,” I retort.

“Damn it!” Jace finally breaks. “It’s not what you think!”

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