I want him (2)

I want him (2)
On the bright side, that orgasm last night wrung the strength out of me, and I fell right asleep. Rhys left a message saying he would be late to the office. That would be good news in the past, but I’m dreading spending even one hour away from him.

Work is no longer a safe place for me, especially now that Grisha has found more sophisticated ways to spook me.

I take out his letter, glaring at the words. I can’t believe he is such a backstabbing Judas. My father took him in when his parents died, bringing him up like his own son. Growing up, I considered Grisha my brother, but no one would do this to their family.

Memories of that dreadful day still haunt me. My mother pushed me into the supply closet, closing it before I could protest. She was yet to find a hiding place herself when Grisha caught her.

The sound of bullets is still fresh in my mind. The maniac shot her five times before reloading his gun and emptying the barrel on her. She was the woman who had spent years caring for him like a beloved child, yet even she wasn’t spared. What did she ever do to deserve so much pain and torture? It was almost as if he had a grudge against her that no one knew about.

My brother, who had been close friends with Grisha, was long dead by the time Kristof found me in the supply closet.

Until now, I don’t know why I remained there even after hearing what was happening to my mother. Maybe I was terrified of facing the same fate, or I didn’t want to be killed before avenging her. Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that I was a coward who couldn’t even fight for the person who mattered the most.

And now, two years later, I’m still running. Maybe I should just stop hiding and let Grisha catch me. The dead can’t run, can they?

Rhys arrives in the afternoon, dragging a tornado with him.

"My office, now," he barks on his way past my desk. I shuffle to my feet and follow him.

"Is anything the matter, Mr. Redmond?" I ask.

He sits at his desk, glaring at me like I committed the most unspeakable crime. I’m sorry I asked what crawled up your ass and died. Would you like to fire me again?

"You’re coming with me to a charity auction tomorrow night," he declares. "Shane will deliver your dress at your apartment. Be ready before eight."

I heave a breath and stand in the same spot, staring at the man who thinks he owns me. I may be hiding in his turf, but what right does he have to order me around? Sure, he is my boss, but last I checked, attending a charity auction wasn’t part of my job description.

Rhys looks up, frowning when he sees that I’m still here. "Any questions?"

"Just one. What makes you assume I’m attending this event with you?"

He looks around the office. "Did you think I was talking to someone else?"

Asshole.

"No. It just sounded like you believe I have to go wherever you ask."

His glare makes his thoughts obvious. I’m the man whose name will be on your next paycheck.

I take a deep breath and say the words that would probably get me checked into a mental institution. "I have plans tomorrow night. Once I get home, I will cook dinner, eat, and carry my diary to bed to write about fictional men I would like to fuck. I don’t think I can make time for a charity auction I wasn’t informed about."

His jaw ticks, the vein in his neck popping. Mr. Redmond is furious. Well, that’s none of my business. He cannot fire me for refusing to accompany him to an event outside work hours, can he?”

Instead of barking at me to leave his office and prepare to be picked up tomorrow evening, he asks, "What do you want?"

Having geared up for a fight, I’m so taken aback that I gulp, staring at the man before me. The impatience in his eyes jerks me back to reality. "For starters, you could ask nicely."

His frown tells me he thinks I’m out of my mind. I keep my gaze unwavering, letting him know I’m not about to relent. After a staring contest that feels like an hour long, he finally breaks the silence. "Kira, would you be so kind as to accompany me to this charity auction?"

"Less sarcasm," I say. I know I’m pushing my luck, but I hate having orders barked at me.

Under normal circumstances, Rhys would have yelled at me to show myself out and settle my pay with HR before fucking off, but he must be desperate for a companion. It’s the only way I can explain his change of tone.

"Kira, I would like you to come with me tomorrow evening." Even though it sounds like a request, his voice is sharp, dripping with impatience. I would like to say no just to see his reaction, but something tells me I won’t enjoy it. Dragging me to the auction, arms flailing and all, would be the best possible outcome.

"If I must," I relent.

The man looks relieved to be finally done with my insanity. I want to ask why he needs a date so urgently, but I have a feeling I’ve exhausted the lengths I can go without earning a punishment—not the fun kind.

Though I have to admit, pissed-off Rhys Redmond is one of the hottest things in the world.

The rest of the day is just like I expected—difficult, with Rhys’s horrible mood making my day an absolute blast. Rhys has just left for a meeting when a woman strolls in, glaring at me like I pissed in her cheerios.

I put on my most friendly smile. "Can I help you, Miss?"

She rolls her eyes. "Yes. I’m here to find my fiancé."
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