Page 28 of Jealous Boss

Because, what? I don’t want to be?

I shake my head. Force myself to step back.

Because she’s smiling. Like she knows what she’s doing to me.

Like she knows I’m coming undone and that she likes it.

“I’m not asking to be in your bed,” she whispers, eyes locked on mine. “I just want you to teach me one or two things. We can do it right here in the kitchen. Or the living room?” she blurts hopefully.

God help me.“You’re not talking about capital investment, are you?”

She opens her mouth, but I shake my head before she can speak. I’m terrified of what will come out of her mouth.

Terrified it’s exactly what I want to hear.

“Come on, dinner’s ready.”

She looks like she wants to protest, but I don’t stick around for it.

We eat at the kitchen counter, her favorite place according to her, and I keep the subject neutral, even throwing in a few references about Philip to keep us, and me especially, grounded.

7

Pia

Isit on the kitchen island, pretending to scroll through my phone, pretending not to feel Ethan’s tension blistering the atmosphere in rolling waves.

He hasn’t said much since he ordered me away from his neighbor like I was a stolen diamond he wanted to hoard all to himself.

But I know what I saw.

The heat in his eyes.

The fury barely covered by self-control.

Sure, I was a little nervous at finding that strange man on my floor, and the look in his eyes when I stepped off the elevator. Like I was some shiny new toy he wanted to play with. And not in a good way.

But seeing Ethan’s reaction…for the first time…I feel like I might actually have a little power.

Something dangerous clicks into place in my chest.

Something that started this afternoon when he took me shopping, a pastime he clearly hated. When I deliberately touched risqué little things to see his reaction. He fed my every curiosity.

Convinced me I wasn’t in this fantasy all by myself.

But every now and then I feel him draw back.

Which was, even before we arrived home I made up my mind.

If he wants to keep pretending I’m just his intern, just the niece of his future named partner that he’s helping out, well?—

He’s going to lose. I’m going to make him touch me. Break first.

I’ll wear something soft tomorrow. Something sexy. Maybe ask him what kind of wine goes best with inexperience.

I’m going to make him teach me all the things I’ve never done.

Maybe I’ll test the waters tonight. Set the groundwork.

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