Page 45 of Craving Danger

Leaving the building, I head to the subway station, and once I’m seated on a train, it becomes the fight of my life to stay awake.

The moment I walk into my apartment, I let out a groan and drop down on the couch. I kick off my high heels, and curling up into a fetal position, it only takes a minute or two before I’m fast asleep.

Waking up, I’m confused and don’t even know what day it is.

It takes me a moment to remember what happened earlier, and now that I’ve had some rest, dread pours into my veins.

God, after all the hard work I’ve put in over the past few weeks to impress Mr. Vitale, I just had to screw things up.

I pull my handbag closer and dig my phone out of it. When I check the time and see I only slept for two hours, I dart up and rush to the bathroom to fix my makeup and hair.

Maybe I can still salvage things. I’ll work late tonight to make up for the shit show this morning.

When I look good as new, I hurry out of my apartment and take the subway back to work.

Nerves tighten my stomach, and I brace for the wrath of God as I walk into the building.

During the ride up to the top floor, I nibble anxiously on my bottom lip and when the elevator doors open, my legs feel a little weak.

No matter what happens, I’m going to work my butt off.

When my desk comes into view, I see Gloria from the sales department sitting in my chair.

Surprise flutters over her face. “Mr. Vitale said you’re sick.”

“I’m not.” I give her a grateful smile. “Thanks for covering for me, but I’ll take over.”

“Thank God,” she sighs. Getting up, she shakes her head. “I don’t know how you do it.”

I watch as she walks away then take a seat at my desk. After I tuck my handbag in the bottom drawer, I check all the emails and notice Gloria couldn’t keep up with Mr. Vitale.

The poor woman.

I put the wireless headset on and fix the contract I botched up this morning. After I email it to Mr. Vitale, I get to work on all the emails.

I don’t know how much time has passed when I suddenly hear, “What are you doing here?”

I startle so bad, that I dart up from my chair and shriek, “Jesus! My freaking heart!”

Seeing Mr. Vitale glare at me, I ramble, “I thought you were out for the rest of the day? I felt better, so I came back to work. I’m sorry.”

Why the hell am I apologizing for coming to work?

He drops a signed contract on my desk. “Courier it to the lawyers.”

“Yes, sir.”

His eyes burn on my face for a moment too long, then he says, “I’m leaving.”

“Yes, sir.”

When he walks away, I slump down on my chair and let out a sigh.

If the stress of working for the man doesn’t kill me, the heart attack he tries to give me every other day will.

Just as I’m about to get back to work, my cell phone vibrates with an incoming message. Picking up the device, I unlock the screen, and seeing a text from my mystery man, a smile spreads over my face.

MMM: I’m just checking in to make sure you’re alive, and your boss didn’t kill you.

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