Page 38 of Coldhearted King

For more than one reason, I can’t look at Paul as I pass him. What I just did plays over and over in my mind. What I let Cole do to me. In his office. In the building I work in. With Paul sitting outside.

What the hell came over me?

This is not me. I’m the girl who puts her head down and works hard and achieves what she wants to achieve. I’m not the girl who lets her boss go down on her in his office. What is it about Cole that makes me act so out of character?

On shaky legs, I make my way back to my desk. If I thought I couldn’t concentrate before, it’s nothing compared to how scattered I am now.

Every time someone passes, I jump, imagining it’s Paul and he’s somehow found out what I did. Not that it’s any of his business anymore. Because it’s so unlike me, it feels as if any minute now, someone will point their finger at me and accuse me of reprehensible behavior.

But Paul doesn’t come. And neither does Cole. Although, why would he? He’s playing games with me. With Paul. I don’t know why. Maybe he’s bored?

The only thing I know is that this job is important to me and I’m on very shaky ground at the moment.

By forcing myself to focus on my CAD model, I make it through to the end of the day. I glimpse Paul around the office, but thankfully he doesn’t approach me. I haven’t seen Philippa at all, which isn’t that unusual since she’s only here sometimes. Regardless, it’s a relief. When five o’clock hits, I log off, grab my purse, and head out.

After getting home, I get into the shower and wait for the hot water to relax my muscles. As much as I try, I can’t stop thinking about what happened in Cole’s office. My nipples tighten, my skin sensitizes, and I groan. Why can’t I get him out of my mind? Yes, the sex I had with him was far better than anything I had with Paul afterward. And in his office this afternoon...Well, that was beyond anything any man has ever done to me.

But he’s still a coldhearted, arrogant asshole, even if he knows how to make my body sing.

After drying myself, I dress and head to the kitchen to make dinner. I’ve eaten, washed up, and am sitting on the couch with my laptop when a key turns in the lock and Alex comes in.

“How was work?” she asks, walking over, bending down, and giving me a hug. “Did you see Paul?”

“He was waiting for me at my desk when I showed up.”

She scowls. “The asshole. He was never interested in giving you what you needed.”

I throw her a grateful smile. “I told him to leave me alone, and he did.”

“So that was the last you saw of him?”

I bite my lip. “Well...I saw him outside Cole’s office in the afternoon.”

Her brows shoot up. “What were you both doing outside Cole’s office?”

Heat flares across my cheeks.

“What did you do, Dee?”

“I just went to apologize for what I said to him Friday night, and to thank him for telling me about Paul.”

“Okay, so what happened? Obviously, something did. Otherwise your face wouldn’t be as red as a tomato.”

I cover my face with my hands. “He went down on me. While Paul was outside waiting to meet with him.”

I drop my hands to see Alex’s mouth hanging open. “Are you serious?”

I nod, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

A huge grin spreads across her face, and she barks out a laugh. “I hate to say it, but I like the guy’s style. Paul deserves it, the selfish asshole.” Then she notices my face. “What’s wrong? You can’t tell me you feel bad for him?”

“No. I almost feel bad because I don’t feel bad about it.”

“Good. I hope you strutted past him on your way out.”

My lips twitch up in a smile, but it soon fades. “I think it was the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever done. I don’t know how I’m going to face Cole again.”

Alex sits down next to me. “Who instigated it?”

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