Page 7 of Dark Holiday

Turning back around, I stare at her nimble fingers as she chews her nails down to stubs. Fuck. I thought she got out of that habit. Unable to resist, I lean forward and swat her hands, the stinging shock evident in her eyes. Why in the hell did I do that? I shouldn’t care if she hurts herself by gnawing on her fingers. Fuck. She isn’t even my problem anymore.

“While you’re still under my employ, you will conduct yourself in a professional manner. I will not have you walking around this place with stubs for nails. You’re the first person most of my contacts see, and I prefer a put-together woman instead of,” I pause, looking at her up and down, assessing her as a whole. “A shambled mess. Think you can work on that for me?”

Her eyes lower as she stares down at her fingers, and again, that annoying niggle of sympathy wells up in my heart. Despite the thread of tender feelings still there, I have to keep in control. I don’t care if I’m harsh. What she deserves now is to be tossed out, and I’m still of half a mind to do that.

The problem is, the small part of me that still cares about her, craves her, loves her even, doesn’t want that. What I want is her in my bed, writhing underneath me as I drive away all her demons and fill her mind and heart with me - only me.

“You wanted me to leave, so what’s even the point?”

“The point is, I haven’t officially kicked you out of my office yet, so until I do, you’re mine to control, to critique, to mold until you meet my exacting needs. So, I’ll ask you again. Why did you lie? There’s no use in denying it. I’m not gunning for partner because of my good looks and winning personality.”

Pulling the resumes out from behind me, I toss them into Cindy’s lap, allowing her a moment to look them over and process what I’m showing her. “Now, we both know that neither of these is accurate.” Cindy’s head whips up, her eyes wide with fear. God yes. How many times did I jack off to just that look? Backing her into the lockers, catching her alone on the football field.

“I-I.” She continues to stare at the papers, and I can’t help the smirk that eases over my face. I can’t wait to see her try and talk her way out of this one. She always claimed to have a silver tongue, able to convince anyone of anything. Come on, baby, use that tongue on me. Let’s see if you have what it takes to match wits with a prestigious lawyer.

“It was an accident.”

That’s what the fuck she’s going with? An accident? “You mock my intelligence, my dear.”

“No!” Her voice is tight, strangled in her desperation to make me see reason. “It was. I downloaded a template and started changing things. It must have saved it wrong. You - you have to believe me.”

“And so, you, in your infinite wisdom, decided to upload this...trash...to the biggest law firm in town and didn’t check it first? I find that hard to believe.” I point to the other resume, the one she presumably filled out accurately. “What about this one?”

“What about it? That’s the one that should have been uploaded.” I snatch it out of her lap, barely brushing against her chest, her tight nipple grazing my skin. It’s like electricity. Yanking back, I force my thoughts away from her body and back to the matter at hand. She’s still my employee, and until that changes, there are certain things that I cannot, will not do.

Perhaps that’s the key. Send Cindy on her way so I can finally defile her, claim her as mine. Would she resist at all? Put up a struggle? Maybe if I search online, I can find a replica of our school uniform and fuck her in it, bringing back all those memories for us both?

A sigh escapes my lips as I stare at the amended resume. But then we’d both be back at the point where she won’t be able to care for herself. As much as she’s lied, as much as she’s pushed me past my edge of sanity, we both know she needs this job. Even if she doesn’t want me, I still want her to be safe, secure. It would have been better if she chose me, but she didn’t, and we both have to live with the fallout of that night.

“You mean this swill?” I continue, redirecting my thoughts to the matter at hand. “It’s still a lie. It’s an exaggeration at best and a falsehood at worst. I could bring you up on fraud charges, no problem. Is that what you want? To be indebted to the state because you are incapable of honesty?”

And there it is, that frisson of fear, much deeper than the one earlier. Money is her trigger, without a doubt. I can use that to my advantage, lure her in with the promise of money, of giving her everything she needs. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll look at me and know I could give her the world. Maybe then, she’d finally understand that she should have chosen me from the very start.

Shaking my head, I stare at the words in front of me. “I’m sorry. I can’t have someone in my employ that’s a liar. It’s a liability for my business. You’ll need to convince me that you’re actually right for this job. Do you know how many other people are out there, just waiting for this opportunity? You’re replaceable.”

“Please.” Her lips tremble, the desperation pouring off her in pitiful, shimmery waves.

“Then beg.”

“Ex-excuse me?”

“You want this job, right?”

“More than anything.”

“Then on your knees. Beg me to keep you on, and I’ll think about considering it.”

CHAPTER 3

Cynthia

I can barely hear his words over the sound of my pounding heart. He wants me to what? I stare up at him, my pulse throbbing in my brain. This can’t be happening. None of this should be happening. From the moment I tripped to now, hearing him telling me - no demanding me - to beg, my entire being kept thinking this was a joke or some sick, twisted dream. There’s no way that this Daniel is my Daniel.

Gone is the edgy, bad boy from high school. Somehow, he’s evolved beyond that into some feral man that only exists in wet dreams. It’s like he’s a god stepping out of the pages from the filthy, erotic novels I like to read. No longer are his features soft and boyish. Oh, no. They’re hard, jagged, and all man. The sinister mustache and beard combo just finish off the image of a caveman stuffed into a suit.

Every time I flipped the pages in those romance novels, I imagined Daniel as the star, but not even that can compare to the calm, commanding presence exuding out of him. He’s angry, furious, but instead of lashing out, he’s keeping it in, leashed. It’s evident in the flashing of his eyes, the fine tremor of his body as he looms over me. I’m not a short girl to most, but now, sitting here, I feel like I’m tiny, pocket-sized, like he could pick me up, throw me over his shoulder, and carry me off to defile me.

Arousal gathers lower as I continue to stare at his pressed shirt, not a wrinkle out of place. Every inch of him is controlled while I’m his opposite. Again, heat floods my cheeks as I glance down at my outfit. Yet another haphazard, put-together outfit from the local thrift store. I know I could have asked Brittany or Ryan for money, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that. By asking them for help, I’d have to reveal where all my money was really going. I’d have to show them the credit cards I ran up when I thought I could make enough to pay them off.