Chapter 270: What Is Really Going On?

Holly’s POV

The rest of the morning dragged like wet cement.

Emails. Spreadsheets. Coffee runs that weren’t even mine anymore because apparently I’m still “just” the assistant.

I marched in and out of David’s office at least seven times…contracts to sign, updated client lists, the revised Q3 projections he’d demanded like I’d personally insulted his bloodline earlier.

Each time I walked in, I braced myself.

For the look. The smirk. The low sexy “Close the door, baby.” The hand that would brush my hip on the way out.

Nothing.

Nada.

Zilch.

He didn’t even try to pursue me!

He took the files, signed where the little yellow arrows pointed, muttered “Thanks” like I was the mailroom guy, and went right back to staring at his monitor like I’d evaporated.

What the actual hell is wrong with this man?

Or am I losing my mind?

One minute he’s moving my desk into his lair, dropping diamond heartbeats around my neck, growling that he wants to fuck me on every surface in this building.

The next minute he’s treating me like I’m Karen from accounting who smells faintly of microwaved fish.

Is this a game? Is he trying to make me chase harder? Make me clingy? Make me crack first?

Because if that’s the plan… joke’s on him.

Two can play cold.

I went full corporate robot from then onwards.

“Mr. Hunt, the Henderson addendum is ready for your review.”

“Mr. Hunt, finance needs your approval on the travel reimbursement by EOD.”

“Mr. Hunt, Mr Norman would like a quick sync at 2:30 if your schedule permits.”

Every time I said “Mr. Hunt,” his pen paused…just for a half-second. His jaw ticked like he would rather have me call him something else.

Around 12:49, I walked in with the final version of the pitch deck. Dropped it on his desk with a professional nonchalant precision and turned to leave.

“Holly.”

I stopped but didn’t turn around. “Yes, Mr. Hunt?”

He exhaled through his nose. “What’s going on with you?”

I finally faced him with a blank face and a professional smile. “Nothing at all. Just doing my job, boss.”

I made to leave again, but he got up in no time. His hand shot out, caught my wrist and yanked me towards him.

I stumbled backward and dropped straight into his lap like a badly timed trust fall.

He caught me. Of course he did. His arms banded around my waist like steel. Then the bastard smiled…slow, lazy, dangerous.

“There she is,” he murmured. “Are you throwing a tantrum because of my behavior? Because I was being distant?”

I shoved at his chest. “I wasn’t throwing a tantrum. I didn’t even notice you were being distant. I’m busy too, you know. Some of us actually have work to do.”

He chuckled low in his throat. “Sure you didn’t notice. That’s why you’ve been calling me Mr. Hunt like I’m your tax accountant.”

“I—”

His phone buzzed on the desk. Mine buzzed in my pocket.

I fished it out.

Justin.

David’s entire body went rigid under me.

Before I could swipe, he snatched the phone out of my hand.

“Why the hell is my brother calling you?”

I leaned in slow. Brushed my lips against the shell of his ear just to watch him shudder.

“Forgot already, boss?” I whispered. “Justin’s been my friend since the day I got to this city. Remember? The day I showed up looking for you…back when I still liked you.”

Okay, fine, I’m still crazy about him, but I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.

“You were busy fucking some girl in your bedroom. Didn’t even recognize me. Pretended I was a stranger. Kicked me out like yesterday’s trash.”

I felt his teeth grind together.

“But Justin?” I continued sweetly. “Justin didn’t let me stand in the hallway crying like an idiot. He took me to get coffee. Talked me off the ledge. Through his help, I ran into my best friend that same day. And then…because he’s actually a decent human…he talked to Norman about getting me this job. So yeah… the only reason I’m standing here right now, Mr. Hunt, is because your little brother gave a shit when you didn’t.”

David’s jaw was so tight I thought it might crack.

He exhaled hard through his nose. “I didn’t recognize you that night. I swear. What happened between your sister and me… I’m not proud of it. I blocked the whole thing out. And you—” He looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time all over again. “You changed. Hair, style, everything. How the hell was I supposed to know?”

“Not an excuse,” I said coldly.

“I know.” His voice dropped. “But I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for that night. I swear.”

My phone started ringing again.

I reached for it.

He lifted it higher, making me lean forward until my breasts pressed against his chest.

I tried to pull back.

He didn’t let me.

Instead he buried his face in my neck, lips grazing the heartbeat necklace. “Do me a favor.”

I laughed once, sharp. “You have zero right to ask me for favors yet.”

“I know.” He nuzzled harder. “But I need you to be careful with Justin. Don’t trust everything he says.”

I pulled back just enough to look at him. “He’s your brother. Why would you say that?”

David smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I know. He’s also a man. And I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

I blinked.

“He’s clearly interested in you. And I’m not competing with my own brother for you, Holly. I don’t play nice. Family or not. And I know you don’t want to be the reason we fall apart. So limit how comfortable you get around him. He might say things…do things…just to sabotage this. To sabotage us.”

I stared at him for a full three seconds.

Then I burst out laughing.

“Justin? Has feelings for me?”

I reached up and pressed the back of my hand to his forehead.

“You’re not running a fever. Why are you acting delirious?”

The phone rang again.

I snatched it from his grip this time.

“We’re meeting for lunch,” I told him, then answered. “Hey, Justin.”

Justin’s voice came through, all sunshine and zero drama. “Hey, Holly. You swamped? I know work can be tough.”

“Yeah… Just wrapped the meeting. Heading out now. Same place?”

“Yep. See ya in twenty.”

I hung up.

The phone hadn’t even left my ear before David moved.

In one fluid motion he swung my leg over so I was straddling him properly…hands looped around his neck, his thighs hard under me, his eyes locked on mine like I was the only thing in the universe.

“Look at me,” he ordered, voice rough.

I did.

“Remember these eyes. This face. I’m fucking crazy about you. I want you. That’s all that matters.”

I opened my mouth to say something smart and bratty… But he crashed his lips onto mine instead.

It wasn’t sweet. It wasn’t tentative.

It was bold…as though the kiss was in capital letters. Bold italic underline.

His tongue claimed mine like he was staking territory. One hand fisted in my hair, the other slid down my back, gripped my ass, and yanked me forward until I was grinding against the thick, unmistakable length of him.

I moaned into his mouth.

Inside my head… ‘Oh God. This man is going to be the literal end of me. I’m going to die on his desk. Cause of death…catastrophic horniness and emotional whiplash.

His hands roamed everywhere…thighs, waist, ribs, back up to cup my face like he was afraid I’d vanish. I melted into it. Let him devour me… and let myself drown.

Then…right when I started to relax, right when my hips rolled on instinct…he broke the kiss.

He was breathing hard with his hands still on my ass. He squeezed…pushed me up so I ground down harder against him.

“Rush lunch,” he growled against my mouth. “Come back here fast. I’ve got my own lunch to eat.”

The way he said it…low, filthy, promising…sent butterflies detonating in my belly like fireworks.

I scrambled off his lap so fast I almost tripped over my own heels. My face was flaming hot while my thighs were shaking like I had a vibrator between them.

“I—uh—gotta go.”

Then I fled, letting the door slam behind me.

Lucky for me, the hallway was empty. I leaned against the wall, hand over my racing heart.

What the hell is going on? Does he like me? Does he not like me? How could he be so cold and the next second, he was dry-humping me in his office and telling me he wants to eat me for lunch like I’m the special of the day.

So what now? I’m supposed to go eat salad with Justin now?

With this man’s taste still on my lips and his handprints practically branded on my ass?

I’m so screwed.

And I think I like it.