Page 71 of The Ice Queen in the Corner Office

His lip was split, and there was blood oozing down his forehead from a cut somewhere above his hairline. Panic was visible in his eyes.

“We need to get him out of here,” he said. “If we’re lucky, whoever called the cops doesn’t know which apartment you’re in.”

I stared at him. “They beat you up. Don’t you want to press charges?”

“No.” He grabbed man bun by the ankles and scooted forward on his butt using his good leg to move himself while he tried to pull man bun with him. I would have laughed, if I weren’t so confused.

“You’re just going to let them get away with it? What if—”

“Please,” he said, looking up at me. “I know I don’t deserve it, but please just help me get him out of here.”

I sighed. “Damn right, you don’t deserve it.” But I moved to the guy’s head, lifted him as much as I could by the shoulders and shoved him forward as Alex pulled.

I was sweating and out of breath by the time we got man bun out of the apartment and halfway down the hall.

The screech of a police radio had Alex dropping the guy, hopping up on one foot and using the wall for support to hobble back to the apartment. “That’s good enough,” he said. “Let’s go.”

I got a shoulder under his other arm and helped him. Once inside, we shut the door and I helped him to the couch. He dropped onto it with a heavy sigh and a wince.

I wondered if he was hurt anywhere else, but there was no time to worry about it. I pulled my shirt over my head and unclasped my bra.

His eyes widened, and he smirked. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, it’s working.”

I wanted to smack that smirk off his face. “Enjoy the view,” I said as I bent and slipped off my pants and panties. “It’s the last time you’re going to see it.”

Pain erased his smirk, but I didn’t have the energy to care. A pounding at the door made me jump.

“Where’s your bedroom,” I hissed as a deep male voice announced the police.

Alex pointed, and I hurried back there. I grabbed a pillow off the bed, mussed my hair with one hand, and sprinted to the door.

I pulled it open, pillow covering my goods, and smiled at the young man in uniform standing in the hallway. Luckily, I didn’t have to hide my nervousness, it worked with the lie I was selling. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I was just…” I pointed behind me and the officer blushed.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, ma’am,” he said, his voice cracking over his words. “We got a call about a disturbance and someone shouting for help. Did you hear anything?”

I sighed, grateful no one had looked out a peephole and seen me at Alex’s door. “I didn’t hear a thing,” I said, biting my lip. “We were, um, well we had music on and I’m kind of loud, so…”

His blush deepened, and his eyes dropped to my pillow before shooting back up to my face. “I don’t suppose you know anything about this man on the floor in your hallway?”

I leaned out, flashing my bare ass at anyone who might be in the hall. I slapped a hand to my mouth. “Oh, my god. Is he dead?”

“No, ma’am,” the officer said. “He’s just unconscious. EMTs are on their way. You sure you haven’t seen him before?”

I popped onto my tiptoes, pretending to try and get a better look at the guy. “No, I’ve never seen him before. What’s going on? Is he drunk?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out, ma’am. It’s probably best if you go inside and stay there until the scene’s been cleared.”

“Of course. Thank you for all you do, officer.”

I shut the door and marched back into the living room.

“He totally checked out your ass when you leaned out the door,” Alex said.

“Great,” I seethed. “Maybe I’ll go out with him. I bet he wouldn’t pull a fuck and run job on me.”

“Jill, I—”

I held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear your sorry excuses and lies. I’m going to get dressed and then you’re going to tell me what the hell is going on.”

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