Rae will be, though.
The thought alone has me laughing out loud by the time I reach the open area in front of Bodi’s office and Agnes’s eyes lock with mine.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing,” I reply casually, averting my gaze.
She follows my every move while her eyes narrow in suspicion. “Where is Bodi’s coffee?”
“Oh, shit! Err, I forgot.” My mind quickly tries to come up with an excuse while my eyes roam over my desk.
“My cousin called!” I blurt, holding up my phone. “I’ll ask Bodi if he still wants coffee when he gets back.”
The skeptical look remains on her face while I do my best to avoid it by keeping my eyes fixed on my screen. When I hear her mutter a “yeah, right” and see how she goes back to work, I can’t help the relieved sigh coming from my lips.
Right before my pleased grin stays put for the rest of the day.
That afternoon, I’m standing at the coffee machine in the Editor’s Department, when I feel a hand land on the small of my back. Startled by the sudden movement, I let out a shriek, throwing the empty coffee cup in the air before I manage to catch it and press it against my chest. With a shocked face, I turn toward the one to blame, being met by Rachel’s friendly gaze. Or I assume that’s what it’s supposed to be. In reality, she gives me chills.
“Are you okay?” The crow’s feet around her eyes make her look old, even though I don’t think she’s a day over thirty-five.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to. Here, let me get that.” She pulls the cup from my fingers. “Cappuccino?”
“Black.” My eyes narrow a bit. “Thanks.”
She offers me a warm smile while the machine works on my coffee, and I awkwardly shuffle on my feet. “This is the first time I’ve seen you at the coffee machine. I’d began to think you’re not a coffee person.”
“I’m not. It’s for Bodi.”
She wrinkles her forehead with a look of clear judgment, and I realize I need to be careful with my words.
“You two are on a first name basis?”
“No. Well, yes. I’m his personal assistant. We work really closely,” I stammer. I’ve been here for three weeks, but I haven’t really interacted with anyone except for Agnes. This is the first time I’m even speaking with Rachel, and something in her demeanor unsettles me. Like she won’t mind finding dirt on her boss.
“You know, I’m here if you ever want to talk to me? I know Mr. McKay can be a bit much at times.”
I don’t like her. Can’t decide exactly why, but my gut tells me she’s a sleazeball. I don’t mingle with sleazeballs. Before you know it, the entire office will think you’re the girl working her way up by going down on the big boss because you call him by his first name.
I might be going down at him, but I’m definitely not doing it for a promotion.
My brows move up before I shoot a kind look her way, accompanied by a fake smile.
“I can handle him.”
“I’m sure you can, but I just want you to know that if he’s—” She pauses. “You know, doing things he shouldn’t be doing. I will support you if you want to report it.”
“What?” I screech, scoffing. Abort mission. Abort mission. “No! He’s not. Where did you get that idea?”
She sheepishly looks at me, running a hand through her hair. “Well, this morning. It looked like he was intimidating you.”
Shit. Can’t exactly blame her there.
“I’m not easily intimidated, Rachel. Thank you for your concern, though. If I ever need your help, I know where to find you.” I softly pat her arm with a condescending smile, when really I want to go tell her to mind her own damn business. I assume she means well, but this is kind of an awkward subject for the first time ever having a conversation. I mean, what happened to starting with small talk? You know, where are you from? What’s your mama’s name? Not ‘hey, are you screwing the boss when we’re not looking?’
“So there is nothing going on between you and him?”
My eyes narrow, a little pissed now. This is starting to feel more like brown-nosing-coworker instead of worried-colleague.
“I don’t like what you’re implying, Rachel. If you’re concerned about my well-being, I appreciate it. But I’m not some helpless nineteen-year-old. I can take care of myself, and Mr. McKay has never treated me disrespectfully in any way, so please just drop it.” I grab the coffee from the machine before taking my feet back to Bodi’s office, all while feeling Rachel’s eyes burning my back. Bitch.
Without knocking, I storm through the door, slamming it shut behind me.
Bodi’s head hangs, invested in the manuscript in front of him.
“You could’ve knocked like a normal person,” he says, not even looking up.
“I think we’ve already established that I’m not a normal person. You know who also isn’t a normal person?” I rant.
I round his desk, setting his coffee next to him before planting my ass on the edge like it’s the kitchen counter at home. “Rachel! Rachel isn’t a normal person. She just asked me if I wanted to report you for sexual harassment.”
He brings his attention up to me. His hazelnut green eyes now holding a glint of anger.
“Yeah,” I continue, nodding. “Said she thought you were trying to intimidate me earlier this morning.”
He leans back in his chair with a smug look on his handsome face, his gaze not once leaving mine. “I was.”
“Pfft, please. You mean that little alpha display earlier? I need a bit more to be intimidated than that, McKay. You get a ten for effort, though.” I pat his leg, shooting him a wink, and he quickly snatches my wrist. In one quick move, he pulls me off the desk and onto his lap, and I gasp in response.
“What are you doing?” I huff, his lips now close to mine. My heart rate speeds up as his arms wrap around me, and I try to keep my unaffected stance.
“Little alpha display?”