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"Thank you so much, Mr. Whitmore! You won't regret this."
I navigated around her without another word. Truth be told, I already regretted it. I could barely contain myself when she was just a blip on the radar, an applicant that was one of hundreds. Not exploring this attraction I had to her would be damn near impossible when I knew that she was right downstairs.
"Mr. Whitmore," she said softly, but loud enough to bend my ear. "If I could just get a minute of your time to talk about earlier-"
I went no further, my voice calm but my words were heated. "Give us a moment, Maria."
I knew that she was probably calling me a choice word or two, but Maria left without another word nonetheless.
When we were alone, I turned back to Leila. The control that seemed so hard to grasp was firmly in place. Finally, something jarring that reminded me just how tenuous starting something with her would be. Was she really going to bring up the stairwell with one of my employees in the room?
She claimed she wanted to talk, but suddenly she was speechless.
"I thought you had something to say, Miss Montgomery."
She licked her lips. "I just wanted to say thank you for giving me a chance."
She wasn't fooling me. I arched my brow, almost relieved that she was already stepping out of bounds. Maybe that would cure this desire to say the hell with everything and take her right here. I had my doubts, since just watching her lick her lips was enough to make my cock twitch at the thought of her tongue against my hardened flesh.
"And about before-"
"There was no before," I insisted, shrugging my shoulders. "If that's all-"
"It most certainly isn't!" she said indignantly. "You marched me downstairs like some petulant child and practically forced yourself on me!"
I couldn't help but laugh at her flair for dramatics. "Oh please, spare me the damsel in distress bit. You wanted it." My eyes found her lips. I wanted it. I wanted her right now. And she wanted me.
She fought it, stepping backward. The similarities between us, fighting tooth and nail against our obvious attraction just made me want her even more.
"That doesn't matter," she spat. "What matters is-"
"It happened," I couldn't hold back my own frustration about the guilt of pushing things too far. For the both of us. I'd broken one of the cardinal rules and that was on me, but it was easier to push her away. "It won't happen again. And that's the end of it!"
She didn't back down. "But Jacob-"
"You will address me as Mr. Whitmore." My words were cold as ice as I turned to leave. "And we're done."
I threw open the door, ignoring the voice in my head that told me that I was the one being a child. I'd have to decide. Either I let her go, or give her a peek into my world and let her decide for herself.
Chapter Four
I knew my lawyer was waiting for me before I saw his bespectacled face. Natasha, my secretary, was barely visible behind a sea of red roses. The old man nursed quite the crush on her, and even though he didn't have a chance with her, Natasha loved the gifts and wouldn't be the one to break the news.
"...and next weekend I'll be flying to the Maldives for a consult with a new client."
I rounded the corner and saw the man fully focused on the flash of blonde hair that rose out of the garden.
"I'd love some company-"
I cleared my throat and Natasha lurched to her feet. The polite smile on her face didn't budge, but relief filled her crystal eyes. Flowers were one thing, jet-setting with the eternally perspiring man was quite another.
"Mr. Whitmore!" she exclaimed, booking it toward me and taking my briefcase. "Mr. Laughlin doesn't have an appointment as you know, but he wanted to squeeze in before your 10am." She gave me an apologetic nod before she walked toward the break room. "I'll get you some coffee. Anything for you, Mr. Laughlin?"
"Just one request," he said with a smile that made me roll my eyes. "Call me Carl. I insist.”
Natasha let out an uncomfortable chuckle and went about her business.
"That's quite a woman," Carl whistled, watching her departure, and rear end, intently.
