LOGIN"Now that was smooth." Nita met me outside the conference room, falling into step with me as I headed for my office.“What?”"The way she handed you her card, and then that wink. I have read about it in a book. Coquette 101."“I’m sure that isn’t a thing, Nita,” I retorted, pushing the door open and stepping aside to let her in, like she even needed to be in my office right at this hour. I thought I needed to give up on getting rid of her anytime soon.Nita sauntered inside, throwing herself on my seat, behind my desk. She picked up the minuscule basketball I had on my table, throwing it up and catching it repeatedly, while I moved to my little stash by the left corner of the room, grabbing a bottle of my favorite brand of scotch and two glasses.“Oh no, Mr. Arthur.” I could hear the tease in her tone. “We don’t drink on the job now, do we? What if Mr. Arthur calls me for some intel on you and smells that shit on me? How do I explain it to him?"“Just tell him you’re sleeping with me,
“No,” I muttered, shaking my head. “I don’t know where the rumours are from, but they are not true.”“Can you elaborate on that, sir?” The reporter asked, her eyes keen and her hands toying with the paper in front of her. Her gaze hadn’t left me since I realized she had a question directed my way, and it was beyond the regular waiting for an answer.Because she batted them often, and sometimes her bottom lip got caught between her teeth – obvious tells about what this is."I am finishing med school because it is something I actually love, and playing basketball with my mates back at the University of the Saints. This project is just something I am doing as a majority shareholder of the Arthur Group, and I think it is going to be great. But it doesn't affect my pursuit of a medical degree."I was expecting a follow-up question, but the reporter just stayed nodding incessantly and smiling up at me. I attempted a chuckle, pushing my hair out of the way. The silence was getting oddly long
“Are you…”"I think I know where it is too." Enzo was already getting on his feet. "I was there when he opened it. He looked so excited to be doing something for himself, and I really did think it was great. I still think that."“It’s just that… are you sure you want to play golf right now?”“Of course,” Enzo laughed. “I love that sport. And I can compete with you at something I actually enjoy doing.”I got on my feet too. “I don’t know how to play golf.”“I can teach you.”He waved someone over. When did he make a friend? They moved to a corner to speak while I just stood there, watching their lips move and wondering what that was about. In another minute, Enzo returned.“Did you know him before?”He shook his head. “I was just speaking to him about the possibility of purchasing some shares here. And of course, for him to take care of the picnic items without us needing to return them ourselves.”“Enzo, it would only have taken a minute. And besides, you don’t have to invest in someth
"Are you sure there's nothing I can do about it?" Enzo asked for the thousandth time since he surprised me in the lobby of Arthur Group. He'd told me he wouldn't be flying in until much later. Imagine my surprise when I saw him through my eyes full of tears. I shook my head, just grateful that he was here with me. “I can handle it.”"Are you sure, though?" He pushed, leading me out to his sports car, parked imposingly in front of the building, even though there was a literal underground parking lot. I was certain he had bullied every single person that had tried to get him to drive into the parking lot.The mere image was enough to make me smile a little. “Marv has always been a bully,” Enzo continued, stopping by the passenger door of his car. “I know he is my father’s friend and all, but that doesn’t take away the fact that I stay away from him for good cause. He can be a little too much.”“Trust me, I know.”“So, let me do something.” Enzo didn’t look like he wanted to let this go
I hated this. Fuck, I hated it so bad. I wanted to do something. I wished I could. But I was right. I didn’t deserve Marcus. He needed someone who would stand up for me no matter the situation, not someone like me, who was fucking scared of what his father would do. “Is this what you have planned for the project? The great thing you want to do to bring the whole of the United States to their knees? Because if this is it, the only community that would feel it is Phoenix, and even then, it wouldn’t be anything worth celebrating.”My father got on his feet then, the sneer on his face. “Fix this. And get someone more competent. Does he have a degree in whatever crap you asked him to do? Or has my company become a charity organization for you to throw out crumbs to whoever you feel like?”My eyes found Marcus, and I felt like shit immediately. There were tears gathering in his eyes, and his bottom lip was shaking. My hands folded into fists by my side, and without thinking about it, I got
“You got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath as Nita led me towards the elevator on the first floor. It was all I found myself able to say, not considering the fact that half of me had to have frozen at that moment. "No one expected him to sit in the meeting today," Nita was saying, maybe even more fidgety than me. She hit a button on the wall as soon as we got in and leaned against the wall, blowing out a stream of breath. “This is going to be a disaster,” she sighed, then started pacing. “How are your presentations?”“I was going to give myself the pep talk that there is no need to be frightened. But seeing how worked up you are right now, I should definitely start panicking.”"No." Nita shook her head emphatically. "It's no big deal. I mean, he's probably going to nitpick every single team you say, and maybe kill me or Jordan if we try to save you, but… It's going to go well.""That's… refreshing to hear."She rolled her eyes just as the door dinged open. “I’m sure you’v







