Page 35 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

Why did he have to go and do something like that?

“Are you new here?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you around.”

“I started last week.” She’d been keeping to herself. She was still a little worried that someone would recognize her. Remember her as Sarah, not Summer. So she ate her lunch at her desk and kept away from the finance department.

“I’m John,” he said, holding out his hand.

“Summer.”

She got up and leaned across the desk, took his hand, just as Nik appeared. He lounged in the open doorway, watching as her hand dropped to her side, almost guiltily. But what did she have to feel guilty about?

Absolutely nothing.

She stepped aside as John rolled the old chair out of its spot behind her desk and pushed the new one into place.

“Thanks,” she said.

John looked from her to Nik. She suspected he wanted to say something else, but wouldn’t under the boss’s eye. She was glad. He seemed nice enough, but the last thing she needed was any sort of involvement. Her life was way too complicated. And besides, she was coming to realize that she didn’t actually like nice men. They did nothing for her.

He left, and she sank down into her new chair. “Thank you.”

“You can thank me by not spending working hours flirting.”

“I wasn’t flirting.”

“You were holding hands and batting your lashes at him.”

“No, I—” What was the point? She gave him her best sarcastic smile. “I thought he might be worth cultivating. You know—if ever I feel the urge to steal some chairs.”

Humor flashed across his face. Christ, why did he have to be so gorgeous?

“Is it comfortable?” he asked. It took her a moment to realize he meant the new chair. “It looks a little high.”

As he stepped toward her, she reached underneath for the lever, then brought the chair all the way down with a jolt.

His lips twitched. “Do I make you nervous, Summer?”

“No,” she scoffed. “Do I make you nervous, Nik?”

“Absolutely terrified.”

What the hell did he mean by that? But before she could say anything else, Harry stepped into the room. She felt the usual sense of irritation he always managed to invoke prickle across her skin. He’d made it perfectly clear from day one that he didn’t trust her. Of course, there was the little fact that he’d made a bet with Nik. He was counting on her to screw up. Plus, he always looked so…perfect. Immaculate suit, hair perfectly cut. He made her feel inadequate in a way Nik never did. Yet seeing the two men together, it was clear who had the upper hand in the relationship.

Harry raised an eyebrow when he saw Summer almost on the ground.

Nik held out a hand, but she ignored it and pushed herself to her feet.

“What’s going on?” Harry asked.

“Summer has a new chair. She likes to spin.”

Harry shook his head. “You wanted to see me?”

“Come through. Summer, I’ve sent a report to you. Can you print it off and bring it in?”

“Yes, sir. Certainly, sir.”

She waited until they had disappeared, then fiddled with her chair until she got it the right height. Once that was done, she printed off the report.

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