Page 20 of Open To Negotiation

One deep breath.

And then another.

It wasn’t working. Coming home to a quiet house usually didn’t bother me, actually I preferred it. But tonight I was feeling lonely and my mind kept wandering—against my will—to Theo Knight.

His stupid broad shoulders, dark hair, his dumb mesmerizing eyes and an intensity that was intoxicating.

I’d said no to him both times because honestly, he intimidated me, and I had no idea how to handle that.

“No more thinking of Theo Knight,” I reprimanded myself. “I’m never going to see him again.” I puffed out a breath and pushed up from the couch.

Sometimes I considered getting a dog but with some unpredictable working hours I didn’t feel right about it; but on nights like this, I wish I had a companion.

“Great. Now I’m talking to myself.”

I walked to the shower to burn a layer of skin off with the heat.

“You look terrible,” James commented as he sat beside me. I glared at him as I finished the last of my second coffee.

Unfortunately, he was right, because for the last two nights, I hadn’t slept for more than a few hours. I’d tossed and turned but couldn’t settle, and then when I finally did fall asleep my dreams were plagued with someone who looked suspiciously like Theo Knight.

So I’d woken up hot, bothered, and exhausted. By four a.m. I had just gotten up and gotten some work done from home before coming in.

“Wow, thanks,” I said as James chuckled. “All I can say is I’m so happy it’s Friday.” I tightened my ponytail and rolled my shoulders trying to release the tension I was holding there.

“Any big plans this weekend?” He asked me this every week. He knew what my answer was.

“Nope, what about you?” He spent the next ten minutes running through his action-packed weekend of going to a new bar in town, a brunch and he was joining a group on a hike. Even listening to his plan was exhausting me.

“Miss West.” James and I both turned to face Margret who was standing behind us. I hid my surprise, she only ever called me over the phone, rarely leaving her post.

“Are you in trouble?” James whispered low out the side of his mouth.

“Mr. Walters has requested your presence in the boardroom. Now.” She didn’t wait for my response before turning around and walking away.

“What did you do?” James asked as I shrugged and stood up, heading in the direction of the boardroom at the back of the office.

My stomach tightened with anxiety as I thought about what I could have possibly done that required a boardroom meeting. I pushed my shoulders back, huffed a breath, and knocked.

“Come on in, Quinn.” I heard Richard call from inside.

About three steps into the room, I froze.

At the head of the table sat the man who had been haunting my dreams. Theo Knight sat there looking like he owned the room.

He was sitting back in the chair, his ankle resting on his knee, one arm resting on the table casually. He looked just as charming today in a dark charcoal grey suit and white button up shirt. The color really made his eyes greyer, which only made them more intense. Again, he didn’t have a tie on, the top few buttons of his shirt were undone, and he was staring at me with an eyebrow raised.

“What the hell are you—”

“Miss West!” I hadn’t even noticed Richard sitting in the chair on his right, looking startled and embarrassed on my behalf. Theo took up the room and sucked up all my attention.

“It’s fine, Richard.” Theo’s voice was curt and authoritative, and I would have laughed at how quick Richard shut his mouth if I wasn’t so focused on Theo.

“Sit down, Miss West.” Richard had never called me by my last name before; guess he was trying to be professional.

His eyes were only on my chest for a moment though, breaking any ruse of professionalism before he waved at a chair across from him but I didn’t want to sit. Theo must have seen my hesitation.

“She can stand if she wants.” Theo raised an eyebrow, daring Richard to protest but again he kept his mouth shut. It was fascinating to watch.