Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I waved my water bottle at him by way of explanation. “I’m fine, thank you. Yourself?”
“Yeah, good. I wasn’t expecting to find you in here.”
“Ah. Mr Black is in the monthly meeting with the directors of Black Ink Corporation, so I excused myself out here.”
Lennon frowned. “Strange place for him to have the meeting here, isn’t it?”
“Yes, well, it was supposed to be tomorrow, but it was moved up. We were already here when I got the call, so we just had to make do.”
“That explains why Anne-Marie is pouting out there. She can’t knock on the door for unnecessary things.”
“I’m sure Mr Black is grateful for the break,” I said flatly.
Lennon chuckled. “I’m sure it’s not an issue you deal with in London, is it? The constant interruptions?”
“Not particularly. There are three of us in the secretarial office, so everyone who wishes to see him has to go through us first.”
“That seems like an efficient way to do things.” He smiled. “Do you mind if I sit with you?”
“Not if you don’t mind that I’m working.”
“Of course not.” He sat opposite me at the table with his cup of tea and pulled out his phone.
I turned my full attention back to my laptop and my bursting email inbox, but Theo’s words from last weekend fluttered through my mind.
Did Lennon really have a crush on me?
No. That was ridiculous. He’d never once shown any signs of seeing me as anything other than a coworker, so where the hell had that crazy man gotten that idea?
Pfft.
Look at me letting him get to me.
I opened the next email on the list and paused. “Was there something you needed?”
Lennon turned his head and coughed into his hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to distract you.”
“It’s all right. If you’ve got something on your mind, I’d rather you just say it.”
“You’re so straightforward.” He chuckled. “Actually, I was going to ask if you were free this weekend.”
Huh.
Theo was right.
I could absolutely never tell him that he was right, and I was wrong. I’d never hear the end of it.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m travelling back to London for a family event this weekend.”
“Oh, right. No worries.”
“And, um, Lennon? It would be best to leave it at that.” I smiled softly. “I’m… seeing someone.”
His eyes briefly widened, but he smiled, dropping his head. “Of course, you are. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
Ah, shit.
Now I felt bad for lying.
“Not at all. You didn’t know,” I said. “Please don’t worry.”
He raised his head again, but before he could reply, the staff room door swung open, and Theo stuck his head inside the room.
“Chloe.” He pinned his gaze on me. “I need you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN – CHLOE
Needy Boss, Greedy Boss
I closed the door behind me and put my laptop down on the coffee table in the office. “How was your call, sir?”
Theo glared at me. “Oh, I had a grand old time listening to those ancient bastards regale me with their extensive opinions on how I’m messing everything up. Can’t you tell how delighted I am?”
All things considered, the call went well.
I’d heard much worse out of his mouth. A personal favourite of mine was ‘stupid, decrepit see-you-next-Tuesdays.’
And yes, I was paraphrasing there.
It was one of the few times I’d ever seen Theodore Black truly lose his shit.
“Is there anything I can get you to make you feel better, sir?”
He stared at me for a moment, then shook his head. “You can’t get me anything, but there’s something you can do.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Very well. What is it?”
“Come here.”
This was a trap.
I knew it was a trap.
I still walked across the room to his desk and looked down at him. “Is that it?”
“Don’t be daft.” He wheeled his chair back from the desk and held out his arms. “Come here.”
I made a point of checking my watch. “It’s midday, sir.”
“Well, I’m the boss, and I’m telling you that you’re on your lunch break right now.” He reached out and grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards him.
Theo tugged me down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me, holding onto me tightly. He buried his face in the curve of my neck and inhaled deeply before slowly letting it out with a hefty sigh.
Goddammit.
This stupid sexy cinnamon roll.
I rested my cheek on the top of his head and hugged him back, letting my arms circle his shoulders. “This is an abuse of your authority.”
“You can tell HR all about it later,” he mumbled. “Promise.”
I smiled, touching my hand to the side of his neck. My thumb settled against the curve of his jaw, and he tightened his grip on me. “I’ll allow ninety seconds of exploitation, so make the most of the it.”
“Your flexibility is noted and appreciated.”
“I’m counting, you know.”
“Of course, you are.”
Shit.
Why was this bastard so cute?