Page 18 of Addicted

Hugh glared at me and kept talking like he hadn’t heard me.

“Lucian just shit all over him in front of the entire office. I don’t want you stuck in the middle of some power play between those two.”

Hugh was already a Partner. In fact, most folks considered him a better COP than Xavier. Hugh closed more deals than him and could wrap a whole room around his finger with a smile and a joke.

This wasn’t the first time I’d been talked at by Hugh. Whenever he felt like I wasn’t toeing the corporate line enough, he’d tell me so. And as much as it annoyed me, he was almost always right.

I stepped forward and kicked the edge of his shoe with mine. It was a ploy to see how mad he was. He toed my shoe back and I smiled. Medium mad. I could work with that.

“We’re already in it, Hugh,” I gently reminded him.

“We are,” he agreed, looking up, “but we don’t have to play it that way.”

“You’re right. I know you’re right,” I relented, watching his features relax.

“Thank you,” he said.

“He still started it, though.” I shrugged.

I expected him to start chiding me again.Instead, Hugh leaned back against the front of my desk, smiling.

“You’re feeling better.”

It wasn’t a question. But he was right. The nap helped focus my post-anxiety attack clarity. But it wasn’tjustthe nap. It was him.

Hugh was giving me all the things I knew I’d needed and settled on not having. As horrible as last night had been, it was nice to think about something else and fold back into Work Denny. And as crazy as things were becoming at Foxx, I didn’t have to worry about Curtis and sending him money anymore.

I could focus solely on myself.

This was a golden opportunity to work hard and show Lucian that I was capable of more. I was ready to really pour myself into work and my career. Everything else could follow along after.

“Are you looking for a thank you?” I raised my eyebrows and cleared my throat. “You didn’t take me as the type that needed attention.”

I was deflecting. We both knew it. Instead of calling me on it, he tilted his head.

“If there wasn’t a room full of people outside, I’d fuck that smug look right off your face.” His voice deepened and he kept up that smile, but the innocence in it was gone.

A blush crept up my neck. I looked down and saw his pants were tighter than before.

If anyone was looking in, it would look like a normal conversation. They wouldn’t see the way his eyes brightened or my breaths coming quicker.

All they’d see was the smile on his face and his hands innocently tucked into his pockets.

“You can’t chastise me for being reckless when you clearly enjoy seeing it.” The offense I injected into my tone sounded fake, even to my ears.

He looked deep in thought for a moment before biting his lip and crossing his feet in front of him.

“Tell me you don’t enjoy coming on my tongue.”

I tried to pretend like my pussy didn’t clench at the thought, and I cleared my throat. It was time to play my trump card.

“Actually, I have a question,” I said, a smile playing on my lips.

Hugh didn’t reply. I kept talking.

“I’ve been thinking about it, and I have to know,” I left a dramatic pause, “which of your clients was asking about me?”

Hugh’s gaze darkened and I smiled sweet and bright.

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