Free Forsaking Gray (The Colloway Brothers Book 1) by K.L. Kreig

fingertip. My disgust is rapidly morphing to anger. I have done nothing to lead this man on and he’s my boss, for God’s sake. For the umpteenth time this week, I wonder how I’ll ever be able to keep this job. I’ve caught on quick, I like the few work friends I’ve made and I love the salary, but I don’t know if I can handle Wes’s advances without kicking him so hard in the balls he chokes on them. And his advances are becoming more blatant with each passing day.
    “You were really great this week, Livvy,” he says softly. My anger spikes. I won’t let any man call me that. That name is reserved only for Gray. And I know I’ll never hear it again.
    “I prefer Livia and thank you.” I snap the last binder closed, spin and step around him, but not before he gently grabs my wrist, stopping me. I know the look on my face is purely lethal because he lets go like he’s just been burned.
    “Would you like to get a drink?”
    Hmmm…would I like to have a root canal?
    “No, but thank you.”
    “At least let me give you a ride home. It’s the least I can do since I’ve made you stay so late. I’m sure you’ve missed your train.”
    I try my level best to smile, but I’m quite sure it comes across as more of a sneer. “Thank you, but my boyfriend is picking me up. In fact, he’s already on his way.”
    “I didn’t realize you had a boyfriend,” he replied, unable to hide his disappointment.
    Why the hell didn’t I think of this earlier?
    “You didn’t ask. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say with false sweetness as I walk out of the copy room and quickly make my way to my desk where I grab my purse and head toward the elevator.
    “See you tomorrow, Livia,” he calls after me.
    I don’t reply, but I do throw my hand in the air acknowledging his pathetic attempt to right things between us.
    As I step into the elevator, I mentally pat myself on the back. I have a good feeling that tomorrow will be the start of a new working relationship between my boss and myself. A more professional one. The boyfriend ruse will surely get him to back off and if it doesn’t, I’ll just have to unleash my inner bitch. She’s been dying to take someone out.
    Once the doors close, I text Addy that I’m ready for a ride and make my way down to the first floor to wait the thirty minutes it will take for her to get here. I then head to the bathroom to avoid Wes in case he catches me waiting.
    Even though I vowed to stay away from alcohol for a while after last Saturday, I think one celebratory glass of wine when I get home won’t hurt. After less than two weeks on the job, I single-handedly got the sorriest excuse for a Vice President I’ve ever seen ready for one of the biggest meetings of the year. And it feels good. More than good.
    Cheers to me.
     

Chapter 10
     

     
     
    “You’d better have good news for me,” I snap when I answer my phone and stand to pace. I’ve been on fucking pins and needles all week. My patience is stretched so goddamned thin, God help the person who’s standing next to me when it snaps, which is bound to happen any minute. Even Bonnie’s smartly kept her distance.
    “I do, sir. The woman accompanying Ms. Kingsley to the fundraiser is Kamryn Winthrop. She owns her own clothing design company. She’s been out of town on business this week, so I haven’t been able to talk to her yet.”
    “And that’s your good news?” I can feel the tenuously tight grip I have on my patience slip a little more. My blood pressure is so high right now I wouldn’t be surprised if Bonnie walks in here at the end of the day to find me dead and stiff in my chair from a stroke.
    “No. A background check popped up,” Burt replied.
    I freeze. “For what?”
    “A job. A company called HMT Enterprises on—” I hear papers shuffling before he continues, but I already know what he’s going to say. I make my way back to my chair and blindly sit.
    “Ah, the loop. At the corner of West Randolph