I looked back.
“Why are you doing this for me? Why did you take me on even though I can’t pay you anything?”
As this haunting brown eyes stared back at me, it was a question I never knew how to answer, but intuition guided me to the right answer.
“Because even if nobody else does, I believe you, Emmanuel.”
The drive back to the office was long and congested at midday, and I still hadn’t eaten lunch. Hunger had evaded me for months, but I kept up a regular meal schedule regardless. Emmanuel needed me, and I had to stay focused.
Easier said than done when I walked into my office and found the tall, leggy brunette waiting for me. She wasn’t the only one either. Beside her, Ace played around on his phone while Birdie flipped through a magazine.
I wasn’t surprised to see her this soon. In all honesty, I’d expected her to show up at my door last night, demanding to have Ace removed from her presence. But it appeared as though they survived the night, just barely.
“May I have a word with you?” Gypsy asked.
“You may,” I told her as I checked my watch. “In thirty minutes, when my lunch is finished.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she planted her hands on her hips as she stood. “You must be joking.”
“I don’t joke.”
She stalked forward, stopping only when she’d breached the narrow distance that few people ever dared to try with me. She was reverting to her baser skills of seduction via proximity, but I doubted she even realized it. The instinct came naturally to her, often reeling in whatever she wanted, and admittedly, it might have worked on me too once.
She smelled of coconut oil and sunshine, and it encouraged a vivid image of her lying out on the beach. I could almost bet that if I were to touch her skin, it would be warm too. So warm that it would be easy to get lost in. She probably counted on it, but I was prepared to let Gypsy know from the start how this game would be played. Only one set of rules existed, and they were mine.
“Do you want me to throw a fit?” she threatened as her eyes darted around my office. “Because I will.”
Now that was funny. My lips tilted despite my resolve to remain dry as toast. “Do you think it would be the first time someone threw a fit in here?” I asked. “I’m sorry to tell you this, pet, but it wouldn’t.”
“It would probably be the first time someone accused you of holding them hostage in front of your employees.”
I turned and made a flippant gesture with my hands. “Be my guest.”
Her lips compressed, and any other coercions she might have entertained were swallowed bitterly. After watching her for so long, these unintelligent threats from her were a disappointment. Of course, she wouldn’t make a scene because she had more to lose than I did.
“Thirty minutes,” I repeated. “I’ll have my secretary call for you when I’m finished.”
I walked into my office and shut the door behind me.
BY THE TIME THE RED-HEADEDsecretary announced that I was permitted to go inside Lucian’s office—as if I needed her permission for anything—I was fuming. After giving her the once-over and noting how attractive she was, I figured she was banging Lucian. I bet she serviced him whenever he asked. But if that was the case, then why did he need me?
“Stay put,” I instructed Birdie before my gaze swung to Ace. “And if you touch her, I’ll murder you right here.”
He smirked, and I walked into Lucian’s office, slamming the door behind me.
“There’s no need for dramatics.” He sighed. “We can get through this without you being a brat, or we won’t get through it at all.”
“Whatever.” I crossed my arms like a petulant child. “You need me for something, or else I wouldn’t be here. As much as you might threaten to turn me in, you don’t want to.”
Lucian looked up from his desk with eyes devoid of emotion. He seemed empty and cold, but for some reason, the only thing I felt when I looked at him was profound sadness.
“Take a seat.” He gestured to the chair across from him.
Standing by my declaration, I remained rooted to the spot. This was a war of wills, and I was determined to win. It was better that he figured out now that everything he asked of me would be difficult. He wanted a wife on a silver platter, but I never promised I would be obedient.
He closed the lid of his laptop, then shoved it aside as he pushed back from his desk. When he circled around, I tried to stay brave. But he was taller than I was, and stronger than I was, and it was hard to deny those things when we were face to face.
His face was impassive, but frustration swirled in his inky eyes. Without warning, his hand shot out behind me and gripped me by the hair, tightening until I was forced to tilt my head up in his direction.