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There’s a knock on my door. It could be her. I can’t help the hope that lurches to my throat.
Has Lily taken me up on my offer? I clear the tension from my voice. “Come in.”
A cup of steaming coffee in her hand, Claudia stands at the door, alone. My stomach sinks. She’s not coming. It’s probably for the better. I find her extremely distracting and that’s the last thing I need when I should be focused on work.
Claudia gives me a wink then peers down the hall to her left. “Come on, don’t be shy.”
Lily appears in my doorway. Instantly at the sight of her, a warm, languid feeling fills my chest. I’m drowning in dopamine at her presence.
She is wearing a fitted navy-blue blazer that accentuates her slender frame, paired with a crisp white button-down shirt. Her black pencil skirt falls just above her knees—same from yesterday?
I know she’s struggling financially.
I stand to greet her. “Come in. Have a seat.”
As she enters my office, I see what took her so long. The car I sent wasn’t taken. She must have gotten her own cab or chosen to walk. She’s worn dressier shoes today. The click of her black heels echoes through the spacious office as she approaches me, but she’s unused to such high heels and she goes slowly so she doesn’t tip over.
Her eyes search mine for any sign of what’s to come. She takes a seat in the same chair as yesterday. Delicately, she crosses her legs, revealing a hint of lace-trimmed stockings.
God damn, she’s sexy.
Claudia gives Lily a warm smile. “Mr. Bachman, say good morning to Ms. Watkins,” she says in her soothing voice, her gaze flickering briefly toward me before returning to our newest employee.
I watch as Claudia hands her the mug of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air between us. Lily takes a grateful sip, her eyes closing momentarily in bliss. She seems both nervous and intrigued by the atmosphere of the office, by the aura of mystery of my rules, of the long list of sensual punishments that follow them.
I lean back in my leather chair, my gaze never leaving her face.“Good morning.”
Claudia leaves us with, “He doesn’t bite, Lily. But if he tries to, come find me.”
As Claudia’s footsteps fade down the hallway, leaving us in a cocoon of silence, I can’t help but feel a rush of excitement at having her alone in my office. She sits there, her eyes darting around the room, taking in every detail as if trying to memorize it all on her second visit.
I clear my throat, breaking the tension that has settled between us, both of us most likely thinking about what happened on this desk last night.
“So,” I begin, my voice a bit rougher than I intended. “Let’s talk about your role here at Rockwell Enterprises. As my front desk manager and personal assistant, you’ll be handling a wide range of tasks, from scheduling meetings to managing correspondence.”
Her expression shifts from uncertainty to determination as she nods, her gaze meeting mine directly. “I understand. I’m ready to take on any challenge you throw my way.”
Her words quickly bring up the memory from last night and her cheeks redden.
By coming back here this morning, we both know she’s accepted my indecent terms.
I demand. She obeys.Or there will be consequences.
Ones she’s now agreed to by stepping foot in this office once more. I can’t help but admire her spirit, her willingness to dive headfirst into the unknown. It’s both endearing and exhilarating.
But as much as I want to focus on the professional matters at hand, there’s a nagging voice in the back of my mind that pushes me to address the real reason she’s here. The uncertainty in her eyes, the way she fidgets with her hands—it’s clear there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
She really needs this job.
“Before we dive into the specifics of your role,” I start, my voice softer this time, “I can’t help but wonder what brought you here today. It’s not every day that a young woman like yourself agrees to the unusual terms of the Bachman family.”
She hesitates, her eyes flickering with a mix of fear and defiance. I can sense the walls she’s built around herself, the layers of protection she wears to shield her vulnerability. But I’ve always had a knack for unraveling mysteries, for peeling back those layers to reveal the truth hidden beneath.
“It’s complicated,” she finally admits, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m the CEO of a multimillion-dollar investment company. Try me.”
I wait for her to open up at her own pace. I can see the internal struggle raging within her, the desire to trust warring with her instinct to protect herself. But there’s something about her that draws me in, that makes me want to shield her from whatever darkness she’s hiding.
