Page 34 of Off Limits Silver Fox

“You’re the first cyber security engineer I’ve worked with without hitches. I hope we can work together again soon,” Brad tells Hailey as they move away from my table along with the others.

Hailey nods. “Me too. It’s been great working with you.”

“You’re hardworking, dedicated, and absolutely brilliant,” Brad carries on, stepping back and bowing slightly to give her way in a chivalrous manner, making me cringe.

Hailey laughs softly. “You’re not bad yourself.”

“Say, would you like to grab a cup of coffee with me? I haven’t had breakfast, and I’m starving.”

Only ironclad control keeps me from curtly telling Brad that he could starve to death as far as I was concerned and that Hailey would be having no coffee with him. I blink rapidly at the raging emotions flowing through me as Hailey smiles radiantly at him. Am I jealous? Is that what this unpleasant feeling is? I can’t believe I’m plagued by the green-eyed monster.

“A word, Hailey,” I interject before she replies.

“Sure, Brad,” Hailey answers as if she didn’t hear me. Or is she so caught up with Brad fawning over her that my voice is soundless to her?

Seeing the two of them together, looking all cozy, makes me feel old. Brad is only a couple of years older than Hailey, and they appear to have things in common. It’s exactly what I worried about earlier, that Hailey would find someone younger.

I clear my throat and speak louder than I usually do. “A word, Hailey.”

She whirls around and glares at me as if I just interrupted the most important discussion of her life. Nodding, she turns to Brad with the brightest of smiles I’ve ever seen her give to anyone.

“I’ll be right with you in a few minutes.”

He nods and exits the office. She remains in her position by the door, still glaring at me.

“What’s going on?”

She frowns. “As you can see, the project is going as smoothly as planned and—”

“Don’t play games with me, Hailey,” I snap. “I’m not in the mood.”

Her nose flares, and she juts her chin out at me. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Releasing a heavy sigh, I push my chair back and rise. Losing my temper with her won’t solve the problem. It’s obvious that she’s angry with me over something. I walk around my table, brace myself on its edge, and fold my arms across my chest.

“Come here,” I instruct in a no-nonsense tone.

She plasters herself against the door and stares at me defiantly.

“I said come here.”

“No!”

My brows shoot up to my hairline. This is the first time she has refused me.

“What the hell is going on, Hailey? Yesterday, when I left you, you were all smiles. Now, you’re acting as if you just got back from the North Pole. Talk to me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just want to get back to work.”

“Is that why you didn’t pick up my calls or reply to my messages?”

She shrugs. “I was busy.”

“Busy flirting with Brad?”

Her eyes widen. “That’s none of your business.”

I struggle to grab a hold of my flailing temper. “What did I do to make you angry with me? Just spit it out, and I’ll apologize.”

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