Chapter 26
MYA
It’s late afternoon, and I’m buried in notes and projects when Worth’s voice hits me like a command.
“Ms. Jones.”
My head snaps up and I find him leaning against his office’s doorframe. “Yes, Mr. Miller?” I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose, instantly aware I never wear them to the office.
“In here, please.”
My brows knit, but I stand anyway. The walk to his office feels longer than it is. Worth closes the door behind me and, for a second, I brace myself, half expecting a lecture.
“Have a seat.” He gestures to the chair opposite his desk, though he doesn’t retreat behind it. He leans his hip against the edge, watching me. I adjust the frames again and cross my legs to keep my knee from bouncing.
“You don’t usually wear glasses,” he says, voice lower than it needs to be. “I like them.”
My breath stutters and heat pricks the back of my neck as I push the frames higher.
“I told Brianna about us,” he adds before I can respond. “I’d like you to come to dinner on Friday.”
My stomach flips. He told her about me already?
“That was fast. How did she take it?”
“Really well, actually. She said she doesn’t want me to be “forever alone.”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Sounds like a typical teenager. I like her already.”
Worth smiles.
“I’m glad she’s open to it, though. I can’t wait to officially meet her, though it’s a little nerve-racking.”
“Just be yourself. Bri will like you, just like everyone else does,” he replies.
That last part makes something warm uncoil inside me. I should ignore it. Instead, I say: “Including you?”
I hold my breath, regretting it instantly. Did I just flirt with him when I specifically told him to respect the boundaries between us?
“Yes.”
My throat dries up.
“I got the prenup ready,” he adds.
I wince.
His mouth twitches. “Sorry. This is uncharted territory for me. I’ve never had to do this.”
“A fake marriage? Or you didn’t have a prenup with your ex-wife?” I ask, leaning back in the chair.
“Both. Vanessa and I got married before all this.” He gestures around him. “I was able to get out of the divorce almost scot-free because she forfeited custody of Brianna.”
There’s a tug in my chest, but I keep my tone even. “Well, I have no interest in your money outside of our agreement, Mr. Miller. Pen?”
He slides one across the desk, and I take my time. I go over the documents twice, making sure every stipulation we agreed on is there.
My stomach knots as I scrawl my name at the bottom. This is really happening.
Am I crazy for agreeing to this?
“There.” I cap the pen with a click. “Done.”
His gaze holds mine. “Thank you.”
The sincerity in his voice nearly undoes me. I nod once, forcing a small smile. “You’re welcome.”
I stand, pushing the chair back, ready to escape, but before I make it to the door, Worth grabs me by the waist, pulling me flush against him. My breath stutters.
“What are you doing, Worth?”
He doesn’t budge at my half-hearted push at his chest.
“You’re like a kitten when you’re cornered,” he murmurs, voice low and sinful. “All hiss… no bite. And I know you’ll purr if I keep touching you.”
Heat floods my cheeks, my body betraying me as his thumb grazes slow circles into my side. My pulse thrums like a warning bell, but instead of shoving him away, I stay put.
“Worth,” I whisper sharply, tilting my head towards the door. “People will see us.”
He leans closer, his mouth brushing my ear, sending shivers racing down my spine. “Let them see,” he growls softly. “You’re going to be my wife soon, anyway.”
“I said no touching, remember?”
“Yes,” Worth answers, his lips curving in a smirk. “But you also said behind closed doors. Right now, we’re in public. Which means we keep up appearances.”
My jaw drops. “Appearances? No one even knows we’re dating yet.”
His gaze burns into mine, hot enough to make me forget we’re standing in plain sight. “Well, this will get them talking. And then you can tell your co-workers the news.”
I glare at him. “You’re insufferable, Mr. Miller.”
His smirk deepens, eyes glinting. “Just wait until you become Mrs. Miller.”
Dre walks into the office, clutching a stack of files, and her eyes narrow.
“Oh, uh—” My voice trips over itself. I slip quickly out of Worth’s hold, straightening my blouse like it had been out of place. “We were just, um… talking about an upcoming project.”
Worth doesn’t even flinch. He stays exactly where he is, composed as ever, not a shred of guilt in his expression.
Before the silence can crush me, Griffin walks in, holding a coffee and looking at us with curious eyes. “Did we interrupt something?”
“No,” I blurt too fast, shaking my head. “Not at all.”
Griffin’s brows lift, a knowing smirk curling his lips. He doesn’t press, but the way his gaze lingers on me and Worth makes my cheeks burn.
I grab the nearest documents off the desk and hug the file to my chest like a shield. “I should, uh… get back.”
I don’t wait for permission. My heels click rapidly against the floor as I bolt out of the office, heart hammering, knowing that if I look back, Worth would still be watching me like I belong to him.
I’m barely five steps down the hall when Shaina’s voice stops me.
“Mya.”
She’s standing behind the reception desk, tablet in hand.
“Yes?” I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.
The moment I saw Shaina walk out of Worth’s office on my first day, I knew exactly what kind of woman she was. Since then, she hasn’t missed a single opportunity to make it clear she’s not a fan of mine.
But if Shaina had no haters, I’d be dead. Not that I have any claim over what Worth does—or did—but that doesn’t stop the jealousy from curling tight in my chest at the thought of them together.
She glances at the screen, then up at me.
“Mr. Miller usually schedules meetings,” she says coolly. The implication lands exactly where she wants it to.
“Mr. Miller asked me to come by, Shaina.”
Her gaze flicks to the closed office door behind me. “I see.” There’s a pause. “Next time, I’ll need advance notice if you’re planning to… drop by his office.”
My brow furrow.
“Mr. Miller’s time is carefully managed. Drop-ins can disrupt his day.”
I hold her stare. “Then I’m sure he wouldn’t have requested one.”
Shaina forces a polite smile. “Fair. But try not to keep him too long,” she says lightly. “Some of us actually work with him.”
“We were discussing work,” I reply evenly.
Her lips press into a thin smile. “Of course you were.”
I don’t dignify that with a response.
“Last time I checked, Andrée was in charge of Mr. Miller’s schedule. So, if there’s an issue, I’d be happy to discuss it with her. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I turn and walk away, refusing to let her see how much she rattled me.
By the time I reach my desk, my pulse is still racing.
Seraya’s head pops up over my cubicle wall almost immediately. “Okay. What was that?”
I drop into my chair, exhaling. “Nothing.”
She gives me a look. “You just came from Worth’s office, Shaina looks like she’s plotting your murder, and you’re pissed.”
I huff out a laugh. “We just don't like each other.”
Seraya’s lips curl. “Yeah. I noticed.” Then she brightens. “I know what’ll take your mind off that heathen: drinks tonight?”
Technically, I have final tweaks due on a work proposal, but a distraction sounds medicinal right now.
“Come on, Mya. You’ve been promising me for weeks!”
She’s right.
“You know what? Why the hell not.”
“Yay!” She throws both hands up. “I’ll go tell Jo. The Copper Finch at six?”
“Perfect.”
Excitement buzzes under my skin. But my stomach does this nervous little swoop at the thought of telling them about… whatever Worth and I are.
Seraya saunters off to tell Jovana, and I shake off the nerves and dive back into my doc.
By late afternoon, my phone pings.
TJ:
Mya, are you free tonight? We’re going out for drinks after work.
Sorry! I already promised I’d go out with Seraya and Jovana.
Demi:
Gasp. Are we being replaced?
Eric:
She could never find other friends like us, Dem. Be serious.
LOL. Never replacing my originals. They’re my work friends. Actually… want to join us? I’m sure they won’t mind.
I pop my head over my desk. “Hey, is it cool if my sister and two friends meet us?”
Seraya grins. “The more the merrier!”
I sink back into my chair and type:
They’re down! Meet us at The Copper Finch at 6.
TJ:
Can’t wait!
Demi:
Sounds great!!
Eric:
Do you work with any hot boys?
I do, but none of them are coming tonight.
Eric:
Bummer.
Tiana and Demi react with a laughing emoji to his message, and I just chuckle.
I have to finish this deck. See you later, gremlins.
Hours later, we walk into The Copper Finch, and Seraya waves me over to a round table near the window. Jovana is already there, hair slicked into a perfect low bun, flipping a cocktail menu with clinical focus.
“You’re late,” Jo says without looking up.
“You’re the one who’s early,” I protest, sliding into the seat.
Seraya grins. “We all know ‘Jovana time’ runs ten minutes before the clock.”
A server appears with water and a small dish of Castelvetrano olives. I scan the menu, my nerves doing hopping-jacks. “Something light,” I say. “Not too sweet.”
“Ginger-lime spritz?” the server offers.
“Perfect.”
“Negroni,” Jo says. “And the burrata.”
“Paloma, please,” Seraya chirps. “And those parmesan truffle fries before I eat my own knuckles.”
By the time our drinks land, the door swings open and Tiana beelines toward us, dragging Demi and Eric in her wake.
“There she is!” Tiana sings, squeezing me in a hug. “You look hot.”
“She’s right,” Demi says. “Very ‘girl boss’ energy.”
Eric kisses the air beside my cheek. “And curls that could murder a man.”
I laugh, already feeling looser. “Please sit before you keep complimenting me to death.”
Introductions fly. Seraya and Jo charm my friends instantly, earning real-friend badges in under three minutes.