Losing His Temper

Clover just wrapped up her update for Jia and Flynn. She felt a sense of pride in her accomplishment. This program belonged to her now. She had taken the foundation laid by a previous programmer and built upon it, transforming it into something truly one-of-a-kind.

"That's incredible. No, you're incredible." Jia beamed at Clover. "You're way ahead of schedule."

"Thanks." Clover stole a quick glance at Flynn.

He remained fixated on his computer, the screen's glow highlighting the specks of gray in his hair, giving them a silvery sheen. Although she should have grown accustomed to his reserved nature, it still stung her somehow.

Clover didn't require constant praise, but she had dedicated countless hours, even sacrificing holidays and weekends, to impress this man, and he hardly ever acknowledged her achievements.

"We should definitely celebrate." Jia cast a cautious look in Flynn's direction.

Clover couldn't help but notice the hushed conversations between the two of them throughout the evening. It made her wonder once again if they were having an affair. She clenched her teeth tightly together to keep herself from saying anything.

Thomas was a wonderful husband and didn't deserve to be treated this way.

"Let's all go out together," Jia suggested, reaching for her phone. "I'll call Thomas and—”

"Clover, do you think you can have a demo ready by next week?" Flynn interrupted, his eyes fixed on his laptop.

"A pre-recorded demo? Sure, I can modify the one we created for the initial funding and prepare the screenshots and—”

"No. Live." He tapped on his screen. "I'm confident I can arrange a meeting—”

"Live? Next week? You mean we'll capture someone's face and see it in action?"

"Exactly." His intense gaze met hers above his laptop. "Is that a problem? Based on what you said in this meeting, it shouldn't be."

"I mentioned that the core components were completed, but they haven't been integrated and tested yet."

"Then integrate and test them."

"I will." Now, she remembered why she despised this job as much as she loved it. It was because of him. This man was never satisfied.

"By Wednesday."

No way. That's not happening.

"That's five days from now. Sounds totally doable to me."

"Five? Nah." She shook her head. "I have this weekend off, remember?"

"Plans change." He smirked slightly.

"Flynn," Jia scolded him. "We agreed that Clover could have this weekend off. We're not forcing her to work."

Clover clenched her jaw to refrain from pointing out that she shouldn't need approval for a weekend off.

"I agreed to that before I had all the information." Flynn reclined in his chair.

"So, I'm being punished for being efficient?" This guy was unbelievable. Every single time she thought she knew how much of a jerk he could be; he managed to surprise her in the worst way.

"If you consider working here a punishment," his eyes darkened and flickered for a moment, "you have no idea what real punishment is."

If Clover didn't know any better, she would've thought he was checking out her chest. But that would be ridiculous because, first of all, her breasts were never the center of attention, and secondly, Flynn wasn't even interested in women. He was all about work, like a machine.

"Enough," Jia declared, standing up. "Let's all take the weekend off and discuss the project timeline on Monday. Come on, Flynn, a night out with just the four of us will be fun. We can eat, drink, dance, and get to know each other better."

There was an underlying tone in her words, and Clover wasn't about to be the distraction while these two played games right in front of Thomas.

"I guess it can wait for one night," he grumbled, his intense gaze fixed on her once again. "Make the arrangements. Clover and I will meet you and Thomas later tonight."

"Tonight?" Even after working with him for almost a year, his penetrating stare still made her uneasy. It felt like he was studying her, analyzing her, and she couldn't figure out why.

Men never paid her that much attention. Most guys barely noticed her. She wasn't exactly a head-turner. Her hair was long and frizzy in the humidity, her figure was slender, and her breasts were small. Her face, while not unattractive, wasn't anything remarkable either. She often thought she could've been a spy because people never really noticed her. Unfortunately, her tendency to talk too much had killed that dream.

However, for some strange reason, Flynn glanced in her direction. He actually noticed her. He seemed unsure of how to react, but the fact that he looked at all was enough for her to stay in this job. He may have been arrogant, demanding, and occasionally a jerk, but she had a soft spot for him. Besides, the pay was really good.

"Yeah, tonight," he replied, observing her as if she were some kind of specimen under a microscope.

"Sorry, I can't make it tonight," Clover responded. She enjoyed her job, but she needed more than just work. She wanted a life and a partner. It had been far too long since she had been intimated with someone. "Maybe tomorrow."

"Why can't you join us for dinner tonight?" he asked, closing his laptop.

"Because I have a date," she said with a foolish grin. She was thrilled. Maybe she wouldn't have sex tonight, but if things went well with Elias, the possibility of intimacy was on the horizon again.

"A date?" Jia's eyes widened, and she glanced at Flynn. "That's fantastic! Who is he? Where did you meet? This is so exciting. Tell me all about this mystery man."

Normally, Flynn would have wanted to wipe that smirk off Jia's face, but today, all he could think was, absolutely not. The woman who could potentially be the mother of his child was not going out and sleeping with some random guy. He would tie her to his bed before he allowed that to happen.

The thought of Clover restrained, looking up at him, and licking her pink lips made his arousal spike, but it quickly deflated as she continued talking.

"His name is Elias," she practically vibrated with excitement. "He finally asked me out. We met online a few weeks ago and have been video chatting. He's really nice. He's an architect and quite shy..."

Clover's eyes shimmered with a warm brown hue, and her smile radiated a genuine joy.

Flynn’s excitement surged, awakening a desire within him that he hadn't realized before. He had never truly noticed the width of her mouth, perhaps because she had never smiled like that in his presence. But soon, she would. The thought of her on her knees, looking up at him with that captivating smile, made him almost groan with anticipation.

Jia, sensing his eagerness, gave him a knowing look. "So, you're excited about this date?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement.

Ignoring her, he shifted uncomfortably, attempting to suppress his desire. He was a mature man of forty, not some hormone-driven teenager with no self-control.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Jia inquired, "Where are you two going?"

"Nowhere," he replied nonchalantly, unfazed by the sudden silence and intense gazes from both women.

Jia found it amusing, while Clover appeared taken aback. It was a shame. She had surprised him with news of this date despite spending almost every waking moment together for nearly a year.

Apparently, she had managed to find time to video chat with someone named Elias, who he considered to be a complete jerk. "You're not going on this date."

"Excuse me?" Clover's tone carried a hint of caution.

He brushed it off. "You heard me." He placed his hand on his computer. "There's work that needs to be done."

"Not for me. I have the weekend off."

"Not anymore." He wasn't going to let her out of his sight. He couldn't risk another man impregnating her.

"We just talked about this. I have the weekend off. You can't change your mind." She glanced at Jia for support, but the other woman remained silent, observing them like they were her favorite TV show.

"I can. I'm the boss." He was growing tired of her constant defiance of his authority.

"I've worked every weekend for the past ten months. I come in early and stay late every day. All I do is work."

"I know. You've proven that you're intelligent and dedicated. You understand that sacrifices are made when there's work to be done. That's why I'm confused that you still think you're going on a date tonight." He almost snarled at the thought of her sitting and conversing with some stranger.

The man touching her. Kissing her. No way in hell was that going to happen. She was his. He had found her and chosen her.

"I'm going because you gave me the weekend off. Which I shouldn't have had to ask for. It's the weekend. I've already worked over eighty hours this week."

"As have I."

"It's your company."

"Exactly. You get it." He leaned in closer. "I'm your boss."

“You’re an ass.”

He nodded in agreement. "Only when I have to."

"Well, Octavio—" She leaned closer.

"Don't call me that." He spoke softly, a hint of warning in his voice.

"Flynn." Jia's tone was careful. She understood him well enough to know he was on the verge of losing his temper.