Page 34 of Fifth Avenue Fling

She freezes, looking like she’s about to jump out of her skin. I’d laugh along with Connor if I wasn’t so angry.

She turns to face the bedroom door again to see if I’m there. When I don’t appear, she reverts to looking wildly in the air for cameras. She can’t figure out where my voice is coming from because it’s coming from all four corners of the ceiling.

“She’s starting to look a little crazy now,” Connor says.

“She can hear you. The speaker is on.”

“Q-Quinn?” she whispers loudly in her distinctive lilt. “Mr. Quinn?”

“Day one on the job, and you’re already ignoring my rules.”

She draws in a sharp breath. “Are you watching me through cameras?”

“Yes.”Idomybesttoignorethewayher chestheaveswithevery breath.“Explain why you feel the need to open my nightstand.”

The crimson blush on her cheeks darkens. “I’m sorry. I was just making sure you weren’t a serial killer.”

“In my nightstand?”

“You can learn a lot about people by what they have in their bedside cabinets.” She looks at the ceiling for approval, as if this is an acceptable reason for invading my privacy.

“I won’t do it again,” she adds, panic taking over her voice. She glances down as if suddenly realizing she’s in little more than underwear and wipes sweat away from her chest.

Fuck, woman, stop that.

Connor chuckles beside me, looking inexplicably pleased with himself for no damn reason.

“Do you have somewhere you need to be?” I snap, waving my hand at him to get out.

“No,” Connor and Clodagh answer simultaneously.

“Not you, Clodagh,” I say forcefully, turning my attention back to the screen. “Stay put.”

She stands on the spot like an army cadet with her arms stiff by her sides. It looks like she’s stopped breathing.

“Absolutely not,” Connor drawls, slouching one arm over his chair. “I have nowhere better to be than here.”

Sighing in frustration, I mute the security app. “Fine. If you insist on staying, this will be over in less than five.”

I press the speakerphone again. “Security will be there in fifteen minutes. You have thirty to pack up your things.”

She laughs shakily. “That was for the person in the room, right?”

“It’s quite obvious that it was directed at you.Clodagh.”

“W-What?” Her hands rise to smack her mouth. “Mr. Quinn,please.” She flaps her arms around in the air. “Sir.No. I’llneverdo anything like this again. You vetted me. Don’t you think I should do my own due diligence?” She pauses to catch her breath. “It would almost be irresponsible of me not to. That’s all I was doing, but my vetting’s complete now.”

Her brazenness is almost admirable.

Connor snort-laughs, and I fire another glare at him.

“I can’t have someone in my house who I don’t trust,” I say coolly. If Clodagh thinks this is the first time a pretty face has tried to win me over and been disappointed, she’s in for a nasty surprise. “You’re under the same roof as my daughter.”

That’s my bottom line.

Her face turns an unhealthy shade of white.

“You’re being a bit harsh,” Connor says casually.

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