Finally, a few minutes later and another checkmate defeat, I notice Julian getting up from his desk. He walks to his office door and looks right over at me.
“Avery, can I see you for a second?”
That’s it. No big deal. Like it’s not way after-hours and we’re not the only two people here.
I get up and walk into his office. He sits down with a sigh, stretching slightly.
“How’s it going?” he asks me.
I glare at him. “Fine.”
“You’re here late.”
“I know.”
He sighs, rubs his eyes. “Look, about yesterday—”
“It’s fine,” I say. “You don’t have to explain anything.”
“Avery, sit down.”
I stare at him for a second. I’m pissed, but there’s something in his tone. He’s looking back at me, expression hard, almost… angry.
It’s weirdly attractive. My heart starts beating faster and I take a seat.
“Do you know why I assigned you to work with Haylee?”
I shrug. “I’m a fan. You thought it would be a good fit. But it’s not.”
“That’s part of it,” he admits, nodding. “Except I also think you’re smart and capable and you can more than handle yourself with her.”
I frown a little. “Clearly, you were wrong.”
“I don’t think I was. Honestly. I think I was exactly right. That first time just…”
“Didn’t go to plan?”
He snorts. “That’s an understatement.”
“Look, I get it. You’re trying. You believe in me or whatever. I just think you’re wrong.”
He gets up and comes around his desk. He stares down at me as he sits on the corner. “Why?” he asks.
I blink. “Uh, I don’t have any experience. I’m right out of college. I mean, I’ve never even had a real job, and you want me working with some successful author.”
“She’s not that much older than you.” He cocks his head.
“So? She has more experience.”
“You don’t need experience. You’re smart.”
I clench my jaw. “You keep saying that. Do you even know me at all?”
“I know you,” he says softly. “Believe it or not, I’m a quick judge of people, and I know you’re smart. I know you can handle this. Haylee, she just…”
“She’s a fucking asshole.”
He laughs a little but doesn’t smile. “Yeah. She really is.”
“And you want to throw me back into that.”
“I do,” he says softly.
“I think you’re an asshole, then. You have a whole team of people specifically for this purpose. Why do you insist on having me work with her?”
“Because you’ll be good at it,” he says. “And you keep saying you’re not experienced. Well, this is your experience.”
I glare at him. “Trial by fire doesn’t sound too fun to me.”
“No, because it’s not. But you can handle it.”
“I’m not sure I want to.”
“Well, get sure.” He takes a breath and sighs. “This is it, Avery. You want to do something? This is your chance.”
I clench my jaw and meet his gaze. I want to tell him to go to hell, to fuck off, but instead I just…
I stand up.
Part of me thinks I’m going to slap him. Tell him to go to hell. I mean, whatever this weird relationship we have going on isn’t something traditional. It’s not like I’d be slapping my boss, a total stranger.
This man was a friend of my father’s. He gave me this job out of pity or guilt or something. And he’s been going down on me, getting me off, making everything so much more complicated than it needs to be.
I clench my hand into a fist. Maybe I’ll skip the slap. Maybe I’ll punch him.
But I don’t get a chance. He grabs me suddenly. I blink, surprised, as I stumble up against him.
Julian kisses me. At first, I want to scream. I move my hand back, ready to punch him right in the neck.
Instead, I slowly relax my hand. I melt into his kiss.
What the hell. I know this is what I really want. After everything, this is what I really need. He can ask me to work with a hundred little bratty authors, and I’ll still come back for this, for his touch.
God damn it. I’m so weak, but it feels…
So, so good.
I moan and wrap my arms around his neck. He pulls me tight, hands cupping my ass. My heart’s beating so fast and I’m still angry, but that anger just makes me want him more.
I grab at his belt, unbuckling it. What the hell, we’re alone here. I’m not waiting another second for this.
I pull it off. He untucks my shirt and unbuttons it, kissing my neck.
“You’re so fucking sexy, you know that?” he whispers to me. He gets my blouse unbuttoned and pulls it open, palming my breasts before taking the blouse and tossing it on the floor. “You’re fucking sexy and capable.”
“Shut up,” I say.
He smirks and bites my lower lip before kissing my throat and teasing my nipples with his tongue.
“You’re just pissed you have to do whatever I say.”