Page 6 of Beguiled

It doesn’t matter that he’s breathtakingly handsome or can command a room from afar. He is a nightmare to work for and wouldn’t be nearly so successful if he didn’t have me to pick up the slack. Imagine what would happen if I dared point out all his mistakes. And do you want to know the worst of it? He doesn’t listen to me. Not a word. Not my advice or suggestionson investment opportunities or in considering taking the company public.

By creating strategic partnerships, Chertov Corporation would double their financial standing in one year. One year! But no, the man with the perfect abs and gorgeous, albeit frigid blue eyes continues to go about his merry little way in his own glass house world.

Just like all men. They can’t handle the strength and intelligence of a woman. You know exactly what I mean. I tell you what, his life must be dull and full of drudgery. Mr. Boring. I bet he has eight of the same suits, six of the exact same ties. Who the hell is his tailor. I know, but he’s the boss. Right?

Even with his perfectly sculpted body, he is a cold fish who likely eats small children for breakfast. Can you tell I need a night out on the town? Right now, lunch will have to do. Anyway, let me know if tomorrow is good for you.”

Huffing, I quickly read over the email before hitting send. It had only taken me several months of bickering and bantering with him to come to the conclusion he was hardheaded as any man could me. I’d thought I could work miracles, convincing him to listen to me.

I’d been dead wrong.

Time for a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow was another day of maneuvering around the sleeping bull.

Or maybe I should call him a caged lion.

* * *

Get out of my way, you idiot!

The words were on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I gritted my teeth while the asshole who remained seemingly completely unaware he’d created a people jam barked out orders on his cellphone like he was a drill sergeant. However, I knew his type.

He was an arrogant man-child who believed his presence alone on this earth allowed for his bad behavior.

The only reason I didn’t fill his ears with some creative expletives was because my mama had raised a good girl.

At least for the most part.

Although even I could admit living in the Big Apple had been impactful. No longer was I the kind of girl to allow anyone, including rich, handsome men, to walk all over me.

Especially this asshole. I almost laughed. I’d been down the road with a stranger. Never, ever again.

“I told you, Jeanine, this report is unacceptable. What you gave me is absolute garbage. My six-year-old son could provide a more qualified report. Maybe I’ll task him to do so.” He laughed when poor Jeanine attempted to rebut his horrendous and very nasty comment.

People were actively trying to get around him, finding it difficult since he needed to spend more time on a treadmill and less behind his desk studying useless reports.

Horns honked.

People shouted.

Bells rang.

Collectively the sound was worse than a teacher scratching her long, sharp claws down a blackboard while being eager to condemn your work. Yeah, I’d had one of those teachers in elementary school, our tiny district unable to afford modern equipment. I was sweating bullets and in my off the rack silk blouse, the material was going to stain.

That was unacceptable.

“And don’t even think about going on vacation,” the prick continued. “Your time off has been canceled.”

The bastard laughed after making the statement, enjoying Jeanine’s pain. I fell into step directly behind him, the bones in my neck cracking when I stretched it from side to side. The sound of my increased tension echoed in my ears even on a crowded sidewalk in the middle of Manhattan.

A strand of hair fell into my face because of the haphazard bun stuck like a pincushion on top of my head. The horrific hairstyle was the product of my alarm deciding to take a vacation, and awakening to my body covered in sweat since the air conditioning was broken in the entire apartment building.

Then a phone call from my mother, which meant she hadn’t been able to sleep since it had been five in the morning when she’d called. Just to see how I was doing. Bullshit. She wasn’t a good liar, putting on a good face when facing losing everything. And even after enduring the most infuriating man in the world for endless months, I still couldn’t provide my family with the type of help they required.

Oh, I needed a vacation, a huge bottle of tequila, and a raise.

Not necessarily in that order.

I wouldn’t give credence to the fact my pantyhose had remained damp based on the high humidity, causing a run in two pairs. Money I didn’t have to waste. Every dime saved for a very specific reason.