Page 5 of Spiral Lies

I jerk my chin, not denying it. Yeah, I want to crack. I want to fucking break for her. But not if it's going to threaten her job. Unlike me, the university doesn't pay her millions every year. They pay her and every other executive assistant a pittance. I won't be the reason she loses her position.

"If I do…crack..." I say carefully, "Would her job be safe if she worked under someone else?"

"Let me get this straight," he mutters. "You're in here asking about her job, not yours?"

"Yes."

He stares at me for a long, silent moment before he bursts into laughter. "You're fucked."

"Fully aware," I growl at him. "Answer the question."

"Yeah, Stone. If she works under someone else, there's nothing preventing you from cracking." He shakes his head, still chuckling. "Jesus Christ. How do you want to handle this?"

I hesitate, not honestly sure. Part of me wants to leave the choice up to her since it's her job. But I've always been the motherfucker who asks for forgiveness instead of permission, especially when it counts. If I give her the choice, she may tell me to go fuck myself just for the hell of it. Apparently, I've been a Thanos-level villain.

"Is there a world where she gets to keep being my assistant, but answers to someone else?" I ask. That'd be ideal. I still see her every day, but without being her direct supervisor. She'd have the autonomy to tell me to go fuck myself without feeling like her job was at risk.

"Perhaps," Hector says. "We can restructure the position so she answers directly to me. I'd have to fill in the Chancellor, but I don't foresee Aaron having a problem with it." He pauses, holding up a finger. "So long as the two of you are discreet and it's her choice, obviously."

"Obviously, it'll be her choice," I growl. "Why the fuck do you think I'm in here now? I'm trying to do this the right way for her."

"You care about her."

I shrug instead of answering, not prepared to have this conversation with Hector when I haven't even had it with her. An hour ago, I didn't think I stood a chance with her.

I came to work this morning, fully prepared to keep this shit bottled for another day. That little slip of paper changed things. I saw the panic in her gaze when she realized I had it. I saw the way her cheeks turned pink when she lied about why my name was on it.

She wants me.

As far as I'm concerned, that changes things.

Hell, it changes everything.

"Make it happen," I tell Hector. "I'll let her know that she'll be reporting to you from now on."

"Good luck," he says, grinning at me. "But if she kills you before we win that fucking title, it'll be your ass."

"Just do it," I growl, stomping toward the door.

Seraphina is at her desk when I stride back into our office suite, her face scrunched up as she types out a text to someone, muttering under her breath.

She jumps when she sees me, dropping her phone. Something about me makes her nervous as hell. Always has. With everyone else, she's grace personified. With me, she's a stuttering, stumbling, walking disaster. I never thought I'd see the day when I found clumsiness so goddamn endearing—or so sexy—but here we are. Every time she stumbles, I want to scoop her up and fuck her raw. Every time she stutters, I imagine her beneath me, stuttering and moaning through an orgasm.

"We need to talk," I say. "Come to my office."

"Um, okay." She grabs the phone, shoving it into her desk drawer, and then stands, following me into my office like she's preparing for her funeral.

I leave the door open a crack, striding to my desk.

"Do you need something?" she asks after a long, silent moment.

"Yes." I lift my gaze, meeting hers. "You're going to be working under Hector Guiterrez from now on."

I think I should have found a gentler way to break the news, because she jerks like I just slapped her, her entire body going rigid. "What?"

"Hector will be your direct supervisor from now on."

"Are you kidding me right now?" she growls, her face flushing. "You're firing me?"