Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Maverick
I knew the second Asher walked into my office that today would be a test of my patience.
My younger brother had always been effortlessly charming, moving through life with a kind of ease I had never possessed or cared to develop.
He thrived on attention, flashing easy smiles, and throwing out lighthearted compliments without thinking twice.
Unlike me, he enjoyed the game of meaningless flirtation, never taking anything too seriously.
It had always made us different. And right now, it made me hate him.
Because the moment his gaze landed on Solenn, I saw it—the interest, the shift in his demeanor, the way his grin deepened just slightly like he had just discovered something new to entertain himself with. My fingers curled against my desk as I forced myself to stay still.
She was at her desk, calm, focused, and completely unaware of the tension settling into my spine.
Her fingers moved over the keyboard, her eyes scanning the document in front of her, completely uninterested in the fact that Asher had just stepped into the room.
But I knew my brother, and Asher had never been the type to walk past an interesting distraction without making himself known.
He strolled up to her desk, grinning as he belonged there, his hands casually tucked into his pockets as he tilted his head, studying her.
"Well, well," he mused, his voice smooth and easy. "You must be the infamous Solenn Wheeler."
Solenn finally looked up, blinking at him with polite indifference. Her eyes flicked over him briefly before she gave a small, unreadable smile. "I must be."
Asher chuckled, resting a hand on the edge of her desk like he was already making himself comfortable in her space. "I’ve heard a lot about you."
I stiffened immediately.
Solenn arched a delicate brow, her expression remaining neutral, but I caught the faintest hint of amusement in her gaze. "All good things, I hope."
I clenched my jaw.
Asher grinned, leaning just slightly closer. "Only the best. Smart, sharp-tongued, completely unshakable. Though I have to say, the reports didn’t do you justice."
She made a small hum, tilting her head slightly. "Flattery before noon? That’s ambitious."
"Always," Asher shot back smoothly. "I like to make an impression."
She smirked.
And I hated it.
Because she was enjoying this.
I had seen her brush off flirtation before—she was quick, clever, and knew exactly how to deflect unwanted attention with a single look. But right now? She wasn’t brushing it off. She was engaging. And that was enough to send something sharp and entirely unwelcome shooting through me.
"Asher," I said, my tone clipped, my patience already thin. "Don’t you have a meeting to get to?"
He barely glanced at me, his attention still fully on her. "I do, but suddenly, I’m thinking I should reschedule. Stick around a little longer."
My fingers curled into a fist against my desk.
Solenn let out a soft, amused laugh, turning her gaze toward me. "Careful, Asher. Your brother might fire me just to get you out of his office."
My entire body was locked up.
She was taunting me.
Testing me.
Asher chuckled, clearly entertained by the entire thing. "Wouldn’t want that, would we?"
I exhaled slowly, trying to rein in the irrational surge of frustration crawling up my spine.
"Solenn," I said sharply, my voice cutting through the moment like a blade. "Bring me the investor reports. Now."
She blinked at me, and for a fraction of a second, I swore I saw something flicker in her expression. Something amused. Something knowing. But she didn’t argue. She simply nodded, standing gracefully as she smoothed down the front of her blouse. "Of course, Mr. Spencer."
And then she was gone, walking toward the filing cabinet near my office door, her movements slow, unhurried, completely unaffected.
Asher let out a low whistle, shaking his head as he turned back to me, grinning. "That was a little dramatic, don’t you think?"
I didn’t respond.
Because if I opened my mouth, I might say something I couldn’t take back.
Asher watched me carefully for a moment, then smirked. "So that’s how it is."
I shot him a warning look. "Don’t."
"Don’t what?" His smirk deepened, his gaze flicking toward where Solenn was rifling through documents. "I was just being friendly."
I clenched my jaw. "You don’t do friendly."
He laughed. "And you don’t do jealous."
My fists tightened. "I’m not jealous."
His expression dripped with amusement. "Right. And I’m not the younger, more charming Spencer brother."
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself back into composure. "You have five minutes before your meeting. Don’t be late."
Asher chuckled but didn’t push further. "Fine, fine. I’ll let you go back to brooding." He took a step back, shooting one last glance toward Solenn. "But I have to say, if you’re not interested, I might be."
A sharp, hot wave of something dark and territorial flared in my chest, and before I could think better of it, I was already moving.
I stepped forward, closing the space between me, and Solenn as she turned with the file in her hand.
Her breath hitched—just barely.
Her fingers curled slightly around the edge of the folder.
I didn’t touch her. Not exactly. But when she handed me the documents, I let my fingers drag against hers, slow, deliberate, unshaken.
She stilled, her eyes flicking up to mine.
I didn’t move away.
"Be careful who you let get too close," I murmured, my voice low, controlled, but thick with warning.
She didn’t look away, didn’t pull back. If anything, she leaned in just slightly, her lips parting like she had something to say.
And then, as if deciding at the last second to let it go, she simply smiled.
A slow, calculated, taunting smile.
Then she turned, walking away without another word.
I clenched my jaw so tightly it ached.
Because I had lost this round.
And we both knew it.