Page 157 of Fighting Mr. Knight

My eyes widen. “I’m a laughingstock. They’ll think that’s why I’ve been taken off the project.”

“People do it all the time.”

I grunt a laugh. “Yeah, not with the CEO of Lexington though.”

“Speaking of one-night stands,” she says through gritted teeth as Darren approaches us.

“Bonnie!” Darren booms too loudly. Anyone that hadn’t noticed my arrival before does now.“So, you and bossman, huh?”

“Keep your voice down,” I hiss. I half consider battering him with the laptop then flinging myself out the window.

“Shut up, Darren,” Nisha spits out, shoving him in the arm.

He grins. “What’s the matter, Nish?”

He turns back to me and leans in. “Listen, do you think you could get the deadline extended? And ideally, get the budget increased to bring in a few deputy project managers to help with workload. I’m swamped.”

I stare at him blankly. “How the hell would I be able to do that?”

“You could mention it to Jack next time you’re—” He winks. “You know.”

“No, I don’t think I’m in a position to swing that.”

“What’s the point of romping with the boss then?”

I suck in a breath. I do not need this shit right now.

“Darren,” Nisha grates, narrowing her eyes. “I won’t tell you again.”

"Bonnie." Max appears behind me, casting an appraising glance my way.

My face prickles with embarrassment. People aren’t even pretending not to watch anymore.

“You need to do a twenty minute debrief with one of the Lexington security officers,” Max says in his most professional tone. “To keep us above board.” He pauses. “We can discuss new projects for you in the next few days.”

I exhale a ragged breath and follow him down the aisle. Everyone stops talking as I pass them. Those that know me well give me sympathetic looks.

I’ve blown it. Bradshaw and Brown will have me cleaning up muck after this. I’ll be lucky if I get to design toilets.

Nisha stays at my side like a guard as we stop at the security officer who is surrounded by so many screens, he looks like he’s single-handedly operating an air traffic control tower.

“Hi,” I say to the guy who doesn’t look up. Any minute now, please.

Nisha inhales sharply. “Oh,shit.”

Huh?

“He isn’t supposed to be in today,” Max murmurs, looking over my shoulder.

Nisha’s eyes meet mine in horror.

Please, God, no.

My pulse goes from resting to racing in a nanosecond.

I don’t turn around.

I don’t need to, to feel his presence.

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