Edison wiped at his face. “I promise. I’m gonna threaten Skylar to within an inch of his life tomorrow. And I’m never gonna take anything from…” Edison stopped, then backtracked. “No, I’m just staying away from him. Okay, Bishop. If that’s what you want me to do.”
He hated how dim Edison’s bright eyes had gone… because of him.
“I don’t want anything from him, okay. I just want to be your boyfriend. I won’t mess up again.”
“Fuck.” Bishop groaned. Trent was right. Edison had been duped as well, but what made it worse was that Skylar had made Edison doubt that he was a great boss. In Edison’s head, Skylar’s motives had had nothing to do with the man’s obvious suppressed attraction to him, but all about embarrassing him at work and wanting his title. Edison still couldn’t wrap his pretty head around the fact that Skylar wanted him so much that he was acting like an ass to try to get his attention. Like a damn juvenile.
“This is how I feel about this… goddamn tie, honey,” Edison said through clenched teeth.
Bishop smiled at hearing Edison’s first curse word… and his first term of endearment for him. Honey. He watched as he held the gorgeous tie up then slowly started to lower his arm. At first Bishop had no clue what he was doing, then he heard a loud whirring sound and realized just what was happening. The best part about that entire scene wasn’t that Edison was destroying the tie but that he had a real look of satisfaction on his face after he let the tip disappear.
Edison picked up his phone. “I’m really sorry, Bishop. I’ll see you tomorrow,” was the last thing Bishop heard before Edison disconnected.
Chapter Forty-Three
Edison
“Edison, do you want another coffee?” Mila asked gently from just inside his door.
Edison rubbed at the throbbing in his left temple. He’d gotten to work an hour early hoping to speak to Bishop, only to find out he’d taken the day off. Edison hadn’t been able to sleep more than a few hours last night after he’d passed out around one in the morning, so it’d taken him longer than usual to make himself presentable today. He’d woke on his couch with a piercing headache and the worst taste in his mouth he’d ever imagined. Worse than when he’d eaten a bad piece of monkfish.
“No, Mila. Thank you. I just really wanna be left alone today, all right? Divert anything that needs my attention the best you can, please.”
“Sure,” she said, continuing to give him a sad look.
“What?” Edison groaned.
“Did… did you and your guy have a fight or something?” Mila asked softly.
“No…” Edison frowned. “Well, yes… sort of. But, it’s fine. We’re fine.” Edison knew he sounded like a recently-dumped babbling buffoon, but he didn’t have the patience to clarify or go into any details. “Mimi. Please. We’ll talk soon, okay?”
“Okay, sure,” she said. “Oh, and you asked to be notified when Skylar was in his office.”
“Yes.” Edison jerked his head up.
“He’s here. Is there something you want me to handle for you?” she asked.
“No,” Edison damn near growled, and Mila’s expression switched to shock then confusion. Again, he wasn’t interested in explaining himself. “I’ll take care of this myself.”
Edison took the plastic Wegman’s shopping bag out of his desk and headed down the hall to Skylar’s office, next to attorney Maroko’s. He saw Skylar’s busty secretary pop her head up out of her cubicle, but he waved for her to sit back down. He tapped twice on Skylar’s closed door then walked inside without waiting for him to say come in. Skylar’s office was stiff and monochromatic, with his large, glass desk, and all black furniture. It made Edison feel as if he was enclosed in a mausoleum.
Skylar was sitting at his desk with a mug of steaming coffee in front of him, reading the newspaper and eating a protein bar. When he saw it was him, a slow smile spread across his face. The one that Skylar thought made all the women fall in line. Edison wanted to hurl the man’s stapler at him.
“And to what do I owe the pleasure, boss?” Skylar said, seeming to inject as much allure into his voice as he could.
“Cut the crap,” Edison snapped.
Skylar quirked one side of his mouth as if he was even more intrigued by Edison’s ire. His gaze raked over Edison’s gray Calvin Klein suit, then traveled back up his chest. Skylar dropped his hand into his lap and licked his lips.
What the…? Edison frowned, not trusting anything Skylar did or said. He’d learned his lesson for good.
“You know… the Armani tie I gave you would go really well with that suit, too.” Skylar looked at him thoughtfully, steepling his long fingers in front of his face. “You are a man with impeccable taste, Edison.”