I push back from my desk and stride out into the bullpen. My voice cuts through the noise like a blade.
“Ms. Jones. My office.Now.”
The room falls silent. Dre’s face drains of color, like she’s already drafting the HR email in her head. Griffin smirks like a bastard, practically vibrating with ‘I told you so’.
Mya’s eyes go wide, but she doesn’t argue. She hurries after me, heels clicking fast against the floor.
Inside, I slam the door and yank the blinds shut. The space is instantly smaller, hotter. She stands stiffly, looking nervous, all of the earlier bravado gone. Good. She should be.
“Mr. Miller, I’m sorry if I?—”
I don’t let her finish. My arms cage her against the wall. Her breath catches, eyes wide.
“Worth. What the hell are you doing?” she rasps.
“Oh. We’re on a first-name basis now?” I mutter.
She rolls her eyes. Goddamn brat.
“I’m only going to say this once more, Mya. Do. Not. Flirt. With. My. Employees.”
Her teeth grind, and she points her finger at my chest. “You. Do. Not. Own. Me.”
She’s right. I don’t. And it’s unfortunate.
“I might not control you outside of these walls, Mya. But in here? I can damn well dictate what you do. No fraternizing.” My pulse is pounding, and from her rapid breathing, I think hers is too.
She glares at me like she wants to burn me alive. “You are insane, Mr. Miller.”
“You have no idea.”
I have truly lost it.
Mya ducks under my arms and straightens her blouse, chin tilted high. “For the record, I wasn’t flirting with Griffin. He’s my boss, just like you. I’m not interested in fraternizing withanyonehere.”
She turns to go, hand on the knob. Then pauses.
“Do something like that again, and I’ll take it to HR. We wouldn’t want your face plastered across the tabloids as a playboyandfor harassment.”
The air leaves my chest in one brutal exhale.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
She walks out, leaving me standing there with blood roaring in my ears.
The door is still trembling from Mya’s exit when a knuckle taps the glass.
Shaina slips in without waiting. “Everything okay?” Her tone is curious, nosey. Her eyes travel to the direction where Mya just vanished, then back to me. “You look… tense.”
The blinds are closed, so I’m not concerned that she saw anything, but I’m sure she saw Mya stomp her way back to her desk.
“I’m fine.” I straighten the cuff of my shirt, like that can smooth the static running under my skin. “Close the door.”
She does, but instead of leaving, she leans against it, crossing one ankle over the other. “You want coffee? A drink? Or”—her mouth tilts—“something stronger to take the edge off?”
“No.” My pulse is still hammering from Mya’s threat, the HR landmine glowing behind my ribs. “I said I’m fine, Shaina.”