Catching Avery

Chapter 6

Gluttony: Because, apparently, I needed more drinks. How else was I supposed to be able to handle this lunatic's fantasies?

Nicholas~

I knew that I shouldn't have been this unnerved by her declaration, but I was. No matter how strong a buzz that I might have had going on, and no matter how much fun the banter was, I knew that she wasn't really my wife. She wasn't even my girlfriend. Hell, she wasn't even really my date. The sad fact was that she was simply just one of my many employees. However, unlike all my other employees, I just happened to want to fuck this one. Before her unfiltered outburst, I hadn't been concerned with anything farther than a one-night stand. However, now I wasn't so sure where I was going with all of this.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" I roared. I knew that I didn't have the right, but I didn't care. Seeing Julian, Isabella, Chase, and Quinn get comfortable on the couch to watch the fireworks wasn't going to deter me, either. I yanked the beer that she was holding out of her hand. "I'm cutting you off because you're obviously drunk."

She snatched another beer out of the bucket. "I'm neither drunk nor out of my mind. We made these plans before we even started drinking." She didn't back down at all. "I also fail to see how it's any of your business. I am off the damn clock, Boss."

I was really starting to hate that word. I got back in her face. "The way I see it, you must be out of your mind if you think I'm going to just sit back and watch you pick up some random stranger to take home. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

She took a couple of steps back, so that she could spear me with her glare. "No more dangerous than it is for you to pick up some random female and take her home with you."

"Are you high? It's not the same thing, and you know it," I shot back. "The risks are not even close to comparable when it comes to men and women picking up strangers."

She crossed her arms over her chest, then regarded me with one raised brow. "Oh, really?"

No doubt that all three ladies were going to want to stab me by the time that I was done, but it needed to be said. "Don't play stupid, Avery. Men are the dominant species, so the odds of a woman causing us harm is way less than what a man is capable of doing to a woman."

"You sexist asshole." I noticed everyone on the couch cringe. "So, you're telling me that, while a woman has you captivated by her silicone-enhanced cleavage, it's not possible for her to slip a drug in your drink?" She started pacing in front of the window as she continued to make her arguments. "It's not possible for her to lure you to her hotel room, only to have some guys waiting there to beat you up and rob you? Are you saying that a woman is not capable of giving you an STD or poking a hole in the condom?" She stopped her pacing to come back and stand right in front of me again. "Men are every bit as in danger as women are, you arrogant prick."

"Avery-" Isabella tried to interrupt, no doubt trying to settle us down. After all, she seemed to be the only one happy with the way the night was panning out if the way she was nestled next to Julian was any indication.

Avery looked over at Isabella. "No, Iz. I was getting along perfectly fine before he came along and cock-blocked me." Looking back at me, she continued her tirade. "What gives you the right?"

"Are you not hearing me?" I took a step forward, leaning as far down as I could to get right in her face. "It's fucking dangerous, and while I may only be your boss, that still puts you and Quinn under my protection, whether you like it or not."

"You are such a jackass," she hissed, continuing to call me names. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I want dangerous?"

That brought me up short.