Page 19 of Possessive Mr. Pen

My heart beats faster as fear and hunger pulse through me.

I angle my body away from him while keeping him at the edge of my vision and forcing myself to engage with my friends despite my urge to run as far and fast as possible.

I’ve never wanted to avoid this group of ladies before, not even when Brook announced her pregnancy, but after watching my sister struggle through my visit this morning, my emotions are too raw to handle the upheaval.The doctors said Hannah’s condition would fluctuate and to expect good and bad days, but she hasn’t had this much trouble in a long time.

I don’t know how I’m going to get the money for the clinical trial in such a short time, but I’ll figure it out.I always do.

“What were you and that big guy talking about so seriously, Penelope?”Karey asks.

Penelope pulls her lip ring into her mouth and shifts her weight in discomfort as everyone turns their attention to her.

“A job offer.He wanted to hire me for a big expansion project.”

Fear for my friend spears through me.

Unexpected terror rises from my depths as I realize both Brook and Audrey met their husband and husband-to-be in a professional setting.Penelope is so small and timid, she doesn’t stand a chance against that big brute if he gets handsy.

And he already has.I scolded him yesterday for taking her beloved ring.

My fury tumbles from my lips before I think better of it..

“I can’t believe that jerk had the audacity to think you might even consider having him for a boss.You—”

“I accepted,” she interrupts.

I bite my tongue to stop my curse from exploding from my mouth.

“The terms are wildly in my favor.So much so, in fact, that I expect him to try to renegotiate before I sign a contract, but I’ll walk if he does,” Penelope says.

The certainty shining in her eyes reminds me of the determination she shows during self-defense class.She may be the smallest one in the group, but she masters each new skill long before the rest of us.

I swallow my misgivings but can’t help asking, “Are you sure about this?”

She nods, so I join the others in congratulating her.

Maybe I’m projecting myself onto her instead of giving her the credit she’s due, but the situation hits too close to mine.

If there’s something in the water or some sick law of attraction where boss and employee must end up together, I want absolutely nothing to do with it.Fate can fuck right off with that shit.

I will never have more than a professional relationship with my boss.

Ever.

Chapter 6

Connor Pen

Frustration taints my every move.Every thought unlucky enough to cross my mind endures a thorough heaping of cynicism.I regret letting my warrior queen set the pace.

An entire work week of pure professionalism—without a single moment of stolen intimacy between us—has my teeth on edge.If I were a lesser man, I’d give in to fidgeting, but after years of training with my uncles, I refuse to allow my body to give away such a massive tell.Even in the company I built from scratch, I’m not safe.Anyone except for Hilary could be a potential spy, whether a regular business rival or the targets of my revenge.

I can’t let down my guard no matter how thick my impatience.

Which makes my prolonged studying of Hilary through the security feed on my computer screen throughout the week abhorrent slips of judgment.I shouldn’t have taken so long to notice her moments of stillness as her zoning out in worry.When I finally realized the depths of her troubles couldn’t all stem from me, I contacted the only professional I trust to dig into her daily life.

With my uncles as retired as they’ll ever be, I won’t deny using their skills and associates to get where I am today.The meticulously secretive and highly sought after personal investigator I called served alongside my uncles, although he seems closer to my age than theirs, so I’m not sure how their time overlapped, but he’s never failed me before.

He came through again.I’ll use the information he provided to my advantage.