“Not really,” I venture.
“Ugh, I guess you are one of the lucky ones then. Personally, I make sure never to be alone in a room with him.”
Gross stories. Pretty obvious she’s talking about propositioning his employees. Sure, hitting on your assistants is wrong. It’s totally inappropriate, it’d make him a monster to hit on people who depend on him for a job.
But I don’t completely hate the idea of ‘working’ under him, or working bent over his desk, or working up against a filing cabinet. I’d work with him all night long.
“He hasn’t seemed that bad,” I say, thinking about the kittens, the new phone, the jacket. Yeah, he’s stared at my tits a couple times, but it’s probably fewer times than I’ve ogled those wide shoulders, or those big hands, or the way he rolls up his shirt sleeves when things are getting serious.
Tatiana moves the mouse and clicks a button that I swear I’ve already clicked about seven times, and everything in the spreadsheet fixes itself. “There,” she says with a sad smile, “and good luck, with whatever it is he wants to see you about. Maybe it’s nothing, but if you do get fired, Jacob and I will take you out and get yousodrunk you won’t even remember that you lost your job.”
“Thanks.” I chew on my lower lip. I need this job, but would I really sleep with my hot boss to keep it?
When 4:30 on Friday rolls around, I’m still not sure what to expect. Sacha is either going to try to fuck me, or fire me. I feelcertain of that. Even as I enter his office, I’m not sure which I’d prefer. Or if it would be feasible. Am I good enough between the sheets to make up for how abysmal I am with spreadsheets?
For once in my life, running away from my problems might actually be the right decision.
When I walk into his office Sacha’s back is to the door. I make sure to close it behind me so no one can hear us, whatever we’ll be doing next. I plop into the chair across from his large desk.
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
He whirls around with irritation on his face.
10
ALONE TOGETHER
Sacha
“I didn’t ask you to shut the door.” I say it much louder than I intend and regret it immediately.
“Sorry, sir.” Bay winces. She’s already sitting in the chair in front of my desk. “I thought you wanted to speak to me in private.”
“I do. It’s just—” I shut my eyes. “It’s been a long day.” Dammit, I can’t think like this. Every time she calls me sir my cock jumps, and her scent in the enclosed room is already assaulting me. I need a breath of fresh air.
I stomp across my office. I know I’m acting ridiculous, but I don’t know how I managed to get through the last four weeks, and I don’t know how much longer I can handle this. Being so close and unable to touch her is testing every ounce of control I have. The beast inside me knows I could have her squirming and moaning for me if I only gave in.
“Sorry. Sorry, sir,” she repeats as she rises from her seat to watch me cross the room.
“Stop apologizing,” I snap harsher than I should.
“I thought you’d want us to be alone, so other people couldn’t hear—” her words stop suddenly and she watches me expectantly.
She looks absolutely delectable in a bright blue blouse and a green skirt that flares out at her hips. I could have her out of it in seconds.
“I think being alone together is a bad idea,” I mutter.
“I don’t mind being alone with you,” her voice is whisper soft, “I kind of thought—you liked me too?”
The question in her voice breaks my heart. I pause with my hand on the doorknob, gripped so tight my knuckles are white. If I wasn’t such a monster, I wouldn’t hurt her this way.
“Of course I like you, Ms. Thorn. I never meant for you to think otherwise.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing,” she presses. “If I’m doing something wrong, I’d like to know.”
