Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Common sense would have told me not to promote her, but the thought of Davis getting to be in her presence, ogling my woman, was too much to handle. Hell, the man was known to be a player with women. Although we didn’t have a no-dating policy, he never dated one of his immediate subordinates. He’s broken the hearts of multiple women in the building, and they eventually quit. I won’t let him get close to her again.
Reaching finance, I see the assistant VP, Devin. “Good morning, Mr. Hardwick. I’m surprised to see you down here. I thought Lacey from advertising was your new assistant.”
“She is. I didn’t realize word spread out so quickly.”
“Well, that’s because I saw Davis on the elevator this morning after he found out that you nabbed his assistant. He was a bit pissed off.” He twists his lips into a smirk.
“Good, then it means she’s an exemplary employee.”
“She is good at catching his mistakes before they become a problem. Although I don’t think that was the only reason he was mad.” He gives me a look that tells me enough and what I already had a feeling. Lacey’s gorgeous, and any single red-blooded man in his right mind would want her.
“Another reason to keep her upstairs. The company doesn’t need a sexual harassment lawsuit on our hands,” I grumble.
“True. We have one from the last jerk we fired two months ago, which I’m working on with the legal department at the moment. Phillips is supposed to contact me today with that information.”
“Damn it. Okay. Email me any information legal sends you on the matter.”
“Yes, Mr. Hardwick.”
I leave his office and head back up to my floor. Normally I’d give everything to the VP of finance, but he’s on vacation right now.
When I enter, Lacey comes out of my office with her long hair tossed over her shoulder and her face a little flush. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sorry, I was bent over, and the blood rushed to my head.” She shakes her head with a smile, but the image of her with her ass in the air stiffens my cock and my face hardens in an attempt to hide the arousal.
“I’m ordering lunch now. Do you want something from Panera?”
“Yes.”
“Look at their menu and message me. I’ll place the order in the next ten minutes.”
“Okay.” She sends me a message two minutes later with her order and to tell her much she owes. I know that would be customary with other people, but she’s mine, and shoot her back a message that lunch is on me. Fuck, I’d love to eat lunch off her.
Still, I place the order and then attempt to handle the reports that Finance sent over. They keep me busy for the next hour. I’m about to check on Lacey and our lunch when I see a fucking delivery boy chatting her up. Is it possible to commit murder, and no one would miss this little prick?
“Is there something wrong with the order?” I ask, causing both sets of eyes to land on me.
“No,” the kid says.
“Well then, what the fuck are you still doing here, chatting up my assistant while my lunch gets cold?” I ordered a large salad, but the little prick doesn’t need to know that.
“Sorry, sir.” He scurries away, rushing out of the glass doors and rapidly pressing the elevator button a couple of times. I turn to look back at Lacey, and her mouth is parted. Fuck. The sight makes me want to slide my tongue or my cock inside and show her that this is my place and I won’t stand for other men trying to flirt with her.
“Mr. Hardwick, here’s your salad. I’m going to sit in the kitchen and eat if you need anything else; I’ll be done in twenty minutes.” She grabs her sack of food and walks right past me, taking her cell phone with her with just enough attitude to let me know she’s pissed.
I take my lunch back to my office, suddenly losing my appetite. I’m supposed to be winning her over, and instead, I’m doing my best to look like an asshole. Sitting in my chair, I check my emails while I try to eat. My lawyer wants to talk about the suit. Shit, and this is why I can’t just demand she be mine.
I dial his number and when he answers, I say, “Talk to me, Phillips. Please tell me it’s good news.” My head starts pounding again for the first time today.
“It is. She’s dropping the suit for a small settlement of a hundred grand.” Small, huh? I hate to see what he thinks is large. It’s not that the company can’t afford it, but it’s over an incident that only one employee was involved in.
“Okay. Let’s get everything taken care of.”