Tied Up by the Boss (Office Kink #2)(14)

He snorted. “Sorry. Morgan?”

Just the sound of his name made my fists tighten yet something in my groin clench. I was sick. “Yep, the miserable sod,” I said, mocking his accent.

Ellison chuckled as I grabbed a towel.

He pushed up his black-rimmed glasses. “Try not to let him get to you. He thrives on getting strong-willed guys to knuckle under. Just let him win.”

“How do you know this?”

“I work with everyone’s computer. I see lots of shit.”

I laughed. But there was no way in hell I would let Morgan win. He deserved every bit of my stubborn rage.

“And Alejan?—Dylan likes to gossip whenever I’m in his office fixing something.” Ellison shrugged, running a hand through his white-blond hair. “Which is quite a lot since the man’s got bad computer juju. I don’t know how he does it, but every piece of his equipment is constantly buggy.”

I smiled. Ellison was clueless. Dylan flirted with him shamelessly. The rest of us had no idea if Dylan meant anything by it or if he was merely playing around for the attention. But Dylan probably broke everything he had, just to get Ellison to fix it.

“He’s not fond of Morgan either,” Ellison added.

I grunted. “Who is?”

He laughed and went to the urinal to do his business.

I wondered if he knew about Charlie and Trent. “Have you noticed anything else going on up here? I swear I heard voices near Trent’s office this morning when I came up to meet Morgan. But I didn’t see anything.”

He shook his head. “Nope. But then my office is all the way down on the other end of this floor.”

Dammit. “Okay. I’m off to add to my list of ways to torture Morgan.”

He turned his head to salute me as I walked out.



Later that morning, I walked into the meeting with the others for the Axion proposal. A few of them I’d worked with on the CyGen proposal. They looked confused at my presence, like there must be some mistake.

Morgan stood at the end of the conference table chatting with Charlie and Steph Vincent, our lead. Morgan turned to me and motioned with his eyes for me to sit. And like the obedient dog I was, I did.

Greg sat down next to me and nudged my elbow. “Didn’t expect to see you here. I thought for sure Trent would can your ass after last week.”

“Shows what you know,” I said, and I knew I sounded like a pouting teenager. Sheesh, maybe Morgan was right. I’m not helping to prove them all wrong.

“Oh, how the golden child has fallen,” Greg replied, smirking at me.

It was humbling to know that just last week I was giving direction and leading nearly the same team, on track to secure one of our most prestigious clients. And now, I wasn’t even permitted to speak.

As everyone sat down and we began, it got even more difficult to keep my mouth shut. I swore with every comment, I had the most brilliant things to add. And when Charlie unmistakingly baited me, I had to hold my tongue. This was torture. And Morgan knew it. He barely threw a glance my way. When they discussed my data analysis, it was like I was invisible!

Once the meeting adjourned, I got up and left without a word to anyone. I couldn’t handle it. My whole body ached from how rigid I’d held it throughout the entire hour. I wished I could take a swing at Morgan. Back at my office, I shucked my jacket and dropped to the floor for push-ups. I grunted loud and fast as I counted with insults instead of numbers. Smug. Sadistic. Assface!

When I got to fifty and started repeating my best slams, I rolled over onto my back.

My phone rang. I jumped up and leaned over my desk to put it on speaker.

“What?” I answered.

“Is that how you answer your phone?” Morgan’s deep voice asked.

“Sorry. What, sir?” I couldn’t help the snark.

“You’re in some mood today.”

“I wonder why.”

“Come up to my office,” he ordered. “Karla went to lunch, so just come in.”

“Yes, master,” I said without thinking but hung up before he could answer. Shit. I would get it now.





Chapter Nine





Morgan





I had wanted to tell Parker that he did great at the meeting. And give him that validation he needed. But now, his attitude was back with a vengeance.

He walked in and closed the door. “What is it? You have more things for me to do without credit? Or maybe you’d like me to attend other meetings where I’m not allowed to offer my opinions.”

“We discussed this, Parker. You knew what I expected of you. There were no surprises.”

He dragged a hand through his hair. “I felt insignificant. Like a nobody. I don’t even know why I was sitting there.”

I got up and walked over to sit on my desk. Parker automatically sat in the chair in front of me, nostrils flared and breath heavy. The lean muscles of his arms and chest looked . . . pumped. Sweat glistened on his brow.

“You were supposed to be listening. Taking notes. Learning from your colleagues.” I was tired of discussing these things, constantly talking in circles. “You’re not getting it, Parker. You can’t go one meeting without being the center of attention? Without showcasing yourself and running your mouth to prove to everyone you’re amazing? That’s sad.”