Vespera stood in disbelief. She couldn’t believe that Bayamond had gotten him to come. “Brady to go?” she murmured, pausing for a few seconds, trying to come up with an excuse.

He walked toward her and gently lifted her into the wheelchair. Her body went still. It only took less than a minute, but his warmth and scent overwhelmed her. Her heart raced, and her breathing became shallow. It felt as though she had been possessed.

He noticed how uncomfortable she was. He almost ignored it, but his concern got the better of him. His gentle voice stirred something inside her. Though she had been emotionally detached, hearing these flirtatious words sent heat coursing through her body. She took a moment to regain her composure.

“No,” she answered weakly.

“Good,” he replied. He stood up straight and wheeled her out of the apartment, guiding her into the elevator. Her mind drifted as she recalled memories she wished to forget, especially those involving his legs.

When she looked up, she caught him looking down at her with a teasing, almost knowing expression. Her palms grew sweaty, and her breath was shallow.

Thankfully, they reached his penthouse before she passed out. The view was stunning. The cool color palette gave the place a minimalist yet sophisticated feel, much like him. He wheeled her into the study rather than the dining area.

“Dainer’s not ready. Since you’re free, let’s do something together.”

She wondered what he meant by “doing something.” As he closed the door, she instinctively gripped the armrests of her wheelchair. Her thoughts spiraled again, and she couldn’t stop imagining R-rated scenarios.

He didn’t notice her unusual behavior and seated her at his desk. Her eyes widened as she stared at the black desk, wondering if he intended to do something on top of it. “Nope! I’m leaving!” She turned her wheelchair and sped off. It dawned on her that his gentlemanly behavior and indifference toward women were just an act.

He stopped the wheelchair and turned it back toward him. “What are you running from?”

Her frustration boiled over. If she didn’t get away, she would be subjected to the unspoken rules of the workplace.

“I can’t do it. Get someone else to do it.”

“Gerard’s not here.”

That’s when she realized she was just a replacement for Gerard. She was torn between cursing him for being so blunt about it and feeling insulted that Gerard had been his first choice.

Noticing the rejection and barely contained anger on her face, he reached out to the stack of files and placed them in front of her.

“Ms. Goldon, is it really that hard for me to get you to do something?”

She looked at the files, dumbstruck. “So, you meant working together,” she muttered quietly.

“What did you think we were going to do?” he asked, narrowing his eyes with suspicion.