Page 17 of His Temptation
I worry he’s going to go apeshit on all of us, but he surprises me by offering a playful punch to his friend before looking back at me. I’m not granted the same response.
“He does bring up a good point about walking alone at night. How are you getting home? Are you calling a cab?”
“I have to go back to the office. I’m not done with the spreadsheet. After that, I’ll just take the subway back,” I tell him as I hand him his laptop. “I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”
I turn around and walk out of the bar, leaving him behind to enjoy the attention from his woman friend, who I will likely have to send flowers to tomorrow or contact to set up a dinner with him.
Ugh, he is the worst.
The summer breeze hits my skin as I walk out onto West 56th Street. It’s already almost eight, and I still have to get back to the office. I wonder if Mr. Monroe ever considers the fact that there are never any other assistants working the hours that he makes me work. Granted, he is the CEO, but it still seems unreasonable.
A hand lands on my arm, and I turn around, ready to nail the person in the groin when I’m met with those familiar, dark eyes.
I gasp. “Mr. Monroe, what are you doing?”
His eyebrows turn down. “I’m going back to the office with you. I can’t let you take the subway alone after work. Not when it’s this late.”
I roll my eyes. “I do it all the time.”
I spin back around and walk away from him, but he matches my stride.
“That doesn’t make it any safer,” he says firmly.
“Oh, please. Just because your friend called you out doesn’t mean you actually care about what happens to me.”
“Despite what you may think, I’m not a monster. I might have overstepped tonight with my request. And, no, I didn’t consider your safety, which makes me a bit of a dick. But at least I’m rectifying that by walking you back.”
“So, what you’re saying is, you’re not a monster, but you are kind of a dick?” I ask with amusement.
He chuckles next to me. “I wouldn’t say that was the main point I was trying to make, but if it makes you feel better right now, yes, I did say some version of that.”
We walk in comfortable silence while the hustle and bustle of New York surrounds us. There’s something about this city. It’s like even when you’re alone, you’re never really alone. It’s comforting to someone like me, who has been alone most of her life.
When we get to the office building, I open the door but stop in my tracks when I realize he’s following me in. I don’t want him waiting for me to get my work done just to make sure I get home safe after.
“Thanks for walking me here, but I’m okay now. You don’t have to come with me.”
“I don’t mind,” he says as he continues forward with his hands in his pockets.
I don’t know if it’s because it’s after hours or because he has a couple of drinks in him, but he seems so much more laid-back. When we get into the elevator together, I realize I’ve never been in such a small space alone with him.
His presence is so large that it feels like we’re on top of each other. It’s dangerous, being around this man when he lets go a bit. His looks are that much more powerful. Not that I would ever let anything happen between the two of us.
When I’m ready to be with someone, it’s going to be with someone with a heart.
The elevator doors open, and he pushes off the wall, then proceeds down the hallway to his corner office. I follow him into his office, not sure why he’s taking his suit jacket off and getting comfortable.
“What are you doing?” I ask as I watch him unbutton his sleeves again and roll them back up. I do my best not to study his arms any further.
“I’m helping you with the spreadsheet. It’s late, and I still need to review it. Might as well knock it out together.”
“You aren’t mad that it’s not done yet?”
“There’s no point in getting mad. I just want it done.”
“You know, I would’ve had it to you by the time you got home if you hadn’t interrupted me.”
He rolls his eyes at me. “How about you just accept my help and we go over it together without a fight?”
