Page 14 of Ache
“Maybe Alec isn’t so bad once you get to know him,” she considers.
“Maybe I’ll never find out because he’s completely off limits,” I hiss.Lara, drop it.
I don’t have a chance to get another word in edgewise because an email comes through . . . fromhim.
Alec:Can I please see you in my office? Now.
I gulp.What the fuck does he want now? He usually only tasks out Lara.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as I stand and straighten my button-up shirt.
“What is it?” Lara rolls back over to inspect my screen. “Oh?” Her blue eyes widen at the email. “He’s bossy.”
“It’s nothing, I’m sure.”
“Un-huh.” She rolls back to her computer slowly. I don’t know what’s worse, Lara confronting me directly or Lara confronting me passive aggressively. I conclude both ways suck.
“Don’t sign the paperwork without a lawyer reviewing it first.” She winks.
“Enough with theFifty Shadesaccolades,” I huff. The last place I’m going to end up is chained to Alec’s bed. And a non-disclosure agreement will never, ever be an option.
I stomp off in the direction of his office, preparing myself for the migraine I’m going to have after this encounter.
With steely resolve, I knock on his door frame.Let’s get this over with.
“Alec, you wanted to see me?” I elevate my voice politely.
He flicks his crystal blue eyes up from his desk. “Yes. Don’t just stand there, come in.” His tone isn’t exactly rude, but it’s not altogether pleasant either. I enter his office. It’s comfortably large, with three huge windows looking out over Midtown Manhattan and dark, glossy furnishings that scream high profile. “A case that requires immediate attention has just been passed over to me, and I’ll need an extra hand. I have a lot of research to pull together and a small amount of time.”
I stand in front of his desk a bit confused. “Doesn’t Lara usually assist you on caseloads?”
“She has, in the past. But for this one, I’m requesting you.”
“Why?” I blurt out, dumbfounded.
“Why not?” Alec crosses his arms and leans back in his chair.
Because you have barely ever given me the time of day, and when you did, you were a complete and utter asshole. “Don’t think you can handle the workload, Miss Paige?”
“I can handle it just fine. What I can’t handle are snide remarks and passive-aggressive comments.” I cross my arms, mirroring his position.
Alec’s eyebrows shoot up, but the rest of his facial features stay in complete control. “If I have offended you recently, I apologize.”
Really? Do ya? ’Cause your tone isn’t indicating as much.It’s still flat and disconnected.
“You just don’t have the most pleasant work demeanor sometimes.” If I’m going to work with this douche I’m going to put him in his place . . . as professionally as possible.
Now the corners of Alec’s lips turn up. I must be amusing him. “Miss Paige, you have quite the set of balls.”
My mouth drops. That is completely inappropriate work language.
“Thank you.” I pick my jaw up off the floor and smile. Just so he knows.
“I think this arrangement is going to work out just fine.” Alec rocks back and forth in his leather office chair.
Let’s hope so, for both our sakes.“I’ll email you a preliminary to-do list, and then we can reconvene later this afternoon after you review. This case has high visibility and a short window of time. We need to work fast and stay on the ball.”
I nod in agreement. The present is about to get that much more complicated.
