Of course more than that, I refused to let Cam poach anyone from my staff. I’d keep the most insubordinate and worthless intern if I knew my former partner was interested in hiring. In fact, I’d buy or claim anything he so much as looked at. After what he’d pulled, I was eager to ensure the struggle of his everyday life. Julian wouldn’t let me kill him, so it was the least I could do.
“Lukas…”
I blinked back into focus, fearing the way Noelle said my name because that trail-off always preceded some version of we need to talk.
“About last night.”
I clicked my pen shut. “We don’t need to discuss that. Is there anything work-related you want to address?”
She blinked as if I’d just thrown a drink in her face. “No?”
“How’s the new girl doing?”
“I’m training her to keep you as happy as I do,” Noelle smiled, tilting her head. “Anything specific you’d like her to know? How hard you like your massages?”
I let my stare linger on her for another second before returning to my screen. “Tell her that building security knows not to let Cam in, so if he calls and threatens to come by she doesn’t have to keep bringing it to my attention.”
Noelle bristled at the strictly work-related conversation. “Fine. I’ll let her know,” she muttered, crossing her arms as she rose to her heeled feet. She stared in a hard silence at me for several moments but when I didn’t look up at her, she broke. “I’m horny, Lukas. Do you want to fuck me right now?”
“Have I given you any indication that I do?”
“Are you being this much of a prick because it’s that time of the year?” she countered, going from zero to sixty as she was known to do. “For Christ’s sake, Lukas, just go away for a month like Tess does. Don’t make the rest of us miserable.”
The blank stare I gave her masked how thoroughly pissed I was. “Go back to work, Noelle.”
“Let me make you feel good.”
“No.”
She actually snarled in response. Like a cat. Still, she put on her best walk for me as she exited the office. I knew because I heard her huff when she got to the door, presumably when she looked back to see me already on the phone, my attention rapt as I read the new text on my screen.
I didn’t recognize the number it belonged to, but it didn’t take much to figure it out.
Hi. I got your number from Tess. She said she told you where my key was this morning and that you brought it to work. If you leave it at reception and text me your office address, I’ll be in and out quickly to pick it up. Thank you.
I smirked. Lia’s entire message was a thinly veiled way of saying that she preferred to do this exchange without seeing me, but I had no intention of leaving her key with Noelle so the reply I gave was simply that of my address. And within twenty minutes, the new girl’s voice sounded on my intercom.
“Mr. Hendricks? Lia Pope is here to see you?”
My eyes flew up and landed instantly on Lia as she stood at reception, enduring whatever interrogation she was getting from Noelle.
Damn. I dragged my hand down the lower half of my face. Wet and indecent had been an undeniably good look, but apparently dry and clothed was just as sexy on her. She wore a loose sweater and jeans – nothing I’d never seen on other women but on her, I couldn’t look away. The creamy color of her top brought out the sun-kissed glow of her skin and the snug fit of her jeans gave me the view of a perfectly round ass I hadn’t fucking known to look at last night.
Christ. I tilted my head to take in the side view of her lithe but curvy body as she leaned over reception, her tits just resting on the counter and making me wish I was that very g
lass surface.
“Mr. Hendricks?”
“Yes, send her in,” I finally said, watching Noelle glare as the new girl gave Lia the green light to enter. I willed my dick down as I got up to meet her.
“Nice receptionist you have,” Lia greeted me sarcastically, arms crossed and staring straight ahead as I closed the door behind her. I frowned.
“What’d she say?”
“Nothing overtly unfriendly but she was definitely very suspicious of my intentions here.”
I glanced out at Noelle, who was still staring into my office with unmasked contempt. I knew well what she was thinking – that I’d already stripped Lia naked, bent her over my desk and buried my cock deep inside her. Nothing I hadn’t pictured myself but still deeply inaccurate.