Office Pet

“Oh, Kane,” she said twisting her fingers in a way that I supposed was meant to look girly and helpless. “Surely if a position like that is available, it’s only fair to open it up to everyone. That’s not the way to earn loyalty from long-term employees. I think you—”

I held up my hand to stop her and glowered. “Sloane. Are you telling me how I should run my business? I may be old friends with your uncle and father, but please don’t think you can offer me advice on how to run a multibillion-dollar company. Ms. Peterson has the skills I require. You don’t. I needed someone hungry to learn. You’re not.”

Her lower lip wobbled. Something she always used to get her way. I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Crocodile tears didn’t sway me—ever.

“Reese Peterson isn’t the right kind of person to be your mentee. You need someone with class, someone who can socialize correctly. Someone who can talk to investors and world leaders. Plus, everyone knows that she’d been leading Simon on for weeks.” Her eyes turned steely and cold. “He’s the innocent party and shouldn’t have been fired.”

“Simon is a predator who should be in prison.” I stood and pressed my knuckles onto the top of my desk, doing my best to contain my rage. “Let me make this clear, Sloane, you will not come into my office again. You will not question my decisions about my company again, and you will not harass Reese about her new position. We both know you’re working here until you find yourself a husband. Just as we both know you’re working here because daddy said he’d disinherit you if you didn’t start paying some of your own bills.

“If I wanted a stuck-up daddy’s girl as a mentee. I would’ve come to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do. If you come here again, you’ll be out of a job.

“I would hate to tell your father what kind of person you really are, but perhaps he’s already aware of that.” I gave her a wide but cold smile. “Do I make myself clear?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned ever so slightly back. “Very clear, Mr. McKenzie.”

“Good.” For someone close to tears mere minutes ago, she was now very composed. Without another word, she stood and stormed out of my office. “Good riddance,” I muttered.

I clicked on my security system hoping to catch a glimpse of Reese. Strange. She was in the elevator on her way to the ground floor. Odd. Melissa should have called her to my office by now.

Watching the elevator move slowly on my monitor, I reached over and hit the intercom button.

“Melissa?”

“Yes, Mr. McKenzie?” her proper English voice replied.

“Did you inform Ms. Peterson that I expected her in my office right away?”

“Of course, Kane. I called her just as you requested.”

The intercom went quiet as I frowned. I crossed my arms over my chest and started tapping my foot on the lush carpet of my office. Reese was still in the elevator heading down.

Had she decided to give up on our little endeavor? After the video she sent this morning and her incredible performance, not coming when I called seemed odd for her. Maybe she wasn’t the good little pet that I thought. What the hell was she playing it?

Chapter Twelve

Reese

When I stepped out of the elevator, I got a call from another unknown number. I was sure it was Melissa again. I didn’t want to answer, but as always curiosity got the better of me, and I did.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Kane asked, irritation lacing his deep voice.

“Home,” I replied tersely. “I don’t like being made a fool of.”

“And I don’t like to be kept waiting,” he snapped. I could feel his annoyance over the phone. “When I instruct you to do something, I expect those instructions to be obeyed. I punish pets who disobey me.”

“But—”

“You have five minutes to get your ass to the penthouse.”

Behind me, the elevator doors swished open, and I turned at the sound. Sloane stepped out, thunder covering her narrow face.

She caught my eye. “What are you staring at?” she snapped.

A bitch. “I take it your meeting with Kane didn’t go as expected?” I raised an eyebrow as I looked at her furious face.

“I’m going to ruin you,” she squeaked. “You don’t deserve to be here, and you don’t deserve to be mentored by Kane. I do.” She thrust her arms down with her slender hands clenched into fists.

I rolled my shoulders back and stared her down. No way was she going to question what I did and didn’t deserve. “I deserve it as much as anyone. Whatever stick is up your ass, I suggest you pull it out. For years, I’ve busted my butt. Everything I’ve achieved has been because of hard work, and not because my daddy paved the way for me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with my mentor.”