The Wrong Right Man(18)
I go back to what I was doing, ignoring the heat I feel coming from his direction and his and Kathy’s quiet conversation. Once I’m finished, I start to head for the door, needing to get out of the room.
“Come take a seat, Dakota,” he says as my hand lands on the doorknob, and my shoulders sag.
I look over my shoulder and watch Kathy shake her head. “She’s not sitting in on this meeting. I just needed her help getting things set up.”
“Come sit down,” he repeats, staring at me and silently daring her to dispute him again. Knowing I need this job and that I don’t want to embarrass Kathy or myself, I walk toward the table as he pushes out the chair next to him. Taking the seat, I cross one leg over the other, unsure of what to do, because Kathy—who has always seemed to like me—is looking at me like she wants to remove my head with the pen in her hand. “Kathy, can you go make sure everyone is ready for the meeting?”
“Of course, Braxton,” she murmurs as she stands, giving me a strange look before walking across the room to the door and closing it behind herself.
“I need this job,” I hiss when his eyes come to me. “I don’t know what just happened, but I like Kathy, I like working here, and I need this job.”
Leaning across me, he ignores my statement and picks up the box in front of me on the table and opens it, pulling out a watch that looks similar to his and unclasping the band.
“Where’s your phone?”
“Why?”
“Let me see it.” He holds out his hand, so I give it to him without thinking and he taps it to the watch then a moment later, he looks at me. “Give me your hand.”
“Why?” I repeat and clasp my hands together in my lap, and his eyes flash with something I don’t understand, something that scares me but at the same time makes me feel butterflies in the pit of my stomach. Without answering my question, he pulls my hands apart, his fingers wrapping tightly around my wrist, not enough to cause pain but tight enough that I know it would be useless to try to get free. Working quickly, he buckles the wristwatch in place and then taps his wrist to mine, causing the watch to light up and flash in some strange code that is matching the one flashing on his.
“What is this?” I ask, studying the device that is now wrapped firmly around my wrist.
“It’s a watch that connects to your phone. It’s an IMG exclusive device, that links with all our products.”
“I don’t want it,” I tell him, tugging free from his hold. I start to pull at the band of the watch to remove it but freeze when he grabs my hand.
“Do not take it off,” he orders, making my spine stiffen as my eyes fly up to meet his.
“You’re freaking me out,” I breathe in distress as my chest begins rising and falling rapidly from the look in his eyes.
“Why?” His brows pull together like he doesn’t understand how I could possibly be freaked out, but everything in me is telling me to get up and run as fast as I can. I don’t even know how to begin to explain to someone like him that they are being overbearing, when it seems to be ingrained in his DNA.
“You just are.” I let my hands fall to my lap with the watch still in place.
“I’d never hurt you,” he says as his eyes soften, and it looks like he wants to say more, but before he can, the door to the room opens and people begin to filter in. They look between him and me with curiosity as they take their seats around the table.
I pull the sleeve of my silk blouse over the watch and catch Kathy’s eye as she takes her seat. Unease fills me when I see the distrust in her gaze, but I just smile, playing stupid.
“Do I need to stay for this?” I ask her quietly, and Braxton grabs my thigh under the table. When she shakes her head, I quickly get up and leave without a backward glance. I take the elevator down to the fourth floor, and as soon as I reach my desk, I touch my finger to the screen of the watch, and it lights up with an image of a digital clock. I press the buttons on the side, and the screen changes to a digital calendar. I press it again, and I see my office e-mail account, and when I press it one more time, my text messages show up.
I let my hand fall to my lap, then try to focus on studying the information I need to know for a new device from IMG that will be airing tomorrow. A device that will allow you to do everything from make appointments, purchase event tickets, order groceries or take out, to maintain your home security. All things most people do today with different apps or devices, but with this, you can do it all in one place. IMG isn’t the first to come out with a home portal, but like a lot of their branded devices it’s built to work with all other IMG products, and I’m guessing the watch on my wrist will be soon added to their list.
I get to work, hoping that the talking points I come up with will appeal to not only younger people but older people as well, showcasing just how easy the device is to set up and use. When the phone on my desk buzzes, I pick it up, putting it to my ear. “Dakota Newton.”
“Dakota, can you please come into my office and bring me a coffee on the way?” Kathy asks, and my chest instantly fills with anxiety.
“Absolutely, I’ll be right there,” I say, trying to sound cheerful even though I might pass out. I stop at the kitchen and use the machine to make a cup of coffee then take it with me to Kathy’s office on the other side of the floor.