t


    +


    Hearing that, I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank God, Hayden wasn’t going to do anything


    reckless.


    “Yeah, could you please see him out? I said, turning away. As I walked off, it hit me–I had no clue


    what his job was here. But judging by the way he carried himself, he had to be at least some kind of


    engineer or something.


    Brad, totally unbothered by Hayden’s presence, kept up with his sleazy act. “Keira, I’m looking


    forward to seeing you this weekend. You’re the best gift I could ask for.”


    Before I could even process his words, Hayden brushed past me and stepped right up to him. “It’s


    time for you to go,” he said firmly.


    Brad didn’t even flinch, just grinned at me like Hayden hadn’t said a thing. “Keira, I’ll wait for you


    after work. Let’s grab lunch, okay?”


    smuglo


    I froze in my tracks, wanting to knock that smug look off his face.


    But before I could do anything. Hayden’s voice cut through the air, ice–cold. “Get out.”


    Brad, still as cocky as ever, sneered, “Who the hell are you? Why should I leave just because you


    say


    Hayden took a step closer, his tone deadly calm. “I’m the one telling you to back off and leave her


    alone.”


    I nced at Hayden. The hard lines of his face were set, an intensity I’d never seen before. It made


    my stomach flip.


    Brad blinked, caught off guard for a moment, then let out augh. “What’s your deal, old man? Are


    you senously trying topete with me for Keira?”


    I nearly choked on air. Was this guy out of his mind?


    He really had a death wish, calling Hayden out like that.


    I shot a worried look at Hayden. Guys probably hated being called old just as much as women did,


    right?


    But Brad, totally ignoring the warning signs, kept going. “Come on, dude, you’re almost out of her


    age bracket. You might have the desire, but do you even have the stamina?” He wiggled his hips


    suggestively, making it pretty clear what he meant by “stamina.”


    Images of Hayden’s staminast night shed through my mind, and I swallowed hard. Oh, he


    definitely had the stamina–more than this little punk could ever imagine.


    Hayden took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “Whether I have the stamina or not isn’t any of your


    business But right now, you can either walk out, or I’ll help you.”


    Brad scoffed, about to throw another insult, but before he could say anything, he let out a yelp of


    pain,


    Hayden had him by the back of his neck, dragging him toward the door. Brad squirmed and yelped


    like a kid, his face twisted in agony


    It really did take a real man to deal with a nuisance like him.


    By the time Hayden tossed Brad out, two security guards were already there, ready to keep him


    froming back.


    ?


    That’s when it hit me: Hayden wasn’t just passing by the meeting room–he’d shown up specifically


    to deal with Brad.


    Boyfriend goals, right there. I was actually experiencing it firsthand.


    Being protected like this felt pretty damn good.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Brad’s whining had already drawn a crowd of onlookers. And with just one move, Hayden had all


    the girls in the office swooning over him.


    Great. Day one, and he’s already winning everyone over What’s it gonna be like once he really


    settles in?


    sit


    I pressed my lips together, sneaking closer to him as the security guards dragged Brad away.


    “Damn, old man, didn’t know you were this tough.”


    Hayden’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he turned to look at me, his eyes practically boring into mine.


    That look made my heart race for all the wrong reasons.


    I screamed internally, ‘Oh crap, he’s not nning to do something right here, is he?”


    I took a step back, ready to make a run for it, but his voice stopped me cold. “Ms. Kay, pleasee


    to my office.”