Resist

“You forget that I own fifty-one percent of your precious company,” I point out, leaning against the window. “And if you had checked your email before you came storming onto my private property, you’d see the two files you requested are sitting in your in-box.”

I watch, amused, as he whips out his phone, not bothering to hide my satisfaction as embarrassment begins to bloom on his face.

“It’s still late,” he sulks, not meeting my eyes.

“What is this really about?” I ask. “We both know I do more than my fair share to bring business into the company, yet you’re always on my back.”

“Because you’re a pathetic little cunt who gets away with everything,” he retorts, his face going red. He glances at my laptop, at Charlotte, who is still lying on her bed. “Perfect example: You invest more time in your little whores, yet somehow everything works out for you. This one must be new. I haven’t seen her before,” he adds, studying Charlotte again.

I reach over and close the laptop. “Maybe your attitude toward me is misplaced jealousy,” I say. His eyes darken and I grin. Just the reaction I was hoping for. “I mean, you’re stuck at home with a woman you don’t really love, raising three kids who resent you.”

“I’m warning you, Jaxon. Don’t go there,” he says, gritting his teeth.

“Take your empty threats and get the fuck out of my office.” I speak in a calm voice, my eyes not leaving his. “You lost any chance of my respecting you the day you decided to fuck my mother.”

He rises from my chair. “You need to let that go, Jaxon. It was one time, and it was a mistake. If your father could forgive me, then why can’t you?”

“Did your wife forgive you? Oh, wait.” I pause, smirking. “She never found out, did she? And what about your kids? Kasey must be pushing eighteen, right? She’s such a pretty little thing. You must be beating the boys off her with a crowbar. Just wait till she discovers real men.”

He walks over to me and lodges his forearm against my neck. I grin, which only infuriates him more. Imagine if he knew I’d been emailing Kasey for the last month, waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring him down.

“Stay the fuck away from my family, Jaxon, or I swear on my life—”

“What?” I taunt. “You’ll kill me? Your precious little girl will be legal next week, Ryan. I’ve seen the way she looks at me. If I gave her the time of day, you know she’d spread those legs for me in a second. You think you know what I’m capable of? You don’t know shit. Your tiny brain couldn’t even comprehend some of the kinky, degrading shit I’ll have her doing for me.”

He pulls away from me and curses. “Stay out of my face, Jaxon. Just do your fucking job so I can do mine.”

He pushes me aside and storms out of my office, slamming the door closed behind him. For years I’ve hated him for what he did to my family. In some strange way, I blame him for their deaths too, even though I know he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger. He might as well have been. I know better than anyone that what went down that night happened because of what he did.

Sighing, I fall back into my chair. I’m looking forward to making him pay. I’m going to ruin his life the way he ruined mine. I flip open my laptop and navigate to my email. I smile as a new message pops up.

Wow. I had no idea you were into all that. I may or may not be sitting here, blushing, thinking about you…

I chuckle as I type back a reply. Telling her about my lifestyle was a risk, but it’s paying off. She’s curious. Probably turned on. I didn’t tell her much—just enough to spark her mind into overdrive.

A few more days, Kasey, and I can introduce you to my world. God, the things I want to do to you, sweetheart…

Chapter 6

Charlotte

The rest of the week is much the same. I spend most of my days filing and making coffee. Other than the odd encounter where the sexual chemistry is obvious, there is nothing to suggest he hired me for anything other than to take care of his office work.

I’m confused, and what annoys me even more is how angry his disinterest is making me feel. Is that all part of his plan—to lure me into self-doubt by breaking down my confidence? Maybe that’s what gets him off. All I know is it bothers me that he’s pretending he’s not interested when he made it clear in the ad and his interview that sex was a pivotal part of this position.

Whether or not he wants to fuck me shouldn’t be what this is about, but I don’t have the time to wait for him. I need to hasten things so I can get this damn story and get back to my life, and if that means seducing him, then that’s what I’ll do. I’ve come this far; I’ll be damned if I’m going to quit now.

If only I were actually any good at seducing men. Jess once likened a lap dance I demonstrated for her to a drunken clown in the midst of an attack of food poisoning. I glance around my bedroom and shiver. I want to call Jess and get some ideas for seducing him, but the paranoid side of me is wondering if this place is bugged. What if he’s watching me right now? I shiver again and then stand up, my cynicism winning out.

Maybe I should go outside.

Out in the safety of the rose garden I can be sure I’m not being overhead. I sit down under a huge tree and take a moment to appreciate the scenery. It’s truly stunning, with petals every color of the rainbow surrounding me. The roses are in full bloom, as you would expect in early spring. I close my eyes and breathe in, listening to the sound of the wind gently rustling the leaves above me. I dial Jess. She answers right away.

“Thank God. You’re still alive,” she sighs dramatically.

I laugh, watching the leaves move in the trees in front of me. “Yep. He hasn’t killed me yet,” I quip.

“So, tell me everything. Is he as hot in person as he looked on the news?”