Page 19 of Bite Me
“No need. I’ll take care of it. See you at twelve.”
“Thank you, sir. Russel. Sorry.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake!Could I act less like a bumbling moron?
I hurried out of the meeting room with my ass on fire. Cat wanted to dissect our new boss, but I didn’t trust myself to talk about Russel and keep a poker face.
“I’m sorry, Cat, I need silence. The headache is killing me.”
“Eddie, baby, that’s stress. You should try yoga with me.”
“I might. Just…I need a short break before lunch.”
“I got you.”
She made a zipper gesture over her mouth and scooted closer to her desk. She grimaced apologetically when her chair screeched against the floor.
The shock was wearing off, but the sheer dread in the pit of my stomach persisted. What if Russel decided that having me on his team would be an inconvenience? A few words between him and Anthony, and I could be unemployed by tomorrow.
I spent the next forty-five minutes staring at my screen, pretending to focus while replaying every possible horror scenario in my head.
“Thank you for coming, Eddie. Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.” The door clicked shut behind me, and the walls of the office seemed to be closing in on me. It didn’t help that the blinds were down, the room dark aside from a weak lamp on Russel’s desk. The lighting looked way too intimate and a little ominous.
I worked hard to hide my rising panic.
Of course, Russel was smiling, completely at ease. “Sorry for the blackout. Too much daylight gives me migraines, and I didn’t want to cover half of my face with shades when meeting my team.” He gestured to the chair across from him, and I sat.
“It’s okay. I understand.” My voice came out shaky, dammit. I slowly breathed into my stomach, an exercise I’d learned to calm down when I felt exposed. It was a discreet trick, supposedly unnoticeable, but this man, with his heightened senses, must have seen through me. He’d be able to hear my heartbeat from across the hall.
He eyed me as if he expected me to bolt, then said, “I’m as surprised as you must be.”
I doubted it, but I stretched my lips in what I hoped resembled a polite smile.
“I’m also rather disappointed,” he continued. “I was hoping to meet you again, just not under these circumstances.” His golden eyes were warm, his tone kind. He leaned forward, assessing me with obvious interest.Jesus. He wouldn’t flirt with me, would he? Did I want him to?
“I went back to the club,” he said. “I spent the weekend looking for you.”
I blinked.He…what?I felt myself leaning forward as if he had me on a string.
Are you insane? He’s your boss!
I mentally slapped myself and straightened in the chair. I’d have to be tougher than this.
You’ve been through way worse. You’re a professional. Act like it!
“My job is very important to me.” My tone was as steely as I could muster, and the words had an immediate effect. Russel moved back, and his expression fell.
Seconds ticked by, and I tried like hell not to squirm. He stared at me, unblinking, his expression giving nothing away.
“You’re very good at it,” he finally said. “I’ve read your profile and the case reports. Anthony is correct, praising your talent.”
“He gave me a chance when I was fresh out of school and without any connections. I’ve been trying not to disappoint him.” Russel was a communication and PR expert. Surely, he could read between the lines.
“I know that you finished your MA on a partial scholarship and that while you have a modest salary, Fowles & Tito is paying off your student loan.”
“Anthony has been very kind and generous.”
