Page 87 of Toxic

"Funny."

"Someone has to add humor to this relationship," she claims.

"I know how to add humor."

She snorts. "Sure you do. So what do you want me to do?"

"Cancel my meeting with Rubio today."

"Kind of last minute. He's going to be pissed."

"Don't care. Remind him who's boss."

"Oh, so you're having ashow everyone who Dante Marino isday," she chirps.

I ignore her remark. "Tell him I'm saving him time. I want everything tripled."

"Tripled?" she asks in surprise.

"You heard right. Glad to see that you aren't losing your hearing in your upper thirties."

"At least I'm not nearing mid-forties," she stabs.

"I keep telling you to drop those younger guys and find a real man."

She asserts, "Not looking for a pill-popping daddy in the sheets."

"Please. Stop putting real men in the same category as your loser exes," I reply, taking a turn faster than I should. The wheels shriek on the pavement, and I shift to go faster.

"Don't forget my review with you tomorrow."

I groan. "Why don't we skip it? You're getting a ten percent raise, and your bonus is doubling."

"I want thirty percent."

I smile, knowing what her response would be before I spoke. I'll give her more, but Pina always negotiates. So I've learned to start low. I voice, "That's a lot. What have you done to earn it?"

"Please," she huffs.

"Go ahead. Tell me why you deserve it," I state, just to mess with her. She's worth thirty percent. It's tempting to hand it to her without a fight, but I don't like her getting used to always getting what she demands.

A long, dramatic sigh hits my ears. "Would you rather I find another boss?"

"Would you rather I find another assistant?"

She laughs. "No one else can put up with you. I dare you."

"Don't wish for things you'll regret," I threaten, but she's right.

"Dante, I want thirty percent," she sternly reiterates. "I'm worth every penny of it, and you know it."

The blaring of horns fills the air as I speed through the red light, weaving through the traffic. "Tell you what. I'll give you twenty percent and triple your bonus."

Silence fills the line for several moments. I wait it out, not giving in to the temptation to speak first.

"No," she asserts.

Shock fills me. "No? That's way more than what you're asking."

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