Chapter 35. Raw and Fun

Hermes POV

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, eyes dropping like a curtain falling.

My breath drags in—too loud, and sharp. I turn away, straight to Charlotte, who’s wearing that goddamn disappointed look.

This isn’t what it looks like.

I just need June out of the office, out of my airspace, and most especially out of my reach.

But how do I explain that? That her perfume makes my chest tight? And that I’m ten seconds away from doing something regrettable every time she’s in my space.

I can’t. So instead—

“Instead of cleaning that,” I say, tone overly polite to cover the static in my head,

“Why don’t you take the box of discarded documents from the storeroom and shred them for me, please.”

Charlotte shakes her head, unreadable now.

Perfect. Now I’m not just a bastard—I’m a micromanaging, heartless one too.

She’ll never understand.

I shut my eyes as June slips out of the room, breathing in the trail she leaves behi