Chapter 7
Roxy
What is wrong with me?
My lips still tingle. I wanted him to kiss me. I actually wanted to make out with him. At my place of work, no less.
With a man who is threatening my future here. What happened to me at that sex club? The aphrodisiac I inhaled there hasn’t washed out of my system. My pulse is still too loud.
I march to my office and shut the door, leaning against it. My eyes close on a deep sigh.
What is it about the man? Maybe it’s that indifferent timbre of his voice that reminds me of Romeo.
Detached. Unreadable. Impossible to ignore.
Not that I should be relishing anything Romeo-related. Fuck that. It was a one-night stand, and I’m not having it flood my real life.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Crossing the room, I lower myself into my seat and open the tablet to review the notes from my meeting with Cal.
Work will help me regain my equilibrium. Spreadsheets don’t kick back.
Two hours later, with the list of tasks jotted down, I open my calendar to schedule meetings for tomorrow with the analysts’ team and the legal department.
What? I lean closer. Why are they booked for the whole day? They are busy, but not this busy. I pick up the phone.
“Amir, hi, I see your calendar is fully booked for tomorrow. Do you have a team meeting I don’t know about?” I sit up straighter.
“Hey, Roxy, Liam Stone booked us for two days straight to work on something important for Cal.”
Motherfucker.
I tap my fingernails on the desk. Think, Roxy. He moves fast. You move smarter.
“When did he do that?” I chew on my lip.
“I don’t know. His assistant called an hour ago.”
I let out a chuckle that I hope sounds nonchalant. “That’s the mix-up.” I pretend to have an a-ha moment. “Cal has just reassigned the project to me because Liam has to attend to some emergency.”
“To you?” I can practically hear his frown over the phone.
Right. Corm hasn’t announced I’m a partner. Full stop. The minor part of the partnership will get resolved soon.
I lean back in my chair. “Yes. Do you think you can get your team together this afternoon?”
“Sure thing, Roxy. Anything for you.”
I smile. This team has relied on me many times. They trust me.
His keyboard clicks fast. “For how long?”
“To brief you, discuss and assign tasks—I would say two hours.” I’ve sat at these meetings numerous times; I can lead one. And they won’t even know it’s my first time. I will be prepared.
“Put it in my calendar, and send me the details so I know who to pull into the meeting.”
“Perfect. Thank you.” I smile. “Oh, Amir?”
“Yes?”
“Should you get another request from Liam, let me know first.”
“Sure?” He agrees, but sounds uncertain.
“He’s been here for a day, so I want to help him with the internal processes.”
“Of course, you’re the best with onboarding. You got it. See you later.”
One team reassigned. One to go.
I decide to tackle the lawyers in person. Checking my watch, I know exactly where to find them. They take their lunch hour working out at the company’s gym.
“Do you know where Liam Stone is?” I ask Alina at reception while I wait for the elevator.
“I don’t know, but I wish I were there with him,” she practically moans.
God help me.
“He is having lunch in his office,” Joey says, walking past us. “I told him about the break room, but I think he likes to keep to himself.”
Information is power. That is one lesson from my father that I don’t rebel against. I learned it from him. I used it against him. It helped me get things done around here.
And I enjoy getting the information. Spending hours researching someone has become almost a hobby by now—as well as compiling seemingly unrelated facts and connecting the dots. It’s not just about the usefulness. It’s thrilling.
He likes to keep to himself. I file that information to use for later. Stepping into the elevator, I smile.
I got the analysts to help, and I’m going to get the lawyers on my team, too.
I’m not letting yet another man control my future.
The analysts file into the boardroom, most of them immediately reaching for the cookies I supplied.
“Bribing with sweets.” The low, velvet voice sends a shiver straight down my spine.
“It’s called hospitality, but you wouldn’t know.” I turn to face Liam… and I wish I hadn’t.
His jacket is off and his sleeves are rolled up, informal in a way that feels intentional. The veins on his forearms bulge as he flexes his fingers.
A not-yet-healed scar mars his skin near his thumb. My curiosity piques. But the last thing I need is to ask private questions.
My foot lifts to create a distance, but I catch myself and don’t step back. I can deal with his presence. With his closeness. With his allure.
It doesn’t affect me.
Well… it doesn’t have to. I’m stronger than that.
He leans in the doorway. I straighten my spine.
You’ve been breathing all your life; just keep doing it, Roxy.
Jesus. I don’t even know what’s the larger threat. His presence, that for some reason shifts the air around me every time he’s in my vicinity.
Or his presence here, competing for what I’ve already earned.
In any case, his existence is a nuisance I didn’t ask for.
“My meeting with this team has been canceled. Do you know why?”
I look over my shoulder. Everyone is on their screens or chatting, oblivious to the tension at the door.
“Because it would be redundant. I’m briefing them now.” I rest my hands on my hips.
“Then I should sit in.” Liam walks in, brushing past me with ease.
While he reaches for a cookie, I imagine using my stiletto as a weapon.
He doesn’t sit down. He takes a bite. “Delicious,” he taunts.
A minuscule crumb sticks to his full bottom lip, and of course, my gaze lands on it. For a moment too long.
His tongue darts out, and he swipes it over the speck. In my mind, it all happens in slow motion. A heatwave licks my skin.
Unwarranted. Inconvenient. Rattling.
God, I hate him.
I don’t want the team to witness our animosity. Or the murder, so I smile at him sweetly. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the snacks. Now, go and…” I shrug. “…Try and turn on your new computer.”
He steps closer, completely ignoring the audience. My only hope is that everyone is still engrossed in whatever they were doing.
“Roxy, I think it would suit us well to work together.”
His proximity. His scent. His confidence. It’s all wrapped up in a dangerous and unfortunately enticing promise.
My mouth goes dry. My heart skips a beat. And oxygen… fucking oxygen left the building a while ago.
“That would defy the purpose of the competition, Liam.” I step sideways, and he mirrors it.
My back is now to the room, and his is to the hallway. Push him out, Roxy.
“You’re too smart to play Corm’s games.”
That throws me off completely. My spine stiffens.
We had two interactions. There is no way he knows praise would rile me up. He’s just saying it, anyway. And yet…
Fuck, I don’t need him telling me I’m smart.
I’m also too close to stop now, so I play Corm’s game. I’ll make partner. I’ll gain complete financial independence from my family.
I will help my sister escape her destiny. The path was designed before this asshole showed up.
“Scared you will lose?” I give him a saccharine smile.
“Just want to save your time, Thunder.”
He turns and leaves, and I let out a long breath, even though I don’t remember inhaling.
He glides confidently between the cubicles toward his office. What is it about this man that unsettles me this much?
Because when I look at it rationally, he showed up, took a cookie, and offered that we work together.
It was all calculated. I don’t trust his offer.
I’m the one briefing the team. I’m the one who will get the results faster. I’m the one who has the upper hand.
So why do I feel like I just lost a round?
I need to find out everything I can about this man. Why would someone like Liam Stone play Corm’s game instead of finding himself another venture?
Just want to save your time, Thunder.
What does that even mean?