Page 19 of Love to Hate You

“What’s wrong with doing it now?” I ask, instantly suspicious. He’s been back less than two hours and he’s already up to something. I can feel it in my bones.

“I can’t. I’m meeting with Peter.”

My heart sinks.Fuck me.Why didn’t I see this coming? Peter Briggs is the one partner who doesn’t like me. He hasn’t come out and said anything to me, but I can see it on his face. It’s quite clear that he’s old-fashioned and believes a woman’s place is at home and not in the boardroom.

Those two are going to conspire against me.

“One o’clock?” Nash asks.

“What?” I ask, snapping back to the present.

“Are you free to meet at 1:00 p.m.?” he repeats and gives me a strange look.

“I have a conference call. Two is better.” I’m lying but he doesn’t need to know that. I refuse to give in to what he wants all the time.

“Okay then two it is. I’ll see you later.”

I sink back down into my chair as Nash turns and saunters out, plans for my imminent demise on his current agenda. Despite him wanting to tank me, I still take a moment to appreciate the back of his broad shoulders as he leaves.

It kills me that he’s so incredibly attractive. If he were homely looking, paunchy and dumpy like the rest of the men who work here, I’d be able to keep better control over my raging libido.This is what happens when you ignore your sexual needs,I realize. The first hot man I see, despite being my enemy, I start mentally undressing him and imagine him angling me back on my desk and-

Oh. God. No.Mustering every ounce of strength and self-control, I shut down the erotic image of Nash and I together. I will not go there. Ever.

Thoughts like that complicate things on an even deeper level.As if they weren’t already muddled enough, I think. It’s going to be hard enough as it is working with him. Adding an entirely new layer to our turbulent relationship that is sexual can’t happen absolutely.

I squeeze my eyes shut and feel a headache throb to life. I have no idea how I’m going to do this. How do I work with a man my mind hates and my hoo-ha wants to get to know better?

Mind over hoo-ha, that’s how,I tell myself.

I just need a good orgasm and sexual thoughts of Nash will go away.

Right?

I let out a frustrated sigh and wonder if I should cut my losses and walk out. Just like Nash did. Tell everyone to go screw and let them figure it all out for themselves.

But, as tempting as it sounds, that’s not how I operate. When I love something, I become invested and walking away without a backward glance would be nearly impossible. However, maybe there’s something I can do to make sure I get and keep the ball in my court.

I flip through my rolodex and look for the number for the law offices of Goldman, Hackett and Taber. Reaching for the phone receiver, I punch in the number and wait as it rings.

“Good morning. Goldman, Hackett and Taber,” a female voice says.

“Can I speak to Ethan Goldman?” I ask, pick up a pen and start twirling it between my fingers.

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“Charlie Langley.”

“One moment.”

With all the patience I can muster, I wait while she connects me to Thomas’ lawyer. Less than a minute later, he picks up. “Charlie, how can I help you?”

“Hi, Ethan,” I say. “I’m sure you’re not overly surprised to hear from me.”

“Is this about today’s meeting? How did it go?”

How did it go?I wonder.

I decide the jury is still out. “Fine,” I say, trying to avoid going into any details. “But I’m wondering about some things and hope you have the answers.”

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