Dirty Playboy - Alex Wolf Page 0,2

desk carrying files on Wells Covington and Pacific Imports. I didn’t even admire her ass, because I don’t check-out-cheat on Mary with other women’s asses, as proven earlier with the interns. I have standards and a heart that beats for one woman.

An hour later, Decker calls me in for this assignment, after he’s stewed over what to do and worried anxiously over the situation; I noticed him turn away three people who tried to approach his office. Every time I’ve seen him today his face has looked one part pissed off, two parts worried.

I take a circuitous route back to my office so I can walk past Mary. The Jesus of Nazareth tickets burn a hole in my pocket. I keep them on me in case the perfect opportunity presents itself.

She doesn’t say anything as I walk by. As I round the corner, though, I catch her eye. Her lips are slightly upturned in an almost-smile.

That’s right, Mary. Keep fighting it.

She’s trying to rope-a-dope me, Ali-style. As if seven months hasn’t proven that I won’t tire of her. If she only realized the irony of the situation. In fact, I’m like one of those prize fishermen who catch big-ass marlins in Florida. I hooked her a long time ago, and now I’m the one wearing her down, little by little, slowly draining the fight out of her.

I pat the tickets in my pocket.

She’s about to get pulled onto the boat, but I’m not a catch-and-release kind of guy. Not when it comes to her. Nope, once she’s in the net, she belongs to me.

Mary Patrick will be mine. I just need to pick the right time to ask her. It has to be perfect. Anything less is unacceptable.

It’s going to happen this week. I keep the tickets on me at all times, just waiting for the moment to strike.

Mary Patrick

“I understand. I’ll have them ready for you as soon as I can. I promise.” Ugh. I hate talking to clients on the phone, but Decker is in the middle of replacing Quinn and I’m on phone duty while his temp secretary is off running an errand. He’s already been through four women and one man. Nobody has the heart to tell him Quinn can’t be replaced. She was a unicorn.

“They were supposed to be ready two days ago. You guys are supposed to be on top of this shit.”

I cringe. “Sir—”

He cuts me off. “I know. I know. You can’t do anything without Decker’s signature. I got it.”

I suppose it’s my job to let this guy take his day out on me. Customer is always right and all that, but it still stinks. He doesn’t have to be so rude about it. I swallow down the frustration building inside me. I refuse to let him ruin my day. “I promise. The second I have the signature I will have them to you ASAP.”

“Unacceptable. Do you know what I pay in fees to your firm?”

I try not to tune out, but it’s so hard. I want to help him, I just can’t. “I understand.”

“Yeah, everyone always understands. Nobody ever does shit!”

I’m not an angry person. I don’t enjoy being upset and this man is really upsetting me, and the worst part is he’s correct. He has every right to be frustrated. I look up. “Just great,” I mumble. Rick has me in his sights and he’s heading this way with a smile.

“What’s that?”

I cup a hand over my mouth. Did he just hear me say that while he’s about to explode? “I’m so sorry, that wasn’t meant for you. I’m so…”

“Fix the goddamn contracts and get them to me.” He slams the phone down so hard I hear it through the receiver, and I swear it echoes through my cubicle.

I scramble to look busy at my desk. Oh no, is he going to tell Decker what I just said? Am I going to get fired? This is not supposed to be how my day goes.

Rick strolls up as usual, without a care in the world.

He does that half-smirk half-grin at me. “Hey, Mary.”

He could be so cute if he would just stop pretending around me. It’s annoying. The man is a womanizer, and I have no idea why he is so infatuated. Not a day goes by where he’s not at my desk or pretending to read a Bible where I’ll see him. I want to ignore everything he does, but I just can’t. My parents didn’t raise me to be