Page 636 of Hell Hath No Fury
“Okay. That would make sense. Sorry if I came off that way. I guess I just wasn’t sure what to expect. When people start bringing in unnecessary, unexpected changes, you never know what to think.”
“Fair enough.” I breathe in. “So, when can I take you out?”
Her eyes bulge out, and she cocks her neck. “Excuse me?”
I clear my throat and lean over the desk while staring her straight in the face. “I want to take you out—anywhere you want to go.” I gesture toward the city outside the window.
Rylan looks at me over her glasses, and I swear beads of pre-cum form on my dick.
“We can’t do that,” she states flatly.
“You meanyoucan’t? Because I’m pretty certain I can be down with taking you out.”
“Look, Mr. Bass—”
“That’s my father. Kareem or people close to me call me KJ—”
“Kareem,” she emphasizes. “I enjoyed myself, but we should forget it happened.”
“Double ouch. I didn’t think I was that bad, and I’m certain you didn’t either.”
She sucks her teeth. “Not only do we work together, but you’re also my boss’s son and soon-to-be boss. I cannot date you. And I’d greatly appreciate it if we keep it professional,” she finishes.
I don’t tell her that I agree or understand because I don’t. We had one magical night together, but my insides burn for more. And even though she’s working hard to show me she’s unfazed by our connection, I see deep down that she wants it too.
“All right, well, I’ll have Priscilla bring over those reports.”
I nod and watch as she exits my dad’s office. Rylan disappears down the hall as I fade into my thoughts. She says we can’t date, but I don’t believe that. It’s hard to turn off the kind of attraction we have for one another, and I can’t say I want to. I’ll give her some space, but she better be prepared because I’m not backing down so easily.
CHAPTER FOUR
Rylan
My brows knit together as I stare at my computer screen. I’m looking at the pending contracts I have to review, and things aren’t adding up. I tap a button on my phone, and Priscilla’s voice blares from my speaker.
“Hey, can you come to my office, please?”
“On my way,” Priscilla answers, then the line clicks. A second later, she enters the room. “What’s up?”
“What happened to the contract for Train-X, Kade Braxton’s company? It needed my approval for an official offer, but it’s not on the pending list.” I frown.
“Oh. Kareem signed off on that last week. Sorry, I thought you knew,” she answers.
“What?” I yelp and click through our software until I find the completed folder. There it is in big, bold letters—approved by KBassJrdances on the screen. “How did—okay, Priscilla, thank you.”
“Anything else?”
I shake my head but don’t peel my eyes away from the screen. Some part of me says to stay calm, but this pisses me off. He’s been here a week and a half and has managed to get under my skin daily. It’s his company, I understand that, but not even Bass, Sr., pulled shit like this. I have a system, and everyone here knows to respect that.
Every day he flirts and blatantly dismisses my thoughts on where we stand with each other. We had a great night, but that’sit. We can’t—shouldn’t cross that line again. He said he gets it but has made it his business to show me he hasn’t gotten the idea of us out of his head.
And to add to the drama that can ensue, the man took up residence in the empty office across the way from me. A very far distance with the rows of cubicles and the tiny atrium in the center of the floor—but he’s there nonetheless. As annoying as it is, I’d be lying if I said I entirely hate him being in sight.
The truth is, I like looking at him. It’s torture, pretending not to be attracted to him when every inch of my body remembers the fingerprints he left on my ass. But today, when I look over and see his stupid grinning face, I want to scream. How dare he make a call in my department without at least informing me?
The desire to confront him burns hot, and before long, I am out of my seat and marching to the other side of the building. A colleague exits his office just as I approach. I enter the room, closing the door behind me. Kareem sits back when I strut my way to his desk.
Pressing my fist into the hard surface, I speak. “Can you explain why you approved the Train-X account without talking to me?”
