Page 62 of The Reluctant Hero

“And no one gave me this set of rules beforehand?” I try to find some wiggle room.

“Would you have listened?” Mr. Matthias turns to me with a flat stare. “No headphones.”

My eyes narrow as I think about it. This is like having the toy I snuck in at elementary school taken away until the end ofthe day. Depending on the rules they lay out, I can find my way around it and be annoying as hell while I do it. It will distract me from the mess I currently live in beautifully.

“What else is on the list, pookie? I’dhateto disappoint you,” I yank the other bud out to give to Ace. He looks disappointed that I gave in. Weirdo. Cade does a confused double-take at the nickname.

“We negotiated casual clothes, but I feel like there should be a stipulation. No excessive skin showing, nothing indecent.”

I look down at my plain blue jeans and shirt, then back at him. I don’t bother adjusting my overly dry tone. “Uh-huh. Is my ankle showing? Are you swooning, fair maiden? Long socks are a must. I’ll write it down. I require the same from you. To keep it PC, of course. We wouldn’t want those pesky human resources rules ofsexism, I mean sexual harassment, to apply or anything, would we?”

His eyes narrow, and he snatches the second bud to drop in his desk drawer. Then he closes it and locks it.

“You have issues,” I frown at the excessively aggressive motions. “I thought I was bad, then you came along.”

Cade is staring at me in disbelief. I rub the corner of my eye with my middle finger just for him. His only reaction is to blink.

“I appreciate your timeliness and the fact that you worked quietly.”

Well, that shit’s about to stop. He sounds like someone yanked out a tooth for that sentence to come out.

“So I don’t get earbuds? And I can’t come in dressed like your receptionist.”

He frowns and glances at the big guard curiously.

He returns the look with a baffled single-shoulder shrug.

“She looks great in it,” I say with a disgusted sigh. “Her heels do her butt alotof favors. Her skirt is pretty short so youshouldn’t look. Her calves are on full display. Since ankles are such a taboo, your brain might implode. The harlot has a single button undone, too. Save yourself.”

My mind drifts into a different space for a second. Are any of those women in the pictures Loser’s employees? Coworkers? If the women in that office are like the ones here, it’s no wonder I was put on the back burner.

No, stop it!I did my best to be a good wife. I subdued everything about myself until I disappeared. Screw that guy. Especially since I’m sitting at a desk getting harassed by these assholes because of him. Not to mention being broke and a million other things.

“Amanda!”

The sharp bark of my name snaps me out of it, and I give Mr. Matthias wide eyes.

“What?Why are you yelling? Has my sock slipped?”

“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you.” The freezing blast of his glare makes my eyes roll.

“I’ve gotten really good at tuning out annoying sounds living in that complex.” Too bad that’s a lie, and his voice is heaven-sent.

His nostrils flare and his cheeks get a ruddy glow as his jaw ticks. “No headphones. No revealing clothes. Have you gotten in contact with a lawyer?”

My expression falls, all my snarky confidence dropping in seconds. “No, I haven’t.”

I don’t care how pissed off he is. I’m not sharing that information with them unless I have to. A trip to the library will help me out a lot. I can look up laws from the computers there. Please let them stay open late.

“So much for wanting a divorce,” he says snidely. Then he pointedly dismisses me, turning his back to talk to everyone elseabout food. The sudden cold shoulder makes me even madder, not that I needed the help.

What’s wrong with me? I wanted him to leave me alone.

The rest follow his lead, and it’s like I no longer exist in my tiny corner.

I keep my mouth shut and return my attention to my folders. Highlighting is my life for now, and tomorrow, I have plans to enact.

14

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