His questions beat against my back lightly but held the sharp edge of irritation. And I didn’t have enough room for his irritation on top of mine.
He almost slammed into my back when I whirled around at the next landing.
One arrogant brow slowly rose at my defiant stance, and he looked like the perfect target.
“Thanks to your spectacle earlier this week, I’m the talk of the office. And not in the way I want to be. I went to freaking Wharton and graduated with a four-point-freaking-oh, but do they say I got a job because of that? Ooooh, no. They say I got the job because of my underwhelming tits.” Both brows shot up when I barked that word at him. “God forbid you ever notice how hard I work, and I get an actual project role because no one will believe I got it for my ideas and smarts. Oh, no, they’ll assume I fucked my way into that position.”
My chest heaved by the end of my tirade, and he took the time to look me up and down, spending extra time at my chest.
“If you get a promotion, it will be because of your work, and I will not be the one to give it to you. That would always come under fire as nepotism. People can gossip all they want, but it’s just words. Words I will shut down, nonetheless. I can’t have people spreading false rumors about my company.”
His calm response in the face of my ire brought me back to earth. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling more like myself than the banshee from moments before.
“And I assure you, Vera, your tits are more than enough. A perfect handful.”
He gave my chest an appreciative glance, and I swallowed, pulling my shoulders back to stand tall. Not at all to make them look more impressive. He was kind enough to merely smirk than call me out on my move.
“Thank you.”
“Do you have plans this evening?” he asked as if asking about the weather.
“I have to get my dress for the party this weekend.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, thank you. I’m going to grab a cab and head home.”
“Take my car.”
“A cab is fine.”
“Nonsense.” He didn’t even bother looking at me to argue. He pulled up his phone as he moved down the stairs again, leaving me to follow behind. He held the door open and pointed to the black car waiting out front. “Take a picture of the dress and send it to me.”
“No,” I scoffed. “And I’m fine with a cab.”
My argument fell on deaf ears as he guided me to the car and opened the door.
“I’ll take a cab. Now get in.”
I considered arguing, but the lush interior called to me, and after the day, the privacy and comfort were too nice to pass up. “Fine. But I’m not sending a picture,” I assured, climbing in.
Before he closed the door, he winked and smiled. “Sure. Okay.”
I wanted to be irritated at his arrogance, but it was the most playful I’d seen him since the moment we collided in the lobby. I couldn’t help but lean back against the cool leather and smile.
Thankfully, I only had to run in to grab the outfit I’d picked out online, and I was home in no time.
My key slid into the lock when I heard the first peel of laughter. Whatever weight I’d carried around for the rest of the afternoon fell away. The plans to be alone in a hot bath faded away as I opened the front door and slammed it hard enough to announce my presence.
“Well, it’s about damn time,” Rae called from her spot sprawled on my couch.
I expected her. Who I hadn’t expected was the red-headed friend sitting cross-legged on the floor in her oversized corduroys and crop top, stating she liked hiking and like three people.
“Nova!” I shouted, throwing my hands up. “You’re here.”
“Yeah. This is an all hands on deck issue,” Raelynn said before directing her attention to Nova and pointing her wine glass at me. “This bitch messages me that she’s engaged to someone not named Camden and then says she’s ‘too busy.’ I don’t think so.”
Accepting my fate, I collapsed to the couch with my bags and purse still in my arms.
“And enough of this one word shit you keep responding with. It’s time to spill.”
“How was your trip, Nova?”
She curled her lips inward to hold back her laugh, knowing my avoidance would only spur Rae on more.
“Nuh-uh. I don’t think so. Not in my house.”
“This isn’t your house,” I reminded her with a laugh.
“We are in the bubble of sister sharing—which is my house,” she stated with her chin high, daring me to contradict her.
“What’s in the bag?” Nova asked around a giggle.
Raelynn glared at Nova. “You know what, I’m going to let that slide because I love that store, and I want to know what you bought. But let it be known, I don’t appreciate you two bitches ganging up on me.”