Chapter 14 Adeline
Adeline POV
A collective gasp ripples through the office at my actions. We all know interns shouldn't go against mentors. It's suicide.
Mason turns purple. "She's exaggerating, sir. She’s new. She doesn't understand the..."
"Quiet," Percy snaps without taking his eyes off me. "You wrote this yourself?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then tell me about the indemnity clause on page four. What is the exposure cap?"
"Fifty million," I answer instantly. "But it excludes third-party litigation regarding the water toxicity, which is why I flagged the environmental risk as a priority."
Percy stares at me, and for a second, the same pride that shines in his eye when I'm racing reflects back at me.
"Excellent work, Miss Volkov," Percy says coolly, then turns back to Mason.
"Mason, a word of advice. If you’re going to take credit for your subordinate's work, the least you could do is understand the material."
He drops the file onto Mason’s desk. "And get your own coffee from now on."
Percy turns and walks away with his junior partners behind him. He doesn't spare me or Mason another look on his way out.
Mason stands there, thoroughly humiliated and angry. All that frustration is directed at me, and I can't even walk away. I can't relish the fact that I just put Mason in his place, not yet.
I might have made a mistake on this. Mason’s eyes tell me that I will regret my action. I lift a shoulder in nonchalance as I turn away and go back to my desk. My hands are shaking as I sit down.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I jump. The text is from an unknown number, but I immediately know who it is.
'Nice work on the indemnity clause. Stop shaking. You handled that perfectly'
"You're insane, you didn't have to humiliate him like that," I quickly type back.
'And what's the fun in that? Meet me in the elevator on the 45th floor'
I stare at the screen with a stupid smile even though what he's proposing is risky. The 45th floor is executive access only.
I decide to not overthink it, so I stand up and head for the elevators. I press the button for the 45th floor.
The elevator doors slide open on the 45th floor. The 45th floor is even more opulent than the rest. The hallway is silent, too, which makes me nervous because anyone could catch me up here without any reason to be here.
He said to meet him in the elevator? I was about to text him for more information when I'm suddenly pulled into a dark room. A heavy door clicks shut behind me. I’m spun around and pressed up hard against a solid wall. I relax when I feel his body press against mine and I'm surrounded by his delicious cologne.
Percy doesn't say a word, he just crashes his lips onto mine in a hard, possessive kiss. He's like a man that's being denied water the way he angles my head so our tongues can twine in a way that makes me lose my head and forget that we're in a workplace. His hands are in my hair, messing up the severe bun I spent all morning perfecting.
I don't let him have all the fun. I grip the lapels of his suit to pull him closer to me so I can climb him like a tree. His hands shift my gown to my waist so my panties are in contact with his hard-on. He groans into the kiss and rocks into me. His lips leave mine to nibble at my neck, and I have to remind him not to leave a hickey.
"I want everyone to know you're mine." He finally lifts his head to rest his forehead against mine.
"You," he says when he regains his breath. "are dangerous."
"Me?" I laugh as I smooth down his suit. "You’re the one who just kidnapped an intern on the executive floor. If HR sees this, we’re both fired."
"I own HR and the building," he murmurs, nipping at my lower lip. "I can kidnap whoever I want."
He reaches past me to flip on a switch that makes me see my surroundings for the first time. We’re in a supply closet, which I think is a bit cliché to make out in.
His hair is messed up from my hands, and his tie is slightly askew. He looks more like the man I met that night, the one that made me throw caution to the wind as I'm doing now.
"This is reckless," I say with a smile.
"Calculated risk," he corrects. He steps back to adjust his suit, and I do the same. His eyes fall in disappointment when my gown covers my panties. "I wanted to see you alone without fifty other people watching."
"You saw me downstairs where you saved me, by the way. Thank you."
"I didn't save you, baby. You're more than capable of holding your own. The way you quoted that indemnity clause? I think I fell in love with you a little bit more."
My heart flipped. Not only did he just call me "baby," but he also used the L word. I know he probably doesn't know he's doing things to my heart...
"Mason was livid," I say, sobering up. "He’s going to come for me, Percy. He’s petty."
"Let him try." Percy’s expression hardens. "If he steps one toe out of line. If he makes you fetch coffee, or stay late, or even looks at you wrong, you tell me. I will end his career before he can blink."
"No," I say firmly. "You just told me that I was more than capable of holding my own, so let me do just that. You promised we would be nothing but professional in the building."
He sighs in frustration. "Fine, I can be professional but outside..." He pushes off the shelf to close the distance between us again. "Tonight. My place by 8."
"I have to study. I have a brief due." It was the truth, I did have to study.
"Bring the brief. I have a library, and I have a very expensive bottle of wine that needs opening."
I bite my lip, pretending to consider it. "Will you help me with the case law?"
"Will I help you with the case? Miss Volkov, you seem to be forgetting that I own a law firm."
"So?" I sass, and he laughs in a way that makes him boyish, making me grin stupidly.
"I’m sure we can work something out, Miss Volkov. Get your sexy ass to my place by 8."
He kisses me one last time, and before I can deepen it, he unlocks the door.
"I’ll go first, Adeline." He whispers. "Count to sixty, then take the service elevator down."
He slips out, and I'm all alone by myself in the supply closet with my heart racing and a smile that refuses to leave my face.
Nobody has noticed my absence when I return back to my cubicle, and for that I'm grateful. When I got back to my work, I realized that this is the happiest I've been in a while.