Page 39 of Resist

My new boss, the woman I’m intent on destroying, is the same woman I’m trying to date.

What the fuck do I do now?

CHAPTER 13

Cora

My chest constrictsuntil every ounce of oxygen is expelled from my body making my ribs ache. My vision blurs. My pulse sprints like an Olympic athlete after the pop of the starting gun. And my whole body is instantly hot.

Why is Sterling standing in my office? Did Georgia just say he’s working here? Surely not. Surely I’d have known if the man whose dick I was riding yesterday was one of my employees.

Everyone’s staring at me like they’re waiting for a reaction. It’s another moment before I become aware of my hand outstretched toward him.

Clearing my throat doesn’t help.

It takes him a long moment before he shoots his palm into mine and shakes.

“Cora, Cora Blackwell. It’s nice to meet you. Welcome to the team.”

His smile is brittle and insincere. I know this because I’ve seen hisrealsmiles directed at me for the past three days. His jaw is tight, a feathering muscle in his cheek further evidencethat his smile is only surface deep. And his eyes are dark and stormy.

After our brief handshake, his gaze darts to anywhere but my face. My stomach churns, and nausea swamps my body.

Georgia directs everyone to the office next door to mine. It’s where we take our monthly board meetings. It has a large, oval table, twelve seats, a projector, screen, and a whiteboard behind the head of the table.

The water dispenser sits next to carafes of hot coffee and tea and a tray of Danishes.

The room is ready, the new hires are in their seats, and I’m supposed to be giving them a welcome spiel. I’m supposed to be professional, warm, welcoming, but all I can do is stand outside the door to the boardroom staring at the back of his head.

I told Georgia I need a minute, so she’s handing out paperwork and showing them where the tea and coffee are.

My hands shake as they cradle my cell phone. I don’t know what to do.

Darting back into my office, I close the door behind me with a soft click, leaning my body against it so no one comes in and interrupts my panic attack.

I hit the call button on my group chat with Maddie and Phoenix. I’ve been keeping Maddie up to date on my weekend sexcapades via text since she’s been spending every waking hour at the hospital.

And by “I” I mean Phoenix. She blabbed in group chat, and Maddie had a slew of questions, and lewd, suggestive emojis and GIFs for my enjoyment.

They both answer.

“Aren’t you working?” Phoenix mumbles, telling me she’s still in bed.

“Rule number seven,” I whisper into the speaker, tilting my head back against the door.

“Did you forget your safe word?” Maddie asks.

“My new hires started this morning.” I force breath into my body, sucking in deep and cleansing breaths into my lungs.

“It’s barely nine thirty. That bad already?” Phoenix is more alert, the swish of fabric suggests she’s sitting up.

“Sterling is here.”

Maddie gasps at the same time as Phoenix says, “No fucking way. Did he stalk you to the office? Because that shit’s not cool. Talk about a boundary overstep. That’s creepy. I’m so sorry, Cor, I never had him pegged as being a creeper.”

She’s talking so fast, getting more and more heated with every word so I can’t interrupt.

“Are you okay?” Maddie says when Phoenix says, “I’ll fucking kill him.”

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