Chapter 14 A Lunch Full Of Secrets

• After the shirt-changing incident, Briar Hollis braced herself for more of the same, but Damien Thorne left her alone for the rest of the morning. He only emerged when their Chinese take-out lunch was delivered. Sliding into the chair beside her desk, he unpacked the containers with casual ease, his powerful presence filling the space as if he were deliberately testing the boundaries of her composure.
• He handed her a set of chopsticks, his dark gaze unwavering as he said, “All of my department managers are extremely competent. There’s no need to bring every problem to me.” He nudged a container of noodles toward her, his fingers brushing hers in the process — lightly, but deliberately. “I believe more in trusting my people than micro-managing them. I’m better held in reserve, in the event they can’t make any headway on their own. That’s when I step in. When they need some CEO-style shock and awe.”
• Briar accepted the noodles, her pulse fluttering unexpectedly. “You are pretty… awesome,” she blurted out before she could stop herself. Heat crawled up her neck, and she quickly laughed, waving the comment away. “What I meant is, everyone respects you here. I’ve never heard one employee grumble about you — not that I’d tell you if I had.”