Page 14 of Broken Headboards
Chapter Six
Tess
“Austin Randall.”
“Tess Armstrong.”
The way we just said each other name’s makes it official: it’s going to be a bitter fight. I can already feel the electricity in the air, the mood in the room as tense as a nocked arrow.
I take one hard look at him, drinking in his confident posture and the way his tailored suit seems to hug his chiseled muscles. He has a certain rugged charm about him, and his broad shoulders and strong arms just add to it. In his eyes I see a twinkle of cunning and intelligence, two qualities that probably just make him into a bigger asshole than I think he is.
A devilish handsome asshole, but an asshole nonetheless.
“I see that you’re already familiar with each other,” Taylor chuckles, clapping Austin on the back. “The best furniture companies in the state, battling it out for the deal of the year. This should be interesting, don’t you think?”
“Depends. If you think a massacre is interesting, then I agree.” We haven’t even shaken hands and Austin’s already taking a shot at me.
Cocky bastard.
Smirking, he allows his gaze to drift from Taylor to me. Just as I did with him, he seems to be taking me in, his eyes shamelessly tracing the contour of my curves. Right away, I can tell that he’s used to having women groveling at his feet.
Well, that’s not going to be me.
“Don’t you worry,” I reply, “I’ll do my best not to humiliate anyone. You’ll still have a reputation to defend when I’m done with you.” Never taking my eyes off him, I return his smirk. “Maybe.”
“Well, this isdefinitelygoing to be interesting,” Ashley chirps merrily as she joins us. She’s standing so close to Taylor that their hands are almost brushing together. “Just try not to tear the building down while you’re at it, alright?”
“Yeah, or Draper Pierce will eat you for lunch,” Taylor throws almost casually, even though I know he’s dead serious. His bank isn’t known for fucking around, especially when we’re talking about billion-dollar deals.
For a guy heading one of the scariest financial organizations in the world, he sure seems laidback about things, though. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. One word out of his mouth and he can probably tank the economy of any country he chooses, so why should he be worried about anything in the world? Hell, the world should worry about him.
“Speaking of lunch, I’m ravenous, ” Ashley cuts in. “Haven’t had dinner yet. What do you say we go and grab a bite?” The way she just pronounced that slipperyweleaves no room for a doubt. She’s talking about Taylor and her. My God, she’s head over heels with this guy.
“Sounds like a plan,” Taylor nods, shaking Austin’s hand and mine. “I’ll see you guys soon enough. In a day or two, you should get the guidelines for the first challenge.”
“Enjoy...dinner,” Austin tells Taylor, giving me a knowing look as he does it. Turning around, he returns his attention to me.
“These two are going to have more than just dinner,” I’m saying as I watch Taylor and Ashley walk out of the conference room, laughing and looking into each other’s eyes like two lovebirds. What the hell happened to Ashley? She loved to bust guy's balls almost as much as I do, and now look at her being all cozy with Mr. Banking Billionaire.
“Yeah, they’re definitely planning for a long dessert to be included in the menu,” Austin agrees, and I find myself laughing. I actually have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from overdoing it. I don't want to act too friendly toward this guy.
He’s the enemy, after all.
“You ready for this, Tess?” he asks me.
I keep my game face on.
“I could ask you the same question,” I say back to him.
“Oh, I was born ready for this, baby,” he says.
I roll my eyes.
I’ve had enough of this.
So this condescending asshole—convinced he’s God’s gift to women—thinks that just because I have a pussy that I can’t play the game at his level? We’ll see whose laughing when I sign the fucking contract for this place.
Honestly, babe, I’m not some angry bitter woman.
