“Then why didn’t you settle for more? Seems like you had the upper hand.”
With a pained sigh, Matt sits down behind his desk again, taking a sip of his water. “Mrs. Sanderson’s husband doesn’t want to go to court. At all. He says he just doesn’t have it in him to relive the pain of what happened. So he gave me the authority to take the one million they were offering today and told me to make the case go away.”
“So you were bluffing just then?”
“That I was,” he confirms, sounding neither proud nor victorious.
I’m impressed with Matt. His overt confidence was a key element in getting Mr. Sanderson justice, but I’d also learned from Miss Anders that Matt has an incredible reputation in the courtroom. He has a track record to back up his bluff, and that was probably the key to getting the case settled.
“I’m not happy about you working here,” he says without preamble.
“I gathered that by your icy welcome this morning. I get that you’re mad about it. I guess I just can’t figure out why?”
His eyebrows raise, and he looks at me, stunned. “You can’t figure out why I’m mad? How about because I had my tongue between your legs two days ago, or the fact we both almost overdosed on orgasms, or maybe it’s because I got a fucking hard on the minute you walked in that conference room door? Take your pick… there are a variety of reasons why I’m mad.”
His words are gritted out, but they have a sexy quality to them as well, and oh my God… the fact he got a hard on from looking at me?
Wow.
Pleasure zings through my body, with the knowledge that I still affect him that way. However, it’s with a measured, logical tone, I say, “I’m not sure why this is a problem? We spent a night together. It’s over. We forget about it, and we go on.”
Matt rolls his eyes at me as if I just said the dumbest thing in the world. “I don’t need this shit in my business. I don’t need you walking around all doe-eyed at me, hoping for something more.”
“What?” I practically shriek at him, anger now surging hot in my veins. “What makes you think I’ll be doing that?”
Egotistical moron!
He looks at me like he can’t even believe I’d find fault with his reasoning. “I’m just anticipating it. It’s a woman thing.”
Okay, now I’m beyond pissed. Standing up from my chair, I walk up to the edge of his desk and slap my palms on it. I lean forward and glare at him as if laser beams are shooting from my eyes. The fact that this man is my boss and holds my future employment in his hands does nothing to diminish the nuclear blast of an ass-chewing I’m getting ready to hand out.
“Listen, you jackass,” I sneer at him, not caring one whit if this gets me fired. “I can conduct myself in a businesslike manner, and yeah… you got me to scream a few times the other night. But I can guarantee you—you’re not the only man in New York that can accomplish that feat. I’m certainly not in any danger of walking around all… What did you call it? ‘Doe-eyed?’ I’m not even sure what the fuck that is.”
My breath is coming out harshly, and I’m daring him to argue with me. He returns my look with a wary gaze, and he chooses to hold his tongue.
Wise man.
“One last thing,” I continue. “I’ll do my job, and I’ll do it well. But if you so much as try to fire me or treat me any differently because of our little encounter, I’ll sue you for discrimination faster than you can blink. Are we clear?”
Matt stares at me for a few seconds, his jaw popping back and forth. He’s angry, but he finally grits out, “Crystal clear.”
I turn on my heel and walk out his door.