I didn’t have the answer, but one thing was clear: Julian’s love for Chloe was his weakness. Whether or not I exploited it would determine my next move.
And I wasn’t sure what kind of person I wanted to be yet.
I felt something prodding my back while I was sound asleep.
It must be my cat. Half-asleep, I swatted the air lazily. “Nico, get off me!”
But instead of getting lost, the "cat" gave me a sharp kick.
“What the hell!” I sat up angrily, fully awake this time.
Standing in front of me, looking utterly unimpressed, was none other than Julian Grey. Oh no! I had spent the night in Julian’s living room after cleaning up his mess last night.
Julian’s carpet was softer than my own bed, but that fact was hardly a comfort as I scrambled to stand. Plastering on my most apologetic smile, I greeted him nervously, “Mr. Grey!”
Julian crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow. “Nico?”
My heart sank into my stomach.
Few people knew that Julian’s mother used to call him Nico as a childhood nickname—a fact I had stumbled upon purely by accident during one of her rare visits.
To make matters worse, my cat back home, Nico, was a crazy little troublemaker I’d named after my boss as a form of revenge.
Why? Well, after Julian tore apart one of my reports in front of the entire staff, I figured it was only fair. Naming my cat Nico gave me a weird sense of satisfaction. At home, I could boss Nico around.
“Nico, fetch my slippers!”
“Nico, stop scratching the couch!”
“Nico, go eat your food and stop begging!”
It was petty, but it made me feel better.
And now? Now, I’d accidentally let that slip.
I smiled nervously. “Did I say something in my sleep?”
Julian looked at me blankly. “Did you tell me to ‘get off’ in your dream?”
I could feel sweat beading on the back of my neck. “Um, well, I do have a cat named Nico at home. It keeps me on my toes so I can stay sharp and serve you better, Mr. Grey.”
Julian stepped closer, leaning into my personal space. He was a head taller than me, and this was the closest we’d been since that drunken kiss the night before.
His eyes, framed by absurdly long lashes, were locked on mine.
I froze, unable to think clearly. Was it illegal to want to kiss your boss even after he’d made your life hell?
Just as my mind began to spiral, Julian’s voice broke through. “Olivia, you look ridiculous when you lie.”
I blinked.