“Maybe I just like putting things in your mouth.” He calls after me as I step back out into the hallway. I can hear the smile in his voice. Boys!
I go to the staff room and find a fork. Chop sticks, really? Who uses chop sticks? It’s just deliberately making life harder for yourself, and no, it’s not cool or cultured.
I make my way back to the office. Theo hasn’t moved. He still looks like some Greek statue, the image of male perfection.
“Why are you dealing with Hardy?” He meets my eyes, a frown carved into his features.
“Um, because he’s my client.” I’m so bloody hungry. I pick up the plastic container of noodles and move around him to sit in my chair. I take a mouthful. Oh god, it’s just greasy goodness. I love it.
He turns his body to face me. “I thought you dropped him.” His tone is tense, his words clipped. I swallow my mouthful and study him. Is he angry?
“In the Wyatt case, yes.” I reply, my tone cool.
He turns away from me and scowls at the papers in his hand. I lean forward and snatch them from his grasp. “You should not be reading confidential legal documents.” I snap.
“You shouldn’t leave them on your desk.” Oh, he did not.
I place the container of food on the desk and stand up. I move to the corner of the room, and unlock the filing cabinet, placing the papers inside. I take an extra few seconds before I turn and face him. When I do finally turn around, his blue eyes are fixed on me. He’s leant back against the desk, and his knuckle are white from gripping the desk so hard. Something has him riled, but right now I don’t give a fuck.
“You do not get to come in here and start reading my stuff, and getting pissy because I have certain clients. Grow the fuck up.” I say calmly.
His eyes blaze like a blue flame. “You told me you dropped Hardy.”
“We did, but now he wants me to do some work for him, and seeing as you are not the only rich arsehole in London, Simmons is keen for me to work with him. This is my work, and it doesn’t concern you.” I grate.
His expression becomes icy. “Everything about you concerns me.” He pushes himself off the desk and stalks toward me slowly, calculated.
“Oh, fuck no. Do not start this shit!” I point at him. I don’t know what has him going all territorial on me, but I do not like the look on his face.
He says nothing as he moves quietly in front of me. He places one hand on either side of my head, gripping the top of the cabinet and pinning me against it. His eyes meet mine. I’m gripped, and despite wanting to shrink away from the intensity of his stare, I can’t. “You are mine Lilly.” He says in that tone that drips with power. I swear I almost feel my temperature rise in a red haze. I can deal with his possessive dominant shit in most situations, but this is about my work. He does not get to do this here.
I force myself to breath. In and out, in and out. “I am not a fucking possession.” I say through my clenched jaw. “I will work with whoever the fuck I want. You don’t like it, you know where the fucking door is.” I try to duck under his arm, but he moves and grabs me by my chin, forcing me to look at him. It’s a gesture I normally think nothing of. I know Theo would never hurt me, but given the expression on his face, it’s an aggressive move.
“Don’t. Fucking. Do that.” He growls.
“Fuck you.” I snap out.
“Don’t start lashing out at me and running just because you don’t like what I have to say. There is no door. No way out. This is it. You promised me you wouldn’t run.” And there it is, just the merest hint of vulnerability in his voice. His hand moves from my jaw to the back of my neck. It feels like he’s holding on for dear life, as though I might disappear.
My anger starts to dissipate, and as rational thought creeps back in, I start to think more clearly. This isn’t normal for him, so why is he behaving like this? James Hardy. “I have my life Theo, you don’t own me. Why do you have such a problem with James Hardy?”
There’s a long beat of silence. He leans in until his forehead is touching mine. He takes a deep breath, as though he’s trying to breathe me in, before he pushes away and turns his back on me. Jesus, I’m going to get whiplash at this rate.
He folds his hands behind his head and turns to face me. His naked torso is stretched out on display.
“Years ago, I accidentally fucked his fiancée.” He says. Oh, now it all comes out.
“Great. And this affects me why?”
His eyes meet mine, pleading with me. “He hates me. He wants revenge, and he’s made it clear that he will use you to get it.”