Page 52 of Takeover
Well then."All right, is my fiancé in his office then?"
I saw the muscle in her jaw tick as she kept typing, not bothering to meet my gaze."He's very busy."
"Okay, but he told me anytime I needed anything, I was to come directly to him.So I'll just pop in really quick."
She shoved to her feet and yelled, "I said he's occupied."
But I still managed to bypass her.I might not be a Price yet, but if Atticus told me to come to him directly with problems, and last night was a test, I planned to take him up on it.
I knocked on his door, knowing he could see it was me through the glass, but I could also see that he wasn't alone.
Bronson.
The cold sweat that popped up on my skin made me swallow hard.
Fuck.Fuck.Fuck.
I forced a smile on my face and opened the door as he gestured for me to come in.
"Well, this is a surprise," he said as he walked around the desk, and all I could do was force that tight-lipped smile.Bronson was glowering at me from the couch.
He can't hurt you.He cannot hurt you.Your company is not in his hands.
Atticus made a show of brushing his lips over mine.I could also feel the heated stare from the doorway behind me, which meant bitchy-face was pissed.
"Mr.Price, I'm so sorry, she just?—"
Still tucking me against him, he shifted to the side to look at her."Gwen is about to be Mrs.Price, which means that she has access to me whenever she wants it."
I could almost hear her sputtering, and I wanted to turn to look and relish it, but I couldn't.I had bigger fish to fry.What the hell was Bronson doing here?
"I'm so sorry to interrupt.You said to come by whenever, and I just…"
"You're fine,” Atticus said.“Jacobson was just leaving, actually."
Bronson stood then, adjusted his suit, and rebuttoned his jacket."How could I interrupt the lovebirds?"He shook Atticus's hand."I guess we'll be talking more."
Atticus just cocked his head.I couldn't read that expression, but it felt icy."We'll see how things go."
Bronson turned to me and spread his arms as if he expected me to walk into them.
Get fucked, asshole.
When I didn't step forward, Bronson stepped toward me.
But right before he could touch me, Atticus wrapped his hand around my middle and turned me aside so that all Bronson managed to do was tap me on the shoulder.His gaze narrowed at Atticus then swung to me just for a second."Well, I guess I'll leave you two alone for whatever you’ll be getting up to in here."
I pursed my lips together."That, delightfully, is none of your business."And then I turned my back on him.
I knew to never turn my back on a wounded animal, ever.But I had to.Because I had to gather myself like nothing was wrong.
The door closed behind us, and the warmth from Atticus was gone.
"I'm surprised to see you, Gwen."
"I-I didn't know you had a meeting."
"Jacobson?He was in here trying to make a deal to license your tech.He knows with the acquisition that he no longer has a route except through Pendragon.Why?"
