Porter's Reward

Pursuits

Rita came in and lifted the coffee pot.

Porter lifted his mug for her to fill.

She poured it prettily and he murmured thanks.

I’d have sworn she blushed before she walked back to her desk to pour her own.

Kelly entered next. Beelining for his desk with a yellow folder in hand. She leaned a hip on his desk in much the same way Logan had done to me. Twisting to tap her pen under some numbers. “How do I consolidate these?”

Her short skirt had slid up to mid-thigh and with her other leg on the floor, he was being offered quite a view.

She probably figures Porter won’t even notice.

He’s barely human.

But apparently, he did notice.

He delicately flattened the back of his hand against her knee and swept it down off his desk like it was a bit of dust.

She frowned but turned to lean over near him. Explaining the problem, she was having.

He pushed those silver glasses up and hardly spared her a glance as he pointed to several places on the spreadsheet before slapping the file closed and thrusting it at her.

Kelly chewed her cheek and hesitated as if she intended to say something more, before turning and going.

Porter was already back to scanning his screen as

if she’d never interrupted him.

Teresa came in with a red folder for me to glance over. I minimized the screen again. Getting more frustrated by the minute but not wanting to let on that I was trying desperately to figure it out.

There was very little I got nervous about.

They’ll know right away something’s not right if they see I’m alarmed.

I checked the columns in the file. It was the proposed investments she’d suggested for a new company we were working with.

I glanced them over. Approving all the titles that were listed. I looked up to tell her so.

She was staring slack-jawed across the room at Porter who was scribbling notes in the blue file he’d pulled earlier. Her gaze was hungrily roving over him.

Like he’s a new plate of her vegan salad.

“Why are you looking at Porter like that?” I eyed her askance.

“Have you ever heard that he’s a bouncer at the Red Tar?” She whispered conspiratorially.

I looked at Porter than back at her. Blinking in wonder before I burst out laughing. Even in my stressed state the idea of uptight Porter with every hair in place being a vicious bouncer at one of the most popular clubs in the city was the most preposterous thing I’d ever heard.

“Stop laughing.” She said in a hushed voice. Leaning over me. “You’re going to get his attention.”

I glanced up. “He’s already staring over here.”

She grimaced.

Why’s she so worried about that?

“I promise you,” I sobered. “If he had a side job I would know.”

She frowned at me, looking a bit disappointed.

“I am his boss, Teresa.” I reminded.

She chewed her cheek, clearly liking the idea that he was some darkly mysterious individual after hours better than the thought that he was this boring all the time.

“I think you gossip queens, just want to turn him into some fascinating, interesting…Thing.”

“He kinda is.” Teresa was staring at him, leaned over writing in the margins. “No one knows anything about him. Doesn’t it drive you kinda crazy?”

“Nooo.” I said slowly. “I prefer it.”

I’d rather not know every detail of everyone’s life.

By noon I still hadn’t gotten any closer to figuring out what had happened to the Meridian account. It said there was an undefined $10,000 withdrawal by a stakeholder.

No way Logan would do a withdrawal this large from this account.

Of the four accounts he’d opened that day, this was the only one the CEO never used. It was purely an investment account which made it hard to notice as I’d funneled $10,000 in tiny fragments.

I called the specific company the withdrawal had come from, but they refused to release any receipts. Only saying it was the owner of the account. I knew I had no way to make them and the pushier I got, the more chance there was of me drawing too much attention.

Impossible.

To make matters worse, I was sure that Logan had been out of town on Friday when the amount was pulled.

He couldn’t have done it. Even if he would’ve.

***

“I brought you lunch.” Logan sidled over to slide a cupcake on a Styrofoam plate my way.

“Logan, I didn’t like these when you used to bring them.”

“What are you talking about? You love them.”

“No. I ate them to indulge you, but I told you several times they were too sweet.”

He frowned. “You’re probably just cranky because you’re so tense.”

He walked behind me and massaged my shoulders. “You just need to relax. Unwind. Why don’t you swing by, and I’ll help you loosen those tight muscles.”

His lewd meaning was not lost on me. But instead of being erotic, I only found it annoying.

Especially as many times as I’ve made it clear we’re done.

His hand slid far enough forward that it was brushing against the upper curve of my breast in my push up bra.

I leaned forward away from his touch. Annoyed that he was constantly putting his hands on me.

I reminded myself not to make a big production of how annoyed I was.

“Logan, stop!” I snapped. “Take your cupcake and go.”

I pointed to the door for emphasis.

He made an annoyed sound and jerked on his blue overcoat before stalking from the office in a huff.

Clearly pissed. I immediately went back to my screen.

“He doesn’t know you’re dieting.” Porter remarked from across the room.