Callie Sparks Playing

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.”I stare at her, now fighting back the urge to tell her to go to hell.Who does she think she is? “Thank you for that useful bit of info.But I do know about Williams and Williams, a hell of a lot better than you’ll ever know it.so I will do the teaching from now on.And if you’re not okay with that, don’t let the door hit you in the ass.”At that point I realize Victoria and the other assistants are staring at us.My voice had gradually been rising.I throw open the door and pull her inside as she says, “So teach me.”I check the clock.My voice is more controlled the next time I speak.“It’s lunchtime, though.So.” Scram.I make a flitting motion, away from me.“Mr.Williams said you don’t take lunch.And I’m not much of a lunch person, either.” She rubs her chin, and I can almost see the wheels in her brain turning.I don’t think they stop turning.she’s probably in Cut-throat Bitch mode, twenty-four seven.“He also said you’re usually in at six every morning?”“Theoretically,” I say, collapsing behind my desk.She’s still eyeing me.“What? Do you have my whole schedule memorized? Because I’m really.kind of.not the person for you to shadow today.” I open a window on my computer and count nearly a hundred unanswered emails.Nearly all of them have urgent red exclamation points beside them.“There isn’t anyone else.Caden wanted me with you.You’re the best, he said.And I want the best.”In my normal mood, there are about fifteen different off-color sex jokes I could come up with in retort.Instead, I lean back and exhale, trying to stop my blood from boiling.“I know.Fine but.” Then I glance at the email at the top.Friends Forever daycare.I click it open.Mr.Bradley, we have tried to reach you numerous times at the number provided.Tris has conjunctivitis and must be picked up immediately.Thank you.Mrs.Ventura.I slam my fist onto the desk, making it shake.“Shit!”Alex isn’t startled.She has a fortress around her that the Navy Seals couldn’t penetrate.She just raises her eyebrows, then sidles over, lifts up a leg and plants her backside on the edge of my desk.Like she owns the place.“Something wrong?”I point at her butt.“You mind?” Then I start rifling through my briefcase.What the hell do I need for tomorrow? What did I need for today? I click to my calendar.My next day is chock full of meetings.The rest of today is free, but it was supposed to be spent organizing for tomorrow.I throw a bunch of things in my case and grab my coat.“Look.I got to go.Something came up.”“Are you feeling all right?” she asks, still calm, not showing a ripple.I know she must be shocked that I’m leaving.Hell, I’m shocked at myself.When have I ever left the office before six on a weeknight? My gathering up my coat is cue for her to leave, but she stands firm, as if she’s the one who owns this office.“You look like hell.What happened to your chin? Did you shave your goatee?”And she still hasn’t moved her ass off of my desk.“I’m fine.But I’ve got to—““I urge you to reconsider leaving! You have the Fortuna meeting tomorrow morning! And the Vale!” she calls after me, like I don’t already know this.How the hell does she know my schedule better than I do? What has she been doing, studying my files? Preparing to take them over the minute I drop them? So rocketing up to junior associate isn’t enough for her? Now she wants to squeeze into my territory? Not going to happen.Not.Going.To.Happen.“Look, Bliss,” I say, turning back to her as I get to the door.“Rhys Bradley doesn’t reconsider anything.You can shadow me all you want, but I expect you to keep quiet next time.These are my clients.My files.And if you try to tell me my business again, you’re going to have a shitstorm on your hands.Got it?”Again, no ruffles.In fact, she looks slightly amused.She crosses her arms in front of her.Her voice is condescending.“Then next time, Bradley, I suggest you be more prepared.”I narrow my eyes.“I suggest you watch your step.I’m still the most senior partner here.I can get your little ass fired quicker than you can blink.”She laughs, and it’s a low, confident one.If it wasn’t coming from the spawn of hell, I’d think it was sexy.“I’d love to see you try.”Chapter FiveAlexHolding a paper bag filled with Thai, satchel filled with client files, I call home.Hannah picks up.“How’s the situation there?” I ask.She laughs.“The situation is fine, Agent Double oh Seven.Geez, Al, I’m not a work associate.You can cut all the gruff business-speak shit.”“Sorry,” I say.She’s right.I always have trouble winding down when I get into a business zone.“It was a good day.Your mother made dinner.Ravioli.And Will didn’t even throw it at the wall this time.We’re all happy.”I sigh with relief.Mom had only texted to check on me twice, and I’d been able to pass a fairly productive day without my face buried in my iPhone.I’d kicked ass at the Reynolds meeting, and after Rhys left, I’d assisted Caden Williams with some of his accounts.When I left, he said how pleased he was.Not bad for my fourth week at the office.So now, I can’t let it rest.I’ve never been one to settle for a triple when a home run is so easily attainable.“I’m not going to be home until late.You think that’s okay?”“Oh.Yeah.Vincent’s coming over anyway.Going to play Xbox with Will.”More relief settles into my skin.“Okay.I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning, then?”“Sure thing.Where are you going?”“I’m on the hunt for total ruination.”“What?” she gasps.“I’ll tell you how it goes tomorrow,” I say with a grin.When I hang up with Hannah, I step out of the bustling subway and walk three blocks uptown, to a swanky building on the East Side.I tell the doorman I’m Rhys’ girlfriend, because knowing him, he probably has a rotating door policy with them.The doorman smiles like I’m one of the stupid floozies Rhys must collect like matchbooks and lets me pass.The place is really nice, perfect for the type of asshole Rhys is.I bet he pays more for a month’s rent here than our house in New Jersey is worth.I knock on the door.I can hear noises from the inside.It sounds like television.Probably the news.But nobody answers.I knock again.A male voice shouts something incomprehensible, probably like One minute, and then there’s a fumbling at the handle and the door opens an inch.Rhys looks at me for only a second before nearly closing the door on my face.I’m obviously the last person he expected, and probably the last one he wanted to see.Then he opens it a crack and exhales.“What are you doing here?” he asks, in the same voice one would use to accuse someone of murder.I take him in.He has his jacket off, and the front of his white shirt is stained with something orange.His hair is every-which way, and there’s five o’clock shadow mingling with that raw cut on the tip of his chin.His eyes have a wild, unfocused look to them.Something is definitely up.I put on my brightest smile and hold up the Thai.“I brought a peace offering.”He eyes me cautiously, then slides sideways out the door, effectively sealing it behind him, as if there’s something in there he doesn’t want me to see.Ordinarily, I’d think it might be a naked girl, or maybe two of them, but with the way he’s blinking at me, frantic, dirty-clothed and not-quite-all-there, I’m leaning more toward Frankenstein.Or a murder scene.Whatever it is, it’s gotten him riled up.And I’m relishing seeing him this way.“I don’t need that from you.You have to get out of here.”I smile again.“Sure you do.I feel like we got off on the wrong foot,” I say.“I want to learn everything from you.And you’re so brilliant [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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