Page 48 of The Grand Duel

What the actual hell?

He spoke to Scott with nothing but respect all day yesterday. He looked into the man’s eyes on countless occasions to thank him for opening doors or dropping us off.

I thought it was because I was new. That he would warm to me like he has Edna and Scott.

But no. Scott started yesterday.

So why did I get the cold shoulder?

Why am I still getting the cold shoulder?

I’m going to quit.

I have to quit this job.

Fuck the workload, he’s just a dick.

Or he just hates women.

My eyes burn, and before I can rein my emotions in, I say, “I’m sorry, Mr Aldridge, but have I done something wrong? Something to have made you angry at me?”

He stops typing and looks over at me. “I’m not angry, Miss Elton.”

“It’s Lissie,” I tell him again, my anger getting the better of me. I roll my lips and look anywhere but at him.

We sit in thick, awkward silence. Mostly because I refuse to converse with someone who can be so horrid.

From the way he looked at me in his office yesterday morning to ignoring me ever since. He’s been cold. A robot that blinks.

I tried.

I’ve tried multiple times.

I wonder if I had a penis, he’d treat me differently.

I think you’re a dickhead.

I think you’re a dickhead.

I think you’re a dickhead.

“Lissie.” I hold my breath as he leans in a little, my name from his lips, whispered like that… “Look, I know you think I’m a complete ass?—”

“That wasn’t what I was thinking at all,” I say, meeting his stare and holding it.

He has beautiful eyes, blue like the deepest sea but bright like the clearest sky.

They drop to my lips, just for a flash, and then revert like pins to my own. “I’m sure it’s not far wrong, though,” he murmurs.

I give him an upside-down smile because I absolutely agree, and I can’t help it, but he misses it, quickly eyeing the front of the car.

“If you can spare me a few minutes at the end of the day, there is a matter I need to discuss with you.”

“What matter?” I frown.

I’m being unprofessional, but he’s maddening, and the damage is already done.

His eyes come back to me and hold. “At the end of the day.”