Illicit

Sitting up straighter, I said, “Well, I found it a bit inappropriate, to be honest.”

Reed’s lips twitched, but that was all the response he gave me. “How quickly can you read a sixty-five-thousand-word manuscript, Ms. Blake?”

The lightning fast subject change startled me.

He glanced to his left and I followed his gaze to an old-fashioned mantel clock tucked into a bookshelf. “It’s nine o’clock now; would end-of-day be enough time?”

“Yes.” Probably more than enough time, but I didn’t want to over promise and under deliver on my first official task.

“Great.” He retrieved a manuscript from a pile to the left of his laptop and extended it across the desk without looking up at me. “And to edit it?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Please keep up.” He cleared his throat as he focused on his computer screen. “How long would it take you to edit a sixty-five-thousand-word manuscript?”

“I guess that would depend on the level of competency of the writer, wouldn’t it?”

Eyes intently focused on his computer screen, the Smirker returned with full force. “My authors are quite competent. As are my editors.”

Silence stretched out between us. Was that it? Had I been dismissed?

“I’d like your feedback by the end of the day.”

I nodded, holding the manuscript to my chest.

“That will be all.”

My mouth dropped open. Seriously? What kind of feedback did he expect at the end of the day? Was he looking for a full critique? An overall feeling? Did he want me to catch plot holes? Comment on the prose? Proofread?

Each imprint of Reed Publishing likely had standards they applied to each manuscript they accepted…

I didn’t even know what category or genre I held in my hands and he wanted feedback.

Here’s some feedback, asshole–

“Is there a problem, Ms. Blake?” He lifted only his eyes. They peeked out at me through thick lashes that were likely the envy of half of Manhattan.

I huffed. “No more than usual, Mr. Reed.”

He tilted his head, that smug hint of amusement in his eyes again. “Then why are you still standing here like a lost puppy?”

Running my tongue over my teeth, I bit back a slew of curse words that desperately wanted to propel themselves toward his self-righteous face. “Where would you like me to work?”

“I’m sure you can find an appropriate place to read.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, watching me with a challenge in his eyes.

Jaw clenched, I breathed deeply through my nose, then gave a curt nod and turned on my heels, leaving the office of the most annoying man I’d ever met as quickly as possible.

“Maybe try the cafe you’re so fond of downstairs,” he called after me.

I nearly growled my frustration. What was his problem?

The chair at reception was no longer empty.

“Good morning, Stella.” I smiled sweetly as I passed the woman, though she just watched me with that same hint of disdain I’d sensed in her yesterday. Was everyone on the seventy-fifth floor a complete and total ass?

She turned away from me and I nearly stumbled.

With her hair up in a messy bun, her neck was exposed.

And so was the dusting of star tattoos reaching up her neck.

Oh. My. God.

I hurried to the elevator and waited impatiently. It arrived quickly, thank God, and I stepped inside, anxious for the doors to close so I could let my face do what it wanted to.

The doors closed.

My eyes bulged out of my head and my mouth dropped open.

Stella was the woman strapped to the big X last night.

I’d seen her…

Have an…

I shuddered.

Oh god, no. That was something I did not need to see, and certainly didn’t want to think about. Some things just didn’t need to be public information.

What Scary Stella looked like when she got the sex shakes was one of them.

I covered my mouth as a laugh slipped past my lips.

I’d seen her get whipped until she had an orgasm.

There. I said it.

Was her back bruised?

A tightness in my chest gave me pause. Was I jealous of her?

Nope. Didn’t matter. I had to get a hold of myself. This was only Day Two of a twelve week internship. I couldn’t be jealous that Stella got whipped by Reed.

And I certainly couldn’t be wishing for my new boss to whip me.

That would be crazy.

Good grief, I’d lost my damn mind.

Since I’d been waylaid on my way up, I stopped at seventy-three to talk to Marisa. I could easily read this entire manuscript and provide feedback–vague!–by the end of the day, so taking a few minutes to chat with my new friend wouldn’t hurt.

Marisa’s eyes widened when I strode toward her. “Girl,” she whispered loudly, “what was that about? Are you in trouble already?” She laughed, but it was obvious by the concern in her brown eyes that she was genuinely worried about me.

Leaning forward, I rested my forearms on the top of the reception desk, and shook my head in disbelief. “You guys were right. That man is a nightmare.”

Marisa giggled, eyes flicking around the room quickly before she said, “False advertising, am I right?”

I snorted. That was the perfect way to describe a man so beautiful on the outside and so obviously hideous on the inside.

The phone rang and Marisa lifted a finger as she hit a button on her headset with the other hand. “It’s a great day at Reed Publishing, how may I direct your call?” Almost instantly, her smile fell and she met my stare, eyes widening. “Yes, sir. Uh-huh… Right away, sir.” She pressed the button on her headset to end the call, then her eyes flicked behind me to something above my head. When she met my gaze again, she said, “Mr. Reed would like me to tell you that if you are lost, the cafe is on the first floor. In the lobby.”

My mouth dropped open. I whipped my head around to locate the security camera above the elevators. He was watching me? I was half-tempted to storm back up to his office and tear him apart with my teeth, but that would be a surefire way to end my dream internship and no one was going to take this away from me. Not even Cabot Reed himself.

Ugh! The absolute nerve of this man!

Looking back at Marisa, I asked, “I’m not going to survive a whole summer of this, am I?”

Her gaze flicked up to the camera, then she whispered, “If Hector survived, you can too.”

My stomach sank. “Is there sound on that thing?”

“I’m not sure.” Marisa rifled through some papers on her desk, face taut with discomfort. “You should go.”

Shaking my head, I turned to leave, then paused and looked back over my shoulder. “May I join you for lunch again?”

Marisa’s eyes widened. “Of course you can. You’re one of us now.” She winked, then whispered, “Now go, before you get in trouble.”

Shaking my head, I made my way to the elevator, glaring up at the security camera while I waited.

What nerve he had!

It took everything in me not to flip him off and walk off the premises with my head held high.