Page 31 of By His Vow
I pay and attempt to move so I can collect my order, but the solid wall of muscle behind me doesn’t allow me to move with his giant hand locked on my hip.
“What is wrong with you? Can you for once just be normal?” I hiss.
“You need to eat better,” he chastises.
“No, what I need is to be left alone to make my own decisions. I am an adult. He may have handed me over to you like a prized freaking cow, but I can assure you, I do not need looking after.”
“I’m not sure I agree.”
“I don’t care,” I snap, finally breaking free of his hold. “Go and talk it out with Lewis. I’m not interested.”
I storm off, keeping my back to him. But he never leaves. His stare continues to burn into my skin while I wait for my order and then all the way back to the car, which he follows me into.
“Here,” I say, thrusting the stupid green tea at him. “I hope you choke on it.”
“I didn’t actually want—” he starts, looking down at the takeout tray I pass to him.
“Then you shouldn’t have ordered it. Lewis, can you please take me to my office? Fast. I’ve had about as much of your boss as I can stomach today.”
Without any argument from the infuriating man beside me, Lewis takes off into the morning traffic.
Usually, I would wait until I got to my desk to eat my pastry to protect the Uber drivers’ cars. But seeing as I don’t feel the need to offer Kingston the same courtesy, I open the bag and take a massive, unladylike mouthful, ensuring I rain crumbs everywhere.
He doesn’t say a word, but I’m more than aware of his attention and the fact that I’m seconds away from watching steam billow out of his ears.
Good. I’m so fucking glad that I can annoy him just as much as he does me. At least we’re on the same page with something.
I’ve just finished by the time we pull up out front of my office building, and I make a show of licking my fingers before brushing off my skirt. Gathering my purse, coffee, and second pastry; I reach for the door.
“Wait,” Kingston growls, making me pause long enough for Lewis to open the door for me.
“Thank you,” I say as I step out.
The polite side of me wants to turn around and say goodbye to Kingston, but the inner bitch he seems to unleash with just his presence alone wins out.
Tugging my purse strap higher onto my shoulder, I hold my head high and step forward in an attempt to look ready for work.
In reality, my head is spinning from the events of the past six days. I’ve no idea how I’m going to accomplish anything, but I’m willing to give it a shot.
I expect to hear the door closing behind me, but when it doesn’t, my curiosity gets the better of me and I turn to look back before reaching the doorman.
“What are you doing?” I blurt as Kingston stands from the car and does his suit jacket up before taking his briefcase from Lewis.
“I have a meeting,” he informs me before stepping up to me and placing his hand on the small of my back once again as if it belongs there.
“Who are you—” I cut myself off. It’s a stupid question. He’s here to see Miles.
Richard’s words from the day before ring loudly in my ears. Kingston and Miles are to work together to finally merge both companies and move forward; bigger, stronger, as one.
Motherfucker.
He’s my boss now. And soon-to-be husband.
Could life actually get any worse right now?
It makes sense. For years, the two companies have worked side by side. Separately, they’ve been very successful.
But together…