Corporate Seduction by A.C. Arthur Page B

met, or as if he were a cop. She felt a sting of disappointment. “No, I didn’t answer it.” Her lip upturned in anger. “What? Did you think I’d hop at the chance for some cyber sex with this nutcase?”
    Her words were curt, her neck rigid. He’d upset her. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Well, what did you mean? It seems I’m having a hard time understanding exactly what you want.” At first she’d thought he was just trying to date her for some kind of fling. Then he’d asked his favor, and she figured that’s what the date thing had been about all along. Then he’d kissed her; now he acted as if none of that had ever happened. This was exactly the type of drama she was trying to avoid.
    Khalil’s lips tightened as he considered her words. The answer to that question was so easy that he had to fight to keep it from rolling off his lips. He wanted her, but knew she didn’t want to hear that, especially not right now.
    He didn’t like the message from Jack. Didn’t like what it said or what it implied. Jack had just made his little joke personal, and Khalil knew all too well what could come of sexual stalking, whether it be online or in person.
    “I want what we both want.” He spoke slowly, his eyes fixed on hers. “I want to find out who Jack is and put a stop to these messages.”
    She shifted uncomfortably beneath his heated glare. “Maybe with him mailing me personally you can track him faster.” And then we won’t have a need for you here. The office had been functioning just fine without an IT supervisor before he came. They’d continue to do just fine after he left.
    That was a thought, a good possibility, Khalil reluctantly admitted to himself. Still, he didn’t like the idea of some pervert watching her. “Did you save the message?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll have to use your computer to initiate the trace codes.” He stood, walked around the desk, and opened the door.
    He was holding it open for her, just as he had on their date, yet things were definitely different now. Reka lifted her chin proudly. She was not hurt by his coldness, nor did she want him to treat her any differently then he did any other co-worker. If this is how it was to be between them now, so be it. She didn’t need or want it any other way. At least that’s what her mind said. The sharp stabs in her gut symbolized something else. She walked past him, muttering a quick, “Fine.”
    * * *
    Two hours later Khalil cursed loudly. He’d been in Reka’s office trying desperately to trace that message. But Jack was clever enough to cover his tracks very well.
    He’d read the message again, over and over until he could probably recite it from memory. Not only had Jack seen her and commented on her dress, but he’d also seen Khalil and felt it necessary to advise Reka of her poor choice in men. That, he now admitted, bothered him immensely. Who the hell was this joker to tell her who she should and shouldn’t go out with? And what was wrong with them being together? Absolutely nothing. His fingers pounded the keyboard with extra force as he fumed. This would only add credence to Reka’s belief that they weren’t suited for each other, making his job of convincing her otherwise that much harder.
    ACCESS DENIED.
    The letters flashed brightly for about the billionth time. He sat back in the chair, refusing to mutter another expletive in this office. He rested his elbows on the armrests and steepled his fingers beneath his chin he tried to clear his mind, to focus on the job at hand. Impossible.
    The office smelled like her. The James Brown bobblehead perched on top of her monitor reminded him of her feisty nature. Looking around her desk, he didn’t see any photos, not even of her family. He thought that was odd, considering how close she, her mother and her grandmother appeared to be. She had appointments scribbled on her desk calendar and he flipped