Page 16 of Arrogant Boss

Atlas’s eyes lock on mine, the air in my lungs seizes and adrenaline spikes my blood. He smirks, and leans over to Jasper to say something in his ear. Jasper glances our way, and his eyes land on Poppy. A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. Not good. He looks like a wolf ready to strike his prey. He and Jasper stride toward our table. So much for not being spotted.

“Hello, Boots. Fancy seeing you here.” Atlas’s voice is smooth as silk.

My gaze roams the wooden walls, the red carpet, and the tablecloth. “You should be in jail for stalking me.”

My eyes finally snap up to his, and he rests both palms on the table. I inhale his citrus scent. Big mistake on my part. My chest flutters, and my core tingles.

“I had no idea you’d to be here,” he says.

Jasper eyes Poppy up and down, and his Adam’s apple bobsas he swallows. “Who are you?”

Her eyes study every feature on his face, and she clears her throat like she does when she’s nervous. “Poppy, Lake’s friend.”

“Jasper. Nice to meet you.” He holds out his hand, and she eyes it as if it’s disease-ridden.

She picks up her glass and gulps down her wine. “I heard about you. You’re known to be the biggest playboy in New York City.”

“You need to be careful of what you hear, it’s not always factual.” Jasper tsks. “Unless you heard I can fuck like a god, then those words are true.”

Poppy’s face turns beet red, and she fiddles with the tablecloth. “Whatever.”

Atlas grabs my palms, and I quickly snatch it away.

“I need to talk to you,” Atlas states.

It’s childish of me to blow him off, but I don’t care. I’ve had enough of his shit to last me a lifetime. My heart bounces in my chest as he stands so close to me.

As I roll my eyes, I lean back in my chair, folding my arms and resting them on the table. “I’m not at work, but please feel free to speak to me during office hours.”

“It’ll take a second,”he pleads.

Poppy casts me a curious glance, her face animated. “You two work together?”

“She’s my executive assistant,” he answers.

“You didn’t tell me you were working for Atlas,” Poppy says in disbelief.“Go speak to him.”

I don’t want to cause a scene, and both their eyes are burning holes through me.

“Fine.” I stand up from the table. We sit at their table instead, and Jasper sits across from Poppy and they speak.

“You’re an asshole at work,” I blurt out.

He ignores my words. “I have been thinking about you all day.”

I don’t like how his words make my heart beat ten times faster. “Did you not hear me? I called you an asshole.”

“Have dinner with me.” He smirks.

I raise my eyebrows. “Why?”

“We can discuss the terms of our relationship.”

I want to say yes so bad, but I can’t. And I’m not going to allow some pretty, arrogant man to distract me from my goals. He’s too much to handle, and after I saw the way he acted today, there will be no chance in hell. The chair scrapes against the wooden floor as I climb out of the seat.

“We don’t have a relationship outside of work. If you would excuse me.”

He stands up from the table, smoothing out his velvet tie. “Why do you keep fighting what’s between us?”

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