Page 22 of Love to Hate You

Shock crosses Charlie’s face at my blatant arrogance, but I’ve never liked this guy. My gut tells me the feeling is mutual, too, so why pretend. Simon Fowler isn’t in my corner and nothing I say or do will change that fact.

“Careful, Beckett,” he warns. “I wouldn’t be so sure of yourself.”

I just look over at Charlie and give her a dazzling smile. I could care less about this idiot and right now the sunlight is hitting her golden hair just right, making my pulse speed up. All I want to do is pull her hair loose from its constricting clip, watch it fall down past her shoulders and frame her pretty face. Then I want to run my fingers through it and find out if it’s as soft as it looks.

“Have you been able to secure a meeting with Square Enterprises?” Simon asks.

Charlie lifts her attention from my mouth and crosses her arms. “Not yet,” she says. “I’m trying, though, and-”

“You’ve been trying for the past year,” Simon interrupts. “It’s a big client that we’d all like to see in the books here.”

“Yes, definitely,” she agrees.

Simon looks from Charlie to me, studying us closely. “I have a feeling that whichever one of you can snag Square will have the board’s full approval.”

I nod, letting his words, and challenge, sink in. Apparently, Fowler wants to see a race. A battle between us. Inwardly, I roll my eyes.Fine. I’m all for making things interesting.

“Alright then. I need to get to the club before the missus wonders where I am. I’m sure we’ll all speak soon.”

As Simon leaves, someone else appears and I grit my teeth.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Ivy Reeves says and bats her extremely fake lashes at me. “But I just wanted to let you know, Nash, that I am so sorry about your father. I learned so much as his executive assistant and now that you’re taking over, I am ready to work under you and do whatever you require.”

I hear Charlie’s barely concealed scoff and I’m not oblivious. I know Ivy has designs on me. Hell, she did when I worked here before and it appears that nothing has changed.

“Let’s get something straight,” Charlie says, focusing on Ivy. “Nash isn’t taking over anything any time soon.”

“I do need an assistant, though,” I remind her pleasantly, trying not to show my amusement.

Ivy Reeves makes good money here, but she possesses a certain quality that leads one to believe she’s a gold digger. Maybe it’s her long, pointy acrylic nails, false eyelashes, inflated lips or just the syrupy-sweet way she talks. Whatever it is, my dad loved her.

Me? Not so much. She’s too plastic-looking for my taste. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s just not for me. I prefer a woman like Charlie– a power player who’s clawing her way up without regret and who is classically beautiful. I look down at her pretty nails, short, square and covered in clear polish.

Yeah, those are the nails I want scratching down my back. They’re real and have the power to dig into my skin. Leave their mark.

Charlie forces a smile. “Fine. Since Ivy is available, it only makes sense.”

“Does it also make sense that I make this my office?” I ask, pushing her, unable to hold back the grin that lifts the corner of my mouth. “Since it’s available?”

“No,” Charlie snaps. “I will find you a different office.”

She spins around and walks out, full of glorious sass, and I can’t help but chuckle.Christ that woman knows how to walk in a pair of heels, ass swiveling just enough to make my dick take notice.

I slide a hand over my jaw, waiting until Charlie’s delectable figure is out of view, and then look over at Ivy. “Well, not sure where we will be yet, but glad to have you, Ivy.”

“Glad to be with you, Nash. This place hasn’t been the same since you left and I am so glad to have you back,” she gushes.

“Thanks.” I don’t want to encourage Ivy too much because she’s always sort of looked at me with little hearts in her eyes. Leading her on isn’t something I intend to do and she’s an employee. Hopefully we will have a good working relationship and that’s all.

Charlie, on the other hand…

Well, truthfully, I have no idea what to do with her yet. Other than wanting to fuck her into next week, I’m at a loss.

10

CHARLIE

Iend up converting the storage room at the end of the hall into an office for Nash. It’s mean, but also a joke, and the next morning, I walk him down there. I wrote his name on a piece of paper and taped it to the outside of the door.

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