Page 45 of My Grumpy Alpha

“Sorry, didn’t see you.”

“And here I get told I’m impossible to miss.” He teases, or I think he is, though he’s not smiling, he leans down until we’re face to face.

“Do you have everything you need? It’s going to be a busy day.”

“Yup.” I’m surprised the word actually left my lips—nay the lie—I follow him down the hallway in a daze, and into the waiting SUV with more dazing. I’m surprised I’m not shaking or leaning into whatever that smell is radiating off of him.

Oh shit, I’m staring at his face.

He catches my stare.

“Did you need something?”

“No,” I yell, inches from his face.

“Nope. Just…thinking.”

I drum my fingertips across the several portfolios and clear my throat about a dozen times.

“Cough syrup? Lozenge? Knife so I can slit my own through if you nervously clear yours one more time.”

The need to clear it is so palpable, I swear my throat immediately goes dry.

“Also…” He holds up a finger.

“Gabe said to give you this.” He thrusts a paper in my face.

“I’m assuming it’s the CEO personal NDA, something similar to what you signed when we hired you but this is of more personal details…basically things like if the boss reveals he’s avampire you can’t say shit, or if he accidentally fucks you against a wall, that sort of thing.”

Accident?

I snort under my breath and snatch the paperwork from his hand.

“Funny, didn’t feel like an accident, slipped and fell inside you is a bit of a stretch even for someone like you.”

“Someone?” He repeats, and turns to fully face me.

“What the hell does that mean, someone like me?”

“A guy with no moral compass, you’re lucky I actually—” I need to really stop talking.

“You’re lucky it’s been a while and I want to keep my job.”

He scowls and jerks away.

“Trust me, I don’t do this to my normal assistants.”

“So now, I’m not normal?”

The SUV pulls to the curb, Marvin hops out and opens the door. He gives me a quick wink of what I hope is reassurance.

I grab his hand, then the rest of the portfolios, and stare at the stupid NDA I left on the seat. Begrudgingly, I grab it and follow Eli into the building.

Men in suits greet us and guide us to a private section of elevators.

Once we’re in one alone, I’m ready to hit the stop button, instead, I just stand there tensely holding business in one hand and personal in the other.

When I took this job, I had no idea that mere days in I’d already be in trouble, that I’d already do something unthinkable.