The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (red scrolls of magic txt) 📗

in a few weeks. You don’t owe me anything. I understand that now.”

“Now you’re being a bitch.”

“I’m just trying to work here.”

“And I’m your boss. When I want your attention, you give it.”

Her body visibly froze, her eyes narrowing. Antonio might have pushed her too far, but the asshole in him didn’t care. She slowly rose from her seat and approached him and stopped just shy of him, her eyes shooting sapphire sparks.

“You may be my boss,” she said softly. “But in this lab, I’m the queen. Got it?”

Antonio couldn’t help the twitch of his mouth.

“You think I’m being funny?” she demanded.

No, I think you’re magnificent and I want to kiss the fuck out of that smart mouth.

“Queen of the lab,” he acknowledged. “Noted.”

Charly backed away from him and returned to her samples. “Now put those away.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Asshole.”

That he was.

“Am I making you nervous?” Antonio asked when Charly sighed for the fourth time in the space of five minutes. Maybe he was exaggerating.

He’d been assisting her in transferring the cell cultures she’d finished in the incubation chamber, but other than that, he was chopped liver. So, in a way, he agreed she called the shots in here.

“No, but I think you’re wasting your time in here with me when you could be in your office making millions.”

She brought up a good point.

“You could have had any of your own research scientists help me in here unless you don’t want anyone in your organization to know what you’re up to.”

“That exactly,” Antonio replied. “And I have a personal stake in this. Someone is trying to frame my company.”

“Who did you piss off?”

“How much time do you have?”

Charly laughed. “Okay. No talking for a moment.”

Working in a BSL-4 lab required concentration and dexterity. He could understand her concerns of being taken off the case because of her hand tremors, but Charly was aware of her own limitations. And from what Antonio had seen so far, she was precise with every step.

When she finally called it a day, he helped her secure all biological agents and decontaminate all equipment and surfaces. Following their protocol yesterday, they emerged from the final shower almost at the same time.

This time the doctor was prepared, and she wore sweatpants and a shirt. Her blond hair was gathered in a ponytail and it was stoking inappropriate thoughts inside him.

“What?” she asked, still a hint of irritation in her tone.

He extended an arm to let her exit ahead of him. He could hardly tell her that he wanted to yank at that ponytail and kiss down her neck. Fuck, how was she doing this to him?

“Do you have a dress for Saturday?”

Charly stopped walking and he nearly crashed into her. “You mean for your ADgen and GLUmetrx unveiling? Why do I need one?”

“Why not?”

“I have nothing to do with those projects.”

“I need a date.”

“I’m sure you can rustle one up.” She started walking again and, as if noting his predatory instinct for her, she seemed to quicken her steps.

He kept pace with Charly by lengthening his strides. This seemed to annoy her.

“I can’t think of someone better to escort.” The truth was, Antonio had an ulterior motive and he was trying to sell the idea to Dr. Bennett in a way she wouldn’t feel used. She was too important to the manufacturing of the antiviral and the vaccine to piss off. But the doctor wasn’t having any of it. She was too smart not to see through his silver tongue.

“How are you going to introduce me?”

“Doctor Charlotte Bennett, virologist extraordinaire?”

“Flattery is not going to work. Why don’t you tell me the real reason you want me there.”

“I’m not lying. I want everyone to know I hire only the best.”

“Huh,” Charly crossed her arms over her breasts. “Does that include your enemies?”

Antonio grinned. “I knew I couldn’t put one over on you.”

“Oh my God, you’re not even ashamed of admitting you’re going to use me as bait.”

“I’m not one to beat around the bush. Without the help of the CIA, it is up to us to flush out the culprits behind this bioweapon. I already had Nico put out feelers on the dark web … the news that I do have the Z-92 virologist.”

Charly’s crystal blue eyes turned to ice and Antonio tried not to let the disappointment in them affect him. Or was it an accusation?

What did she think? Just because he treated her well and they’d shared personal tragedies together, that he was going to forget his main objective? The end justifies the means. Luis was right.

“I’ve hired extra security, and Oscar will stick to you as much as possible,” Antonio assured. “You’ll be safe.”

“Today’s Thursday, right?” Charly asked unexpectedly.

“Yes. What of it?”

Her shoulders slumped, but there was also a determined set to her jaw. “You’re right. And the end justifies the means, right? The virus cultures should be ready tomorrow evening. In the event anything happens to me, I’ll leave instructions on how to test the efficacy—”

Rage shot through him and it was targeted at himself. He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. He lowered his head. “Don’t be dramatic. I said you’ll be safe.”

Charly shrugged, her head bowed, not looking at him. “It’s fine,” she whispered. “I’m used to it.”

“Look at me,” he demanded.

She bit down on her damned pillowy lip and the eyes she gave him were full of resignation.

A roar wanted to break out from him. What had he done? This was not his intention. “You are not a sacrificial lamb!”

“Am I not?” she whispered.

“I won’t let anything happen to you!” he snarled.

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

He shoved her from him and turned away, fingers raking through his hair, and filled with the conflict raging inside him. He intended to use her, yes, but he would take all precautions. He was not sacrificing her, right? Lives were at stake here.

“You don’t need to feel bad about it. I understand,” she added, her voice