Page 38 of The Boss Situation

His jaw clenches. “You knew exactly what you did last night, getting into my vehicle.”

“Explain it to me,” I state, trying to walk away from him before he fully encapsulates me and pulls me into his orbit.

He grabs my hand and doesn’t let me go. “You knew there would be rumors. You set up the pieces of this game.”

I stare at him. “You really believe I did this?”

Something flashes in his eyes.

“What is it? What did you just figure out?” I ask him. “Whose game are we playing?”

“We can’t discuss this here,” he says, reaching for my hand and interlocking his fingers with mine.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask under my breath. “Let me go.”

He smiles, letting go of my hand and then wrapping his arm around my shoulders. He leans in, close to my ear. “The great thing about your fucking scowl is that you look the same whether you’re having the time of your life or not. No one knows the difference,” he says, nearly dragging me intomybuilding.

We walk past security and move inside the elevator, where he lets me go. Banks takes a step away from me.

“Now who’s acting like an obsessive ex? Seriously, what has gotten into you?” I glare at him, my back pressed against the wall opposite him.

“If you didn’t do this and I didn’t, then who did?” He shakes his head. “Relationship rumors are fucking low. Scum-of-the-earth lies. Exactly what a Calloway would do. It worked for your brothers, right? A relationship scandal. I should’ve known,” he mutters.

I try to hold back a smile, but can’t as I glance away from him.

“Wow, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever witnessed you smile.” He checks his pulse. “Have I fucking died?”

“I’ve finally found your Achilles’ heel,” I say, overcome with pure joy.

“Really? Which is?”

I tilt my head at him. “Me.”

The elevator doors slide open, and I step out, happy I’m wearing these heels. Right now, I’m dressed to rule the world, but I’m a cutie about it.

Maybe Harper is right, and I can get whatever I want from Banks. Would that make me a bad person if I exploited his personalweakness? Maybe Banks could help me kill two birds with one stone—destroy Lustre and marry me.

I laugh and shake my head. The thought is hysterically ridiculous.

Banks follows behind me, and we go into my office. He shuts the door, moving in front of my desk.

I sit, and he stares at me.

“Do you want me to ruin you?”

“I’ll survive anything you throw my way,” I tell him confidently. “I always bet on myself.”

“I don’t think you understand,” he says, like a warning.

“I don’t thinkyouunderstand. I don’t want anything from you. Ever.” I meet his eyes. “You’re doing this just so you can continue to humiliate me. Haven’t you done that enough over the years?”

He acts cocky as fuck. “You hold the power, Ice Queen. Give me what I want. Decisions have to be made.”

My lips part. “I’m going to say it for you very slowly, so then maybe you’ll be able to comprehend my words.Not no, but hell no.I’m not afraid of or intimidated by you. And thank you for confirming I hold all the power. I know I have the ability to get whatever it is I want from you or Josh or anyone. You know that too,” I explain.

“I will take pleasure in destroying your company and your huge-as-fuck ego. No corporation on the planet is too good for my help, but you’re the boss. Good luck, princess. You’ll need it.”

I stand firm in my decision.

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