Page 68 of Tangled Control

“What’s going on inside that big brain of yours, Ice Queen?”

Rian has stopped shifting through the papers on his desk and eyes me with brows drawn. I straighten and try to hide my emotions from my face. Before I can answer, however, Rosie sails giggling into the room.

“Ach, Ri, why aren’t you dating that Mona girl? She’s absolutely stunning! And funny too!”

My stomach drops. Rian casts a quick glance at me, then directs his attention back to the files on his desk and mumbles. “My dating life is none of your concern.”

“Well, Gemma is a dote too, but I think she’s a bit too lively for you,” Rosie continues, ignoring her brother’s words. Ignoring the fact that I’m in the room with them.Invisible.

“Rosie, I don’t get involved with your love life, so stay out of mine,” Rian growls. His jaw is clenched, but his sister only laughs.

“According to Dad, you’re dating just about any woman in the office, so why not Mona? It’s not like you’re with Alexandra or anything. Maybe,” she whispers, conspiratorially, “maybe if you were officially dating Mona, Alexandra would finally wake up and let you date her?”

Acid water is flowing through my veins, killing me from the inside.

“Miss Taylor!” Rian’s sharp voice hits me like a riding crop. His eyes are focused on me, dark, almost threatening. “I expect you to have the marketing budget updated by the time I’m back.”

His cold words have the expected effect. For the second time in only a couple of minutes, I straighten my back, lift my chin, and fix a cold stare at Rian.

“Consider it done,sir.” I grab the papers he’s handing me.

As I walk with purposeful strides out of the office, I notice Rosie’s eyebrows raise in surprise. For the first time, I have her attention, andI’vegot a chip on my shoulder that’s going nowhere. My mood is just as dark as my back is straight when Rian returns from lunch, and it hasn’t improved one bit when we’re having a meeting close to the end of the day.

“Just because I haven’t worked at some high-flying company in Malaysia or New York, it doesn’t mean that I don’t know how to set up a contract. The jewellery shop owners would likesecurityandcomfort,notbig words and pushy upsells!” I snap.

Arrogance is oozing from Rian’s slouched body on the other side of the conference table. “Well, just because they’re small customers, it doesn’t mean that we can’t think big. We shouldn’t underestimate their potential. Isn’t it you who always tells me that I don’t value the small customers enough?”

Fuck him. I may be sleeping with my boss, but that doesn’t mean I have to roll over for him. And after the way Rosie ignored me earlier, I’m for sure not backing down.

“There’s a major difference between understanding their potential and overestimating—”

“Enough,” he barks. “You’re too stubborn to see sense, and it’s way past home time. Your colleagues would like to leave.”

I glance around the table and notice Gemma and Trevor observing us with amusement. We’ve been arguing for a while now. It’s probably time to end it. I bite back my reply that would prolong the meeting even more.

“Gemma, Trevor – go home.” Rian’s gaze zooms in on me. “Miss Taylor, you stay.” His voice drops. “I’m sure you don’t want an audience when I put you down.”

Something zaps and bursts low in my abs, and I instinctively clamp my legs together.That fecking bastard!How is it possible for a comment like that to have such an effect on my body?

“We’ll see who puts who down,” I reply with what I hope is a cold, even voice, although I know very well that he’ll be on top.

In charge.

Demanding.

Punishing.

The chip on my shoulder has done a very timely disappearing act. I shouldn’t succumb – I’m a disgrace to the female race – but I also have tingles all the way to my toes.

Gemma gives me a lopsided smile as they hurry to their feet, eager to leave. With the soft click of the door closing behind them, the air thickens. Rian’s eyes darken and awareness sizzles over my skin. What’s his next move? His shirt stretches over his shoulders as he places both palms flat on the table and rises. His size seems ominous to my seated form. Slowly he walks around the conference table. I jolt when he grips my shoulders. His warm breath fans down my neck.

“Don’t. Move.”

The dark timbre of his voice strums my core, and I still. His heat disappears and I hear him walk across the floor behind me to his desk, where he proceeds to make a phone call. It sounds like he’s chatting with one of his friends, just friendly banter.

Yet I don’t move.

He keeps me waiting.