Page 34 of Violent Little Thing

She focused on Court, reaching out to touch him.

I slapped her hand away before she could get too close.

“No touching,” I ordered. “Remember? He’s mine.”

Seraphina’s eyes were calculating as she said, “Is he, though?”

No, but you don’t need to know that.

“She’s mine,” Court growled. “Why are you in my wing of the office? I think I remember asking you to stay away from me.”

She hesitated, her hand covering her throat in a demure way. “I thought I’d share with you the player options for next year.”

Court’s right eye twitched, and I saw his jaw flex so hard that it had to hurt.

“I’m sorry, but why would I discuss possible player acquisitions with you?” he asked. “If I’m going to discuss it with anyone, I’ll discuss it with the board.”

Seraphina looked struck dumb for a long moment before she said, “I’m always invested in who we choose to have as players each year.”

“Well, then that’s probably why we suck,” he stated emphatically. “I don’t want, nor need, your opinion. Also, I hope that you will understand when I say this. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to hear you. I don’t want to smell you. And I don’t want you in this building at all. Since I can’t have that last one, I hope you’ll respect the first three.”

Silence.

Utter silence.

“I don’t agree with your morals. I don’t like that you’re a nepo-baby that’s been given literally every single thing in your life. You know nothing about business, finances, soccer or football. Unless you count sucking those players’ dicks, then maybe you do know a little bit.”

Seraphina’s eyes went wide.

“You didn’t think that we knew about you fucking the players in the locker room?” He snorted. “Also, every single man, woman, and player that was even remotely loyal to you will be let go or traded. You’re not going to get anything you want. From now on, your life here is going to be made into a living hell.”

That was what I was talking about!

Seraphina stiffened. “That’s⁠—”

“Life,” he interrupted. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, we’re headed out to lunch.”

Without waiting for her to reply, the two of us started for the elevator.

As we passed her, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

I wasn’t sure if he was holding it to sell the game or to keep me from launching myself at her.

Maybe both…

We didn’t say anything until we got down to the parking lot.

“I was going to go to my car and eat,” I admitted. “I don’t have enough for you.”

He nodded. “That’s fine. My lunch is in my car, too.”

Together we went to mine to grab my lunch, then went to his car to grab his lunch box.

We went to the picnic table that smokers used to smoke during their breaks.

He got rid of the ashtray, putting it into the trash.

“Wonder if I can ban smoking on company property?”