“Shake. Her. Hand,” I demanded through clenched teeth. “She’s being polite. You could at least shake her hand.”
“From the way she came in here, I think I’d rather not. I don’t know what she’s been doing with that hand.”
“Lucky for you, today is Friday. I only hand-stir the blood of my enemies on Saturdays.” She flashed a smile but I knew her sarcasm was real and not a joke.
“Charming. I see you can find a young woman who looks the part but you struggle to find someone with any couth. Maybe if you train this one, she’ll look better sitting outside of your office than the Target shopper out there.”
I knew right then, Dad used up all his strikes with Xari at once. He had no way of knowing she and Navy were sisters even though they looked nearly identical. He was about to find out the hard way, and I planned to watch the festivities. I was tired of fighting.
“Excuse me?” Xari said, narrowing her eyes. She turned to me and said, “I keep my job no matter what, right, Evander?”
“Yup.” I nodded clasping my hands behind my head.
“Good.” She turned her eyes to Dad and let loose. “My sister is the best damn assistant Evander has ever had. She has more intelligence in her stiletto pinky nail than you do in your entire body. I mean, you don’t need intelligence to sign papers and kiss ass but you do need it to keep a senator’s life in check. Says more about you than about her.”
I couldn’t hide the smile on my face. Xari chopped the great Warren Freeman into bite-sized pieces with ease. He’d never admit it, but I knew she needled under his skin like she did with everyone else. Turns out, either she made a soft spot for herself or burned through you like acid. I think Dad just got the latter.
The only tale-tell sign of my father’s annoyance was the crinkle stretching from the corners of his eyes. He regarded Xari for a few moments before pushing out a puff of breath from his nostrils. He stood to his feet and tipped his head down to look Xari in the eye. She was a brown-eyed spitfire that had no problem burning whoever got in her way. My father was included on that list of people.
“Who are you again, little girl?” He asked, keeping his tone dismissive. Xari’s espresso pools danced with a challenge. I saw the same look when I instructed her not to do something. It usually came before she did exactly what I told her not to.
“You know who I am.” Her tone was cool and unflappable.
“I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.”
“You know who I am.” She said it again with just as much cool certainty as the first time and I saw the muscle in Dad’s jaw twitch.
“Son, you need an overhaul. The company you keep can get you dirty too. Remember that.”
“Oh? Like all the dirty lobbyists you rub palms and elbows with all the time? You can leave now, Dad. We’re done.”
“Go ahead and have your romp with the high-priced whore. Let me know when you have her out of your system.” My knuckles strained against my skin. White hot and dying to sink into my father’s face.
“You disrespect Xari again and you won’t have to worry about speaking to me as long as you live, Dad. I’m trying to be as patient about this but what you’re not going to do is come into my office, tell me how to do my fucking job, and talk down about my assistant and my woman.”
“Your woman? Is that what you’re calling her? Jesus, Van. You fell for the help?” He rolled his eyes and I dug my nails into the heel of my hand to stop myself from punching my father in my office.
“Apollo,” I called out of the open office door. He appeared in less than two seconds. “Escort this man out of my office, please. Thank you.” I smiled politely then sat behind my desk and pulled Xari down on my lap where she belonged. I pressed a kiss to her temple and watch my father silently implode.
Apollo gestured to the door and waited for Dad to walk through it. He did so with a stiff spine and robotic strides. It was taking everything in him to keep his composure. I didn’t care anymore. I wanted him out of my space so the energy could level out.
Once he was gone, I deflated a little and squeezed Xari tighter. “I’m glad you came by,” I told her. My fingers went to the nape of her neck, kneading and massaging her golden silk skin.
“I had to bring your computer,” she said with a bright smile. Her eyes were hiding something though. I cocked an eyebrow up and let a frown settle on my face. “What?” She squeaked with a shrug.
“What are you up to, Xari Lucas?”
“Why do you think I’m up to something?” She batted those long lashes at me and smiled, showing the dimples I was such a sucker for.
“Because you came here dressed like that, carrying my laptop and sounding like sugar on syrup.” I kissed a trail along the curve of her neck and she bit her ruby-red bottom lip.
“We can talk about it later.”
“Nah, we’re going to talk about it now. Go close the door and sit your pretty ass right back here.” I patted my lap and she suppressed a grin before moving to shut the office door. “Lock it.”
She looked over her shoulder at me before clicking the lock into place. “We
