Tied Up by the Boss (Office Kink #2)(7)

Unfortunately, I let my feelings for an ex cloud my business dealings. I should’ve handled the entire situation better instead of allowing it to explode into one giant clusterfuck.

Charlie was still chuckling as he got into the elevator. “Good luck, Parker. You’ll need it.” The doors closed before I could offer some sort of apology, at least something to show I wasn’t a total douchebag. But I was left staring at the blank steel doors, wondering how my life had spiraled into this mess.

I walked down the hallway. Karla’s desk was empty, but she didn’t start until eight.

I knocked on the door. “Morg?— I mean, it’s Parker, sir.” I’m not sure I’d ever get used to calling him that.

“Come in,” he called.

I opened the door and walked in.

Morgan was leaning over his desk with his reading glasses on and his suit jacket off. He wore navy slacks with a paisley yellow-and-blue tie, his shirt a crisp white. His ensemble worked perfectly with his salt-and-pepper hair, thicker than most guys my age. Why did he have to have so much damn style?

He looked up at me. “You just going to stand there? Sit down and let’s get started.”

I blinked. “I brought you a hot tea. An English Breakfast blend. I wasn’t sure if you took it with milk, so I brought some creamers and sugar.” I set the cup and bag down on his desk.

He promptly picked them up and dropped them in his trash can.

“What . . . why are you . . . do you not like English Breakfast?”

“This is not a friendly meeting, Parker. When you come in, I expect you to be ready to work, not trying to kiss my arse with tea and crumpets. I don’t accept bribes or gifts.”

“But I?—?”

He pointed to my chair. “Sit.”

Fuming, I opened my mouth to protest, but I didn’t even know where to start. Anything I’d say would probably get me in the kind of trouble I couldn’t afford. “Yes, sir,” I nearly spat as I took my seat, adjusting my tie to give my hands something to do instead of strangling him.

He sat down at his desk, pushing his chair forward. Then he picked up a document and handed it to me. “Here are your assignments for the day. Read through them, and if you have any questions, ask me now, for you may not be able to reach me today. I’m in back-to-back meetings and won’t want to be disturbed.”

I skimmed the contents of the list. “These items are clearly for an intern. We already have someone on our team that could complete these tasks.” I looked up at him.

“I removed our intern from the team. You’ll now be handling these tasks.”

“Morgan,” I began.

He gave me a pointed look.

“Sir, I didn’t get my MBA and work my way up to Senior Research Analyst to do intern work. I’ve already paid my dues.”

Morgan narrowed his eyes. “You obviously haven’t paid enough. You lost your privileges when you lost your temper. You failed to act like a Senior Research Analyst, thus you’re going back to the beginning.”

“I’m being demoted?”

“Not officially. Your salary and title will remain the same. You’re just on hiatus for the time being. Or until you’ve proven that you deserve your position.”

“This is crazy!” I felt my face flush. “What does Trent say about this?”

“Why don’t you ask him? He gave me his full support. But going over my head for the sake of your foolish pride will only set you back further.”

I ripped my gaze away from his and stared at the paper in my hands. Fuck. He really had my nuts in a vice. Doing the work of an intern and being treated like an unruly child. Ironically, I wanted to scream and shout. But I was sure he’d call it a tantrum.

“Any other comments or questions?” he asked, raising his brow.

I shook my head, filled with visions of knocking the teeth out of his haughty mouth.

“I’m not sure I heard you, Parker.”

“No, sir,” I answered quickly.

“You’re dismissed. I’ll see you back here at five.”

Insults were poised right there on the tip of my tongue. I got up and left before I said something I’d regret. I didn’t want Morgan to think I couldn’t even handle one day of his crap. He’d rub that in my face for the rest of my employment at NetSmash. I kept telling myself I could take it for such a short time. I’d make him happy, then go back to my job and get on with my career. It sounded easy, but my god, it might just kill me. Or vice versa.

I went through my list and completed the menial tasks, grumbling the entire time. I had lunch delivered so I could work straight through, and then finished up in time to be at Morgan’s door just as Karla was leaving.

“He’s expecting you. Go on in,” she said, putting on her coat.

“Good night,” I replied and entered Morgan’s office to the familiar reds and oranges of sunset.

Morgan sat at his desk, again without his suit jacket. This time his sleeves were rolled up. My gaze went straight to his lean forearms, dusted with dark hair. Damn, I loved guys with body hair.

“Have a seat. I’m finishing up an email.”

I nodded and sat in my usual chair, watching him by the glow of the computer screen. The lighting in his office dimmed as the evening approached. He still wore his thin-rimmed reading glasses, but his tie had been loosened. I struggled to see a glimpse of his chest, or at least more of that dark hair. My breath caught when I spied a sliver of skin at the base of his neck.