He drags himself off the chair and follows me to the table, and we’re welcomed with a few cheers and slaps on the shoulders. “All right?” I ask Mac, the manager of the accounts department, a tall ginger Scotsman.
He rests his beer on the table as the other guys start laughing. “The boys were just comparing notes on Sal’s new hot-as-fuck assistant.”
Oh. My stomach twists.
“Rein it in,” Sal says. “There will be none of that.”
“Good scoop.” Mac’s right-hand man, Jase, pipes up, blowing out a breath and fanning his face. “Jesus, have you seen the legs on it?”
My jaw tightens. It? “I’ve not looked.”
“Give me a break.” He laughs, and the rest of the group joins him. “It’s impossible not to. The tits, the arse, the curves. And don’t get me started on that face. Her fuckability factor is . . .” Jase fades off, a frown forming on his face, and the laughter of the group dies. “Hey, you okay? You’re sweating.”
I blink, the cloud of building fury clearing until I see everyone looking at me. “Don’t talk about her like she’s a fucking object,” I snap. “You sound like a load of sexist wankers.” I’m the biggest fucking hypocrite, what with my comments on the condoms. Reaching up, I wipe my brow, feeling the dampness, and then I look down at my fist clenched tightly around my glass. “It’s hot in here,” I say, taking a needed glug of my drink. “Another round?” I need to get away before I sock any one of them in the face.
A dozen glasses get raised in agreement, and I’m away from the group in a shot. “Hey.” Sal joins me at the bar, looking concerned. “You okay?”
“I’ve not eaten today,” I lie, waving the barman over. “Maybe I’ll order some food.” I couldn’t eat if I wanted to. My stomach is knotting terribly, and all the effort I’ve used to push Lainey out of my head is suddenly wasted. I feel strung. It must be obvious, and it’s a result of listening to those idiots summing up Lainey’s fuckability. Because, of course, I’ve not been doing that myself.
“Hey, Violet.” Sal says to the woman who heads up our digital department. She’s only been with us for a few months but is proving to be a great fit for Christianson Walker.
She smiles. Was that a coy smile? I glance over to Sal, finding him smiling right back. They’re flirting? I nudge him in the side and cock my head in question, making him frown as I hand him another beer.
“What are you having, Violet?” I ask.
“Gin and tonic, please.”
I order, keeping a watchful eye on them both as they catch up on the digital team’s planned social media reach over the next year. “Gin and tonic,” I confirm, pushing the glass toward her when the barman sets it down.
“Thanks, Ty.” She slips off the stool and goes to join the guys a few meters away.
“What was that?” I ask Sal, as he takes her seat.
“What?”
“The look. The smile. You were flirting.”
He scoffs. “I was not flirting, Tyler. I know the rules. Anyway,” he goes on, but is cut off by the sound of his phone. He groans when he checks who’s calling. “Bollocks.”
“Moya?”
“Yep.” He rejects the call, but a chime follows quickly, signaling the arrival of a text. “For fuck’s sake.”
“What is it?”
“Nothing,” Sal mutters under his breath. “It’s just a ploy to get me home.”
“Well, you’re feeling brave.”
“I need man time. So kill me.” He sinks the rest of his beer and then orders a Scotch, taking a long swig as he wanders over to the others.
I chuckle and turn away from the bar, finding Gina. My amusement shrivels the moment I register her rosy cheeks. She’s been on the wine, which means my assistant will be spunkier than usual. And she’s quite spunky anyway. It also means I’m about to be grilled.
“Oh, Mac wants me.” I point my glass over her shoulder to no one—Mac’s nowhere in sight—not that Gina knows this. She’s too busy drilling accusing eyes into me. “Excuse me.” I go to pass her and get blocked.
“Not so fast, mister,” she says threateningly.
I’m immediately on the defense. “May I remind you who the boss is in this relationship?” I ask her in complete vain.
“You can try.” She thrusts her chest out, prompting my eyes to drop to her boobs.
I scowl when I register the unfastening of an extra button. “You on the pull tonight?” I ask, dragging my eyes back up.
“There’s no man in here who could handle me.” She gives me an ironic smirk, and I laugh. She’s right. But I don’t like the thought of her single forever. There’s gotta be a man out there for my Gina. Someone who can handle her fire. Maybe it’s time for me to step in and fix her up with someone. She’s . . . what? Early thirties? I’ve never known her to have a second date. “Are you on the pull?” she asks.
“Yes,” I answer adamantly. “I plan on beating my personal record this coming weekend.” I’m not kidding either. That failed sex session with Pamela a few weeks back scarred me, and I don’t plan on letting it happen again. Jesus, I’ve never gone so long without sex. Once tomorrow is out of the way and the weekend hits, I’m gonna fix this drought. Flood the fucker.
“Good.” She points over my shoulder. “You can start there. She’s been giving you the eye since we arrived.”
I glance over my shoulder and find a hot blonde looking in our direction. My head starts nodding agreeably. “Good spot.” I swipe my beer up and dip to kiss Gina on the cheek. “Don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she mutters. “Would now be a good time to ask for a raise?”
She’s a case. Gina must be the best paid PA in London. “Whatever you want, gorgeous.” I head over to the hot blonde, smiling my dazzling smile. I’m about to make her year, and she’s about to make my day. “Evening,” I say, helping myself to the stool next to her. “Drink?”
She laughs. “I was bracing myself for a mind-blowing chat-up line.”
“I don’t do chat-up lines,” I inform her smoothly. “But if it’s mind-blowing you’re looking for, then I’m your man.”
Her eyebrows jump up. “Is that so?”
“That’s so,” I confirm, holding my hand out. “Ty Christianson.”
She looks down, stalling a little. “There’s no need for introductions.”
I withdraw, pouting. “You want to play it like that, then?” I like this woman.
She holds her own hand out. “No, I meant I already know your name.”
Oh shit, have I fucked her before? She isn’t familiar. “Have we met?” I ask tentatively, maybe bracing myself for a slap.
“No, we haven’t.”
“Then how—”
“I work for Bexley Law on the seventh floor. Christianson Walker is on the thirteenth, right?”
Phew. “Right. So you know my name, but I don’t know yours.” I take her hand and shake it slowly. “That puts me at a disadvantage.”