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From the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw Joren wince.
The room was silent for one long, tense moment, and then, “Fuck.”
The sound drew my attention behind me in time to see Roc staring at the floor like he wanted to be anywhere else but here. Even Golden’s usual impassivity was gone as he stared at me like he was seeing me for the first time. Or maybe he was just getting one last look since he’d probably never see me again.
I’d done it again. I’d reacted without thinking.
“Get out.” Hoping he’d meant me, I immediately started for the door. Of course, I wasn’t that lucky. “Bring your ass back here, Atlas.”
Damn it.
The chair next to me scraped across the floor, and then Joren unfolded his muscular frame from the seat. Ignoring me, he headed for the door and left without a backward glance. Hearing movement behind me, I turned completely, stupidly giving Rowdy my back as Roc and Golden followed suit.
“Wait…”
Surprisingly, it was Golden who stopped.
Roc’s bitch-ass pretended he didn’t hear me as he headed straight for the door, leaving me on my own. Once he was gone, Golden walked past me and around the desk to whisper something in Rowdy’s ear.
His expression remained aloof even as he said, “Golden said to tell him who you really are and why you’re here, and he’ll take you with him.”
“What?”
Rowdy ignored me. “I don’t even know why you’re wasting your time, G. This little bitch been suspect since the beginning.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I said anyway, “Kind of like four grown men sitting in the dark behind a locked door?”
“Door wasn’t locked,” Rowdy returned with an indignant sniff.
Golden just stared at me, waiting for me to fess up. I started to do so many times I lost count.
“I’m sorry, Golden. I don’t know what you mean.”
The air in the room was thick with my lie, and I could see the disappointment in Golden’s eyes just before he whispered something else to Rowdy, who nodded. “Appreciate it, bruh.”
Golden didn’t look at me as he strode straight for the door.
A moment later, I was alone with Rowdy for the second time today.
Atlas was doing a terrible job pretending she wasn’t about to lose it.
“Did you know corporal punishment in the workplace used to be legal?” I bullshitted. I had no idea if that was true, but I enjoyed watching her pause, her nervous gaze shifting toward the door.
Atlas must have realized she’d never reach it in time because she said, “Touch me, and you’ll lose a hand.”
“I doubt it.” I stood up and walked around the desk until I was standing close enough to force her head back to hold my gaze—the stubborn little thing. “You can try, though,” I offered seriously.
Just to show her and satisfy my own curiosity, I ran my hand over her hip.
I could tell Atlas was torn between begging me to shift my hand a few inches to the left and making good on her threat. A moment later, she settled for blindly fumbling behind her to grip the edge of the desk.
“Stop touching me.”
“You didn’t ask nicely.”
“Please stop touching me. Fuck you. Thanks.”
I grinned. “Keep it up. I just might.”
