Page 5 of His Property

“There is actually one more thing I need from you,” he said, clicking the mouse and leaning back in his chair.

I was already moving to leave, assuming he’d just wave me away, and froze in place at the sound of his deep voice. “Um, what?”

He scowled. “Come in here. You’ve already interrupted me as it is. May as well make it official.”

I frowned, pushing the door open and stepping into the office.

He pointed at the floor in front of his desk. “Front and center.”

“Is there a reason why you’re so nasty? It’s… really not fair. I haven’t done anything to deserve you being so mean.” I knew it was stupid to say it, but Iwasangry at him. I was just the cleaning girl. Taking out on me whatever was up his ass was not going to make his day any better. And it was sure raining shit on mine.

He stroked his chin with his long fingers, not saying anything until I reluctantly stood at the indicated spot.

“Haven’t done anything, you say? Other than leaving my house unlocked?”

“Well… that was an accident. Not what I meant.” I hated that my face heated up as I said it, but he did have a point. Much as I hated him for it.

“Do you always make it a habit of arguing with clients? Is this your idea of customer service?”

“I’m not arguing, Mr. Winters.”

His dark brow arched. “All evidence to the contrary.”

That look of his both made me quail inside and sparked a confusing tightening deep in my belly that was somethingverydifferent from fear.

I decided to keep my mouth shut. He had me—we both knew it—and further sparring with him was only going to be the worse for me.

He leaned forward, resting his hands on his desk. “As I said, there is one more thing I want from you.”

“Okay…” I didn’t like this. Not one bit.

“An apology.”

“What?” I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “What did I do?”

“You never apologized for leaving the door unlocked.”

“Yes, I did. I said I was sorry.”

“You said sorry, in passing. As if it were no big deal. Trifling.” His mouth hardened to a thin line. “And I assure you, Ms. Grant. Itisa big deal—to me.”

“Fine.” I knew I shouldn’t have said that particular word, especially dripping with bitchiness as it was, but hewasbeing a prick. “I apologize for leaving your door unlocked. Believe me, it won’t happen again.”

“Apology accepted.” He sat back, resting a hand on one of the armrests of his chair, his blue-gray eyes watching me intently. “Now, you can go.”

“Thank God,” I whispered under my breath as I turned for the door, certain he wouldn’t hear me.

“Hold it.”

A cold chill ran down my spine.

Stupid! Lola is stupid!

I stood in place, but didn’t move, hoping against hope he wouldn’t say anything else. That I might get out of this without any further dressing down from him.

“Get back here.”

I slowly spun, plastering a saccharine smile on my face. “Oh… something else you need?”

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