TIFFIN 3

36

I did my best to focus on my work and the situation with Diedre the best I could as days went by, though it was difficult.

Cole didn't accept any form of distance between us. 

Amidst him trying to visit me at almost every hour, I decided to fill my breaks hanging around Eli.

He didn't come off as strong and seemed to keep Cole at bay. 

"I really like the time we've spent together," Eli grinned one afternoon, "it's great." 

I wanted to roll my eyes and tell him to hold his horses, but I managed to keep a tight smile.

The last thing I wanted was for him to get the wrong impression. Though, apparently I wasn't very good at this. 

"It's nothing." I'd shrugged.

Unfortunately, that very afternoon, Cole grew tired of me shrugging him off. Right at the end of lunch, he broke into my office causing both Eli and me to lurch out of our seats. 

"Excuse me," I exclaimed, "this is private quarters!" 

Cole glared. 

"I have jurisdiction here, believe it or not. As your equal, seeing I'm merging your chain of companies, I have a right to be here. I'm not sure Eli can say the same." 

With a jerk of his head, Cole forced Eli out of the room without complaint.

When the door closed behind him, I saw a difference in Cole. He wasn't as... reserved as before. 

He was more... daring. More brooding.

Crap. 

I'd never seen him this way. 

"You're avoiding me." He declared.

I cleared my throat as I stood to discard my trash. 

"Now, why would I be avoiding you?"
 
As I turned from the trash can, I found that Cole was nearly breathing down my neck. I knew I should have been frightened at this, but it was the exact opposite. 

I clenched my thighs together to alleviate the pressure there.

Oh no. 

He did not effect me that way. 

"Because of our kiss." He whispered. 

I gulped, swiveling around. My thick hair whipped him across the face, but he didn't seem to care much. 

"That's all it was," I shrugged. "A kiss. No big deal. Figured it was for the cameras anyway." 

Cole's face paled as if I'd slapped him. 

"Are you serious?" 

I was about to retort with an equally offensive remark when the office phone rang.

Grateful for the distraction, I answered it immediately.

"Hello?" 

When I looked at the number, I recognized it.

"Kylie?" 

My stomach dropped in the pit of my stomach when I heard the deep growl on the other end of the line. 

"This isn't Kylie. If you consider her a true friend, you'll listen to everything I have to say."