HATE LOVE

“No,” Jim cut me off. “Believe me, she had the temper to go with that red hair. Why are you asking for sloppy seconds?”

“Not sloppy seconds.” I grinned. “I consider it looking for someone who comes with a recommendation. Besides, it’s not like I plan on keeping them around long enough for them to get emotional.”

Just then, the door opened, and my assistant walked in. The pretty brunette took one look at Jim and rolled her eyes. It had been obvious for some time that something had happened between the two of them, but neither of them would acknowledge it. Their frosty attitude towards one another was beginning to piss me off.

“That’s my cue to leave,” Jim said. “I apologize for taking up any of your precious time.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of interrupting you,” Julia said as she batted her eyelashes. Buttoning his jacket, Jim just shook his head and exited the office.

“When I hired you, I assumed that you were a smart woman. Fucking Jim Rollins isn’t exactly smart,” I sighed.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve been the best assistant that I’ve ever had, so I have no plans to fire you,” I said mildly. “Jim has been working with me for years, and he’s one of my closest friends

. I suggest you two get over your differences and find a way to work together.”

“We work perfectly fine,” she said breezily. “By making sure that we’re not in the same room for too long.” Tossing a pile of folders on my desk, she sat down in a white leather chair and crossed her legs.

Watching her expectantly, I cocked my head. “Why is there a mountain of paperwork on my desk?”

“Because you’ve ignored the last two emails that I sent you with the same information. I figured that you couldn’t ignore them if they were right in front of you.”

“What are they?”

“Personnel files for the interns who will be working for you this summer. They start Monday morning, and it would be nice if you knew their names.”

Summer interns? My spirits immediately lifted. Young, nubile, lovely young women eager to please. What were the chances that there was one in there who would fit my needs perfectly? Nice and docile, and willing to let me fuck her anyway that I wanted.

“Down boy,” Julia snapped with a frown. “Keep your cock in check, or have you forgotten the intern fiasco three years ago?”

I waved my hands impatiently. “The girl was eighteen, so her father’s threats to sue were ridiculous. Besides, we paid her, and we haven’t heard a peep since, have we?”

“The girl’s name was Michelle,” Julia said in disgust. “And that’s not the fucking point. This company buy-out has gotten us a lot of press, and you are front and center. This is not the time for you to do something scandalous. The interns are off limits. Find another way to feed your appetites.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a prude?” I asked, pulling the first folder to me and opening it. The girl was a pretty blonde, but those bold red lips and that smoky eye already put me off. Too much contouring. That hard-edged gleam was already evident in her eyes.

“Trust me, there isn’t a man who’s left my bed who would call me that,” she said with a smile as she stood up. “Review your interns and let me know where you want them to be placed. If you don’t, I’ll place them, and you won’t be happy.”

“I’m rarely happy with the choices you make that directly affect me,” I grunted. “Sometimes I think you have it out for me. Sometimes I think you forget I can fire you with the snap of my fingers.”

“Nobody else would put up with you,” she sighed. “Sometimes I’m not sure why I put up with you. I’ll be back after lunch. Don’t forget your conference call with the San Francisco branch at two, and don’t call them jackasses this time. I’ll be in tomorrow morning a little early because I’m leaving right after lunch, and I won’t be back until Monday.”

“I’m paying them. I can call them whatever I want.” But I was speaking to an empty room. Julia sailed out, and the door closed behind her. “What the hell do you mean that you won’t be back until Monday? Who the fuck is going to input all that paperwork?”

Annoyed, I leaned back in the chair. Julia reminded me of why someone submissive was needed in my life. There were far too many people trying to take control away from me. I’ve had to fight for every single success in my life. Unlike a lot of these young assholes that worked for me and got their jobs through family connections, I fought tooth and nail to get here. There was no daddy or uncle bailing me out when I got into trouble. There was no mother fighting my battles and letting me drift through life with a silver spoon in my mouth.

My life had been nothing before, and now I have everything. There was no way in hell that I was going to give an ounce of my control to anyone. Ever.

So where was I going to find a bed-warmer who would bend to my will and not get mouthy in the process? Obedient, but not some lapdog. Beautiful, but without artifice. The girl next door, and yet so much more?