Page 62 of Sweet Wicked Vows
“I understand what you’re suggesting, Kerry, and I have heard your concerns. Now, if that is all you have to say, I’ll ask that you step out of my office and return to your work.”
“You’re a journalist, Evelyn. This world here isn’t for you.” Kerry stood, swiping the creases from her black pencil skirt. “You don’t realize how much damage your ignorance and obligation to Lexington will end up doing to this company.”
She was going to give me a full-blown migraine.
“And I don’t thinkyourealize that while I am in charge, I do not need you coming into my office and undermining me.”
“You are out of your league right now. I know everything about this company. The true ins and outs. Your father trusted me with everything.”
There was no doubt about that. Everywhere Dad went involving the company, Kerry was right there by his side, with her tight-lipped smile and not a single hair on her head out of place. Flynn used to joke that she was in love with Dad, that she followed him around like a lost puppy, hoping that one day he’d wake up and realize she was the woman for him.
Watching her now, I knew it wasn’t love or lust that she pined for.
She wanted success.
She wanted power.
“You aren’t wanted here.” She inspected her nails. “We all believe you’ll sink the company by Christmas, and when you do, it will be entirely your fault. Your silly little pride will be ourdownfall.”
“I believe my wife told you to leave,” Jaxon’s lethal voice cut through the office.
Kerry snapped her head around to find Jaxon leaning on the frame of my office door. Dressed in a black and gray suit—god forbid he wore any other color—he surveyed the other woman with his arms crossed.
“If you’re about finished questioning Evelyn’s abilities and making a fool of yourself.” Jaxon stepped away from the door.
“How did you… I mean, I was only offering advice.” Kerry’s unflappable demeanor crumbled. “It’s only my wish to ensure that the company remains what it is. I’ve given everything I have to Lexington and this business.”
“Noted,” Jaxon said.
“Surely, you can see she is not fit for this,” Kerry flustered. “Even with you here at her side, I fear that if she scrapes through the next year, her drunkard of a brother will be the final nail in the company’s coffin.”
Jaxon’s jaw twitched twice. “You can leave now.”
Kerry didn’t say anymore, her face the color of beetroot as she stormed from the office and slammed the door shut on her way.
The tension rolling through the air was palpable. My core tightened as the scent of his aftershave filled the void, and the memory of his touch between my legs caused my thighs to clamp together under the table.
You taste like mine.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said. “I could have handled it myself.”
“I could hear her all the way in my office next door,” he said. “It was starting to get annoying.”
“Then close your office door.”
“It is closed.” He pointed to the air vent on the wall connecting our offices. “People like her respect people with authority. Youneed to learn how to be more assertive. You’re a boss now. You need to start acting like one.”
And just like that, any lasting hints of desire faded away.
“There’s not a single thing I could do to make her respect me,” I snapped. “And I don’t need you sauntering in here telling me how to act. You’re here to navigate me through the business, not how I should behave.”
“It’s simply an observation.”
“You can take your observations and shove them right up your ass.”
“If you learn to talk to others how you speak to me, you’ll do just fine.” He smirked with a look at his watch. “Are you hungry? You ate nothing before we left.”
The change in conversation gave me whiplash.