Romance Warfare: a Tigress' Guide to NOT Secure a Mate(4)

“I don’t want him. I…I have a boyfriend.” Eva swallowed heavily around the lie.

Andrea shrugged. “Just as well. He doesn’t date.”

“What do you mean he doesn’t date?”

“What I said.” Andrea studied her nails. “He hasn’t dated anyone in the three years I’ve been here. Check the gossip blogs and Page Six if you don’t believe me. He’s never been photographed with anyone and if any woman in this building had dated him she’d never shut up about it. He doesn’t date.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

Andrea narrowed her eyes at Eva. “Why do you care? Thought you had a boyfriend.”

“I do. It’s just that…with scheduling…and his calendar…I like to know…it’s easier if I…” she trailed off.

Irena giggled again.

“Well, we’d better get back to the bullpen.” Andrea indicated the administrative office pool beyond the glass doors of Eva’s office. “See you around, Eva.” Andrea waggled her fingers and tugged on Irena’s elbow.

“Byyye,” Irena trilled as Andrea tugged her out of the door.

“Bye,” Eva mumbled and slumped back into her chair.

What have I gotten myself into?

Irena and Andrea’s chatter had exhausted Eva and it was only ten-thirty in the morning. As the next few hours passed, more and more girls from the administrative pool and other executive assistants dropped by her office to introduce themselves. They prattled on and kept one eye trained on the inner office door, waiting to see if their sexy boss would make an appearance. Eva just nodded and tried to get rid of them as quickly and politely as possible. Is this what’s it’s going to be like every day? I may not last long.

By the time her lunch hour rolled around she was beyond irritated and had to keep reminding herself why she even took the job in the first place. She needed more cash. Her former job at an insurance agency was laid back and low key. But it paid little. Even then she was content. She wasn’t ambitious, she just wanted to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life.

She gathered up her bag and coat and headed to the elevator, eager to escape the building for just a few minutes. Just as she punched the button for the ground floor someone slipped in between the closing doors.

It was Adam.

Ugh.

“How’s your morning been?” he asked.

“Fine. I’ve think I’ve met every member of your fan club. No, wait, I haven’t seen anyone from accounting yet.”

Adam scowled at her, eyebrows drawn tightly together. “Eva, I know you need this job, so can we just agree to get along? I don’t know what I did…”

Eva snorted, sounding very unladylike, but she didn’t care.

“I don’t know what I did,” he continued firmly “but I’m willing to forgive you for running off without a word and I’m willing to put aside all my feelings so that we can work with each other in a mature and professional manner. Deal?”

“You, forgive me?” Eva sputtered. “You arrogant…pompous…swaggering…tiger!” Eva punched at the elevator buttons, trying to get the doors to open.

“Eva.”

“What?” she snapped.

“We’re on the fifty-fifth floor.”

She stopped punching the buttons and stepped back. She couldn’t believe what he just said. He forgives her? Forgive her? If kicking her boss on the first day wouldn’t reflect badly on her job performance, or worse, getting her fired, she would wail on him until he was black and blue. The gall of this man! Argh! She was close to screaming at him. The ride to the lobby felt like it took a century. A century in which Eva stood with her arms crossed, her lips tight, and eyes trained on the corner like it held the mysteries of the universe.

“Eva,” he called, trying to ignite a conversation again.

She ignored him. Hard core.

When the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, Adam stepped back to let her walk out first. She was about ten feet away when he called out to her. “Eva, you’re coming back, aren’t you?”

She didn’t want to but she had to. Eva’s shoulders slumped slightly before she took a deep breath and straightened her back.

“Yes, I’m coming back.”





Chapter Two


“Men don’t typically like to hurt your feelings unless he’s a bitch with a dick and named Adam.”



“They want you to marry her.”

Adam almost spit out his coffee all over his keyboard. He brushed at the wet spots dotting at his silk tie before placing his cup on the desk and turning to Dean. “Say what now?”

“I’ve talked to the Council of Clans, they still think you and Eva should be married. Same terms our grandfathers laid out years ago.”

“And you know this how?” Adam questioned Dean.

“Ah, I may have, you know, called the council…” Dean started. He gave Adam a small grin and took a step back as if he anticipated Adam would go Kanye on him.

“First thing; no. Second thing; stay out of my business, Dean. Jesus H, dude, you never learn. You’re always meddling in shit that is none of your business. First getting Eva a job as my assistant, now calling the Council? Are you a shit-stirrer or just oblivious?”