Page 98 of Love In Hiding

Hell, she always did and it was a powerful feeling for a man to have knowing how strong and stubborn London was.

“Now you’re just teasing me with no relief in sight. We have to keep this professional. I can’t believe that you of all people are crossing that line.”

He laughed. “Fair point. So let’s get to work and keep it professional since it seems you’ve got more willpower than me.”

When he hung up thirty minutes later, he had to admit it was one of their more pleasant work interactions. Maybe they’d be able to get through their days without her wanting to snap his head off or him fighting not to lose the patience that he rarely did.

And when Noelle came into his office shortly after he’d hung up with a frown etched into her face, he knew he’d have to put all of it to use again.

She shut the door and sat down in front of his desk with more force than necessary. As if she was ready to lose everything within her and he was about to find out the reason.

“Did you know that London and Paris are first cousins to West and the rest of them?”

That took longer than he thought for someone to piece together. A few weeks shy of two months.

“I did,” he said. “Not that it makes much of a difference to anyone.”

“Why wasn’t I told?” Noelle asked, crossing her arms. He didn’t understand why she felt the need to be offended over that.

“It has nothing to do with your work or their ability to do their jobs.”

“That’s why I got the lecture, isn’t it?”

“What lecture is that?” he asked calmly.

He’d had to talk to her a few times about getting ahead of herself with her work.

She took five steps forward and three back, but he had to remind himself she was still progressing.

“The first one. Where London rammed it down my throat because Idaredto correct her work.”

He let out a breath. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a tantrum and that was exactly what it was going to turn into.

“She is within her rights to say what she had. I told you that. You still have a lot to learn, like we all did when we first started.”

“I’ve been here for years,” Noelle said as if she remembered her place again. “You’re the first one who is giving me more responsibility. Maybe I jumped the gun with excitement.”

“There is nothing wrong with that,” he said.

“But I don’t want London making my job harder. Just because she’s their cousin, that’s why I got in trouble. So if I don’t suck up to her, then it will happen again. I don’t think that’s fair, do you?”

He didn’t want to be in the middle of this, but there was no way to avoid it. “You don’t have to suck up to anyone. You just have to do your job and be respectful.”

“I get that,” Noelle said, adding a smile this time. “And I’m sorry if I’m coming off like a witch. I don’t mean to. But can I be honest with you behind closed doors?”

“Of course.”

“London is kind of a bitch. And now that I know she’s related to West, it makes sense why she can get away with it. So I get it. I’ll bite my tongue.”

Like now?he so desperately wanted to ask, but wouldn’t.

She didn’t know his relationship with London. She was coming to him as her boss who she hoped to confide in and kept it with the door shut.

“Keep it professional regardless of your feelings. We are here to do a job and that is what you need to keep in mind.”

“Got it,” Noelle said. “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes though. You have to work with her more. I think deep downshe might wish she were a man. Or wants to come off that way. I get it. In our field you have to be tough, but you can’t be bitchy either.”

“Nor catty,” he said, lifting an eyebrow.