Page 33 of Grumpy Boss in Love

RUBY

Isprinted down the sidewalk, which was pretty damn impressive, considering that I wore three-inch heels. While I’d given up sweet, sweet color and style for a more understated wardrobe, I went back to wearing my precious heels. The dull flats just weren’t doing it for me. I caved and put on a pair of red stilettos this morning.

I narrowly missed a crack in the pavement that would have been sure to cause a fractured ankle. Fellow pedestrians eyed me curiously as I continued my race to reach work on time.

Westwood Collective appeared when I rounded the corner, and I huffed my relief. Finally, I’d be on time. Not Elliot’s on time, which was fifteen minutes before the appointed hour—Ugh. He was so stringent. But I would be on time for The Task Master, Caroline. I’d be in the building by eight a.m. on the dot.

I’d managed to sneak away half an hour early this morning after my shift at Luxe Elite. The precious minutes helped me a lot since my car was still in the garage. Repairs were going at a snail’s pace… or rather, I didn’t have the money to collect Rusty yet.

“Yes!” I hissed happily when I pulled my phone from my handbag while still jogging. Seven fifty-seven. Three minutes to cross the street, make it inside, get to the elevator?—

Beeeep!The blare of a horn made me spin around to see an SUV careening toward me. I stood paralyzed in the middle of the street. My eyes bulged, and I almost choked on a gasp as the vehicle came to a screeching halt a hair’s breadth away from me.

There was a stillness in the air as everyone turned to see what the commotion was about, then all hell broke loose. The driver, a man twice my size, emerged from the SUV and barreled toward me. His face was red and his hands chopped through the air in a series of angry gestures. He shouted at me, but I couldn’t process what he said because I was still frozen and gawking at the car that almost sent me to the afterlife.

I’d almost gotten run over for the second time in the same spot. Either my luck was extremely bad or Caroline had put a hex on me. She hated me with such a passion that I wouldn’t put it past her.

“Hey, are you listening?” The man’s voice penetrated my stupor. “You ran right out into the road!”

My gaze shifted to him as he advanced. “I… I’m sorry… I…”

“Don’t you know how to cross the fucking street?” he bellowed.

My eyes bulged some more, and I reached the verge of panic because he looked irate enough to attack. I even took a retreating step.

“Back off.” The eerily calm order resonated with menace. It had both me and the angry driver turning around. There was Elliot striding toward us, his face twisted in a snarl and his gaze fixed on the furious driver.

The man who had been yelling in my face just a moment ago took one look at Elliot and went docile. I didn’t blame him. Despite my boss’s immaculate suit, Italian leather shoes, and fancy Rolex, his death stare alone was enough to intimidate anyone. For once, I was relieved to see him. My fear went down several notches when he put himself between me and the red-faced man, who looked about ready to explode.

The man angrily gestured to me. “She just ran out into the street…”

“And she said she’s sorry,” Elliot returned. “Now, get back in your vehicle and go.”

With a puff of annoyed air, the man wheeled around and walked back to his car. It was then that I saw Elliot’s chauffeured vehicle three spaces down in the traffic lineup. His driver, Gabe, watched carefully, seemingly ready to take action. After interacting with the stoic man a few times, I suspected he was much more than a driver.

Elliot’s fingers wrapped around my upper arm. I didn’t protest as he escorted me to the other side of the street because my legs could barely carry me.

“Nothing to see here,” he growled at spectators who had been riveted by my embarrassing scene.

For once, I appreciated his surliness because people actually scampered away when he glowered at them.

“Are you alright?” he asked as we made our way up the stone steps of his building.

“After almost getting run over or after almost getting attacked by the irate driver?” I whispered.

“Both,” he replied.

“God, no.” I tried to tug my arms out of his hold as soon as we reached the top step and aimed for the revolving doors. “But you can let go of me now.”

He gave me an annoyed look. “You’re shaking.”

“I think that’s a normal reaction to almost dying. I’ll be fine.”

Of course, I was eager to get away from Elliot after he rescued me because I couldn't be seen walking into the building with the boss holding on to me. He must have perceived what I was thinking because his jaw clenched and he dropped his hand.

After a side glance, I sped up to get ahead of him and to put distance between us. I heard his snort and gritted my teeth. Elliot had avoided me since our last discussion in his office, so I hadn’t seen him in two weeks. As if under compulsion, I snuck a glance at him over my shoulder, and to my chagrin, our gazes locked. He lifted one eyebrow in askance and my face caught fire.

Facing forward, I scurried faster. To my dismay, when I stepped into the elevator, Elliot followed. I scowled at him but kept quiet because there was someone else inside. Elliot nodded at the woman and she responded with a breathy, “Good morning, Mr. Westwood.” From the corner of my eye, I saw her give him another glance and blush.

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