Thirst Trap Ex-Boyfriend

Once the crowd dispersed, Tracy jabbed me with her elbow, wiggling her eyebrows dramatically.

"Judging by your face, there's definitely something going on between you and Mr. Holden. I've read enough romance novels to recognize that look. That man was staring at you like he wanted to eat you alive."

"You're imagining things. That's just the standard look rich people use when evaluating cheap labor," I shot back dryly, even though my thoughts were already a tangled mess.

Right then, my phone buzzed.

For the first time in five years, Oliver sent me a message. The tone was strictly professional.

[Ms. Frazier, please deliver the Brookfield acquisition files to my office at 3 p.m.]

Ms. Frazier?

One minute, he was calling me "Claire" like we were close again. The next, he switched straight into corporate robot mode.

Some habits never change. Oliver still knew how to play the perfect gentleman in public and an absolute menace behind closed doors.

My instincts screamed that he was up to something.

And now he wanted me to walk right into his office myself?

Absolutely not.

I was just about to sweet-talk one of the interns into saving my life when an overpoweringly sweet perfume drifted over.

At some point, Myra Burns had appeared behind me. She leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on my phone screen.

"Ms. Frazier? Please. I thought you two were supposed to know each other."

I instinctively flipped my phone facedown, instantly annoyed by her shameless snooping.

"Do you always read people's phones, or is this a hobby you picked up recently?"

Myra ignored my irritation completely. She looped an arm through mine affectionately while every word out of her mouth carried a hidden barb.

"Don't be so sensitive. I was just curious. I heard Oliver's one of the partners at Cole & Holden now. That's one of the top firms in the state. Since you two go way back, why didn't you join the firm after graduation?"

The entire department knew about the feud between me and Myra.

We started as interns at the same time, but there had only been one full-time position available.

She immediately decided I was her mortal enemy and spent months taking shots at me, both openly and behind my back.

Then my old manager fought management for an extra opening and kept me on, too.

After that, Myra started spreading rumors that I was sleeping with him.

The whole disaster finally ended after the two of us nearly tore each other apart in the office and got formally warned by corporate.

Watching the smug look on her face now, I suddenly had the urge to ruin her day.

"The truth is, Mr. Holden used to court me," I said calmly. "I turned him down."

Then I sighed dramatically.

"Who knew we'd run into each other again after all these years? Fate really works in mysterious ways..."

Myra stared at me for several seconds, her fake smile visibly cracking.

Then I casually added, "Actually, why don't you deliver the files for me? I'm worried Mr. Holden might still have feelings for me..."

Myra had clearly been waiting for exactly that.

She snatched the folder from my hands, spun around on her skyscraper heels, and marched straight to Oliver's office.

Five minutes later, Myra came storming back out with a dark expression and headed directly for the break room.

As she passed my desk, she shot me a vicious glare.

Watching Myra get shut down so thoroughly completely made my day.

When it came to pissing people off, Oliver truly never disappointed.