Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
And it feels good.
That’s the worst part, the craziest part.
His kiss is like heaven, his lips like candy, his taste like fresh grass and wind-blown wheat. The hand down my pants is big and callused and I’m tempted to start rolling my hips to get some friction going. I’m wet, dripping, and I know he can feel my heat radiating into his palm. I moan, but I also struggle, and my stupid brain is caught between an insane fight-and-fuck response, and I’m not sure if I want to punch this guy in the throat or if I want to let him have his way with me right here on Malcolm’s couch.
I don’t have to make the choice, because the door opens again, and Malcolm steps into the room.
I open my eyes and my boss stares at me in this stranger’s lap. He looks surprised for one split second, but quickly that surprise turns to a smirk. He clears his throat and the guy finally releases me, and I leap up like I’m shot out of a cannon, stumbling backwards.
I nearly fall over one of the chairs, but manage to right myself. That would only make my humiliation that much more complete. My pants are open, my fly undone, and I hurry with fumbling fingers to fasten it again. I’m blushing like crazy, my face beet red.
“It’s not what it looks like,” I say quickly before anyone can speak.
The man’s sitting there with his legs crossed, grinning. “I thought it was exactly what it looks like. Now you’ve hurt my feelings,” he says.
“No, please, it’s not—”
But Malcolm interrupts me. He’s not even looking in my direction, only laughing and shaking his head. “Mr. Bruno, I have to admit, I’ve heard of your reputation, but I didn’t take it seriously. I left you alone for, what, ten minutes? And you’ve already pulled—” He glances at me, still grinning. “This girl into my office. Who are you again?”
“Jeanie Gray,” I say, face the color of watermelon flesh. The fake name rolls off my tongue, because that’s who I am now, my old self buried and gone.
“Right, Jeanie Gray.” He turns back to Mr. Bruno. “Really, Gavino, in my office?”
Gavino shrugs and starts licking the tips of his fingers like he’s cleaning me off them. I nearly gag with humiliation. “I know, Malcolm, it’s tasteless, but I saw her wandering around and thought, why not? We were on a break and I thought we’d have some time alone in here.”
“You’re insane,” Malcolm says, laughing and grinning, and I stand there like a forgotten puppy feeling so utterly small. “But I am impressed.”
But something’s bothering me. Something in that name. Gavino Bruno. I know that name, but I’m too terrified and embarrassed, and my adrenaline’s running too hot for my brain to work right.
“Impressed enough to finance another ten million? Or maybe drop the interest down to four-point-three?”
“Not that impressed, unfortunately.”
Gavino laughs and stands. “Worth a try. Shall we return to the conference room and finish up this deal?”
Malcolm nods and slaps Gavino on the shoulder. Both men turn to the door, but Malcolm hesitates and looks back.
“Ah, Jeanie, dear, by the way, you’re fired.”
I stagger back as if punched in the face.
Gavino’s face twists. It’s only an instant, but I notice it because I can’t stop staring at him. He looks angry, utterly outraged, but he quickly gets control of himself.
“Come on, Malcolm, no need to punish the girl. It’s not her fault I’m irresistible.”
“Be that as it may, she’s my employee and she should know better than to engage in physical liaisons on the couch in her boss’s office.”
“I’m going to be racked with guilt over this, you know.” Gavino sounds like he’s kidding, but his fingers twitch slightly, like he wants to ball them into fists. “You shouldn’t punish her for my moral failings.”
Malcolm glances at him and frowns. “You want me to spare her? How about I raise the interest to four-point-nine? You can pay for her if you want to use her like a whore.”
I cover my mouth in shock and Gavino’s control slips. He stares hard at Malcolm, an interesting and intense glint in his eye, measuring the man. The silence is so heavy it hurts my chest, and my lips are tingling from that kiss, buzzing like they’re numb and bee-stung. I hate this, hate being called a fucking whore by that man, and I want to kill him so badly it hurts.
But finally, Gavino shakes his head. “Fire her then.”
“You heard him.” Malcolm doesn’t glance at me. “You’re fired. See yourself out, please. Now, Gavino, the conference room is this way. Don’t get lost and end up sleeping with any of my employees, please.”
“No promises,” Gavino says, glancing back as he follows Malcolm into the hallway.
There’s anger in his eyes. Anger and pity and—an apology somewhere in there? I stare back at him, hatred swelling in my chest.