Page 81 of Written By a Woman

I shook my head, “I don’t think I’m the best fit for the position.” Why he was sounding so surprised made something bitter rise in my chest. I had made my feelings very clear, why he was acting obtuse about it was beyond me.

Brandon was already shaking his head by the end of my sentence, “You’re great. The board and the investors love you. You explain the tech so well, and it’s helpful that the man who built it can be the one selling it.”

I frowned a little, “I can see the benefit, but this isn’t a position I’m interested in keeping. I’d rather be a step or two down, reporting to the CTO or managing a smaller team of my own. Getting my hands dirty with the code that’s being developed, brainstorming new features that clients want. That sort of thing.”

Brandon looked genuinely confused at my words, which made irritation simmer inside of me because this wasn’t the first time we had had this type of conversation.

“I hadn’t been thinking about it,” Brandon admitted, “But I will now that I know you’re unhappy making more money.”

I wanted to roll my eyes at his passive-aggressive comment. It was all about money to him. Forget what the job description entailed; it came down to the dollars in his account. Not that Brandon was unethical for being so focused on money, because it wasn’t like he made an excessive amount as CEO. In fact, Brandon took a pay cut compared to other tech companies our size, because he didn’t want the lowest-level employee at Sun Steer to need to get a second job to make ends meet.

However, he clearly still struggled with wrapping his head around me also wanting to take a pay cut in the form of stepping down from a position he personally loved.

“I’d love to help with the process too, I understand that we can’t just hire anyone to replace me. I’d love for Nikhil to want the role, but he’s made it very clear that he is happy with where he is...There was a man we interviewed for a different position a while back, who was overqualified. He might be a good alternative to consider, too.”

Brandon’s expression was almost comical, filled with evident confusion while still trying to be polite about other people’s wants, “Yeah, I’ll talk to Jacqueline and see what kind of candidates would be interested in taking over your position.”

“That would be appreciated,” I nodded as I stood from his desk, “I’ll let you get back to your day.”

“Thanks,” Brandon smiled as he adjusted his desk chair to face his computer, grabbing the mouse and bringing the screen to life.

I had just stepped out of his office and started walking towards mine when I heard Signe’s familiar two-knock rap on my door. I lifted my head to see her frozen mid-stride as she was passing my office on the way to Jacqueline’s, a company iPad in her other arm.

“Oh,” Signe grinned, but her cheeks slowly became stained pink, “Hi.”

“Hi,” I grinned, glancing around and seeing only a few engineers down the way chatting. We weren’t alone, but we were far enough from other employees to probably not be heard. I double-checked Jacqueline’s office to see that her door was shut.

“I thought you were in your office,” Signe explained, jutting her thumb behind her to my closed door. Through the glass next to my door, you could see how the sun shining through the office window lit up the room.

“Ah,” I nodded, stopping a pace or two away from her. Her cheeks were still pink, and I realized that this was the first time we had seen or spoken to each other at work since Tennessee. We had sat in separate seats on the plane ride home the following morning, and Signe took the rest of the workday off because she didn’t think it was worth it to go back into the office for two more hours of the workday. Plus, jet lag.

I had gone back and worked with Brandon and Jacqueline on the deal we had agreed on with Boson Tractors.

That brought us to today, a Friday.

Looking at Signe, wearing a dark green sweatshirt with light wash jeans that hugged her thick thighs and impeccable ass, while falling loose around her knees and calves, made me realize how difficult it would be to see her in the office without thinking of our kiss in her hotel room.

There was writing on Signe’s sweatshirt again, and I made a point of reading the text.

“Are you really staring at my boobs right now?” I heard Signe whisper in surprise, a smile in her voice.

I smirked, pushing my glasses up my nose a bit as I read out loud, “I closed my book to be here.”

Signe’s lips parted as she glanced down at her sweatshirt, pulling it away from her body to confirm the text I had just read, “Oh, duh,” she palmed her forehead, her cheeks turning an even darker shade of pink, “Of course you were just reading my shirt.”

“But if I was?” I asked, stepping forward again to get closer to her but far enough away that others wouldn’t be suspicious, “Just staring?”

Signe grinned while pressing her lips together, her hazel eyes glancing around the office space we were in before looking back up to me, “It wouldn’t exactly be professional.” She replied with a whisper.

“This is true,” I leaned against the wall, crossing one of my ankles over the other, loving how her light eyes tracked the movement and how she seemed to shift closer to me in response, “Though, neither is what you begged me to do to you in Tennessee.”

Her eyes widened as she swiveled her head around, double-checking that nobody was around and listening to our hushed conversation. I tucked my bottom lip in between my teeth, delighted that she was blushing as much as she was. Did our time in her hotel room also replay in her mind every spare moment? Did she also get off to the memory of what we did as soon as she was in her own bed?

“You’re…bolder about this than I expected you to be,” Signe replied, hugging her iPad close to her chest as she also leaned against the wall I was on, looking at me with mischief in her eyes, “I enjoy this side of you.”

Thank fucking god.

“Have you thought any more about that night?” I asked, trying to swallow around the dry gravel that masked my voice every time I got close to this exquisite woman.

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