Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Hannah felt a surprising sense of relief. Of course anything that causes serious emotional turmoil always feels more manageable when it is shared with a close personal friend. But actually being able to joke about it made it feel less overwhelming. She should have known she could count on Tad. Why she felt the need to keep it from him was beyond her. Maybe she was worried he would be able to see truth beyond the harsh words. And she couldn't bear Tad thinking of her that way.
"Hannah," EM's voice interrupted, sounding irritated and tired.
Hannah sighed, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin. If she tried really hard, she could come off as cool and unaffected. As if randomly screwing around with her boss was no big deal, or, even something she was used to doing. Better for him to think of her as loose and casual about sex. Maybe the whole thing could blow over and become a vague memory.
EM sat uncharacteristically slumped in his chair, one of his elbows resting on the surface of his desk. When she closed the door, his starling blue eyes found hers and she felt her belly flutter quickly before she looked pointedly away.
"Sit," Elliott said, gesturing toward a chair. He liked the way her hair looked braided heavily to one side. He liked it even better knowing the reason she had it that way was because of the marks he had left there from his lips and teeth and stubble.
She was carrying herself straighter than usual. There was a coldness there that he knew she was trying to wear as a front. She sat down slowly, wincing, and he felt a surge of primal male pride.
A beat or two must have passed as he looked at her because one of her dark eyebrows arched haughtily. He felt a chuckle starting and stifled it. But he couldn't quite hide the slightest hint of a smirk on his lips. "So I'm sure you remember Bob Tanner from the event at my house..."
Hannah felt a sick feeling rise in her throat as it all fell into place. "Bob who is into construction," she responded quietly. Bob the sleaze ball was Bob Tanner or Tanner Construction.
"Well, you've been corresponding with him for weeks over some issues with the deal we made a few months ago for me to take over his company. Hence why I needed the copies of the emails today. He's claiming incompetence and wants a meeting with me, James, and you."
Oh, God.
"Needless to say," Elliott said, holding a hand up, "that is not going to happen. I looked over everything and you handled it all the way I would have told you to. He's angry because he won't own the lion's share of his company anymore and wants to get it all overturned on a technicality claiming I had you handle the deal without proper supervision or knowledge of the topic."
Hannah sank into her seat. Oh, no. Maybe she should have consulted him, but she had been too busy trying to ignore him because he made her feel so uncomfortable that she just dealt with it all herself based on information in the file. Had she actually screwed up a multi-million dollar deal?
"Hey," Elliott's voice broke in, soft and close. She looked up to find that he had gotten up to the front of his desk. Her knees brushed his slacks. "I can see those gears turning. This won't hold up. I just wanted to fill you in. And I want to make sure all of the future correspondence goes through me- just to leave you out of it."
"Okay," Hannah said, her eyes focused on his jaw line so she didn't have to look him in the eye. But then he leaned forward toward her and she glanced up worriedly.
"He's just mad. It will blow over."
Hannah looked up at him and nodded then watched as his hand left his side and moved toward her hair where he gently grabbed her braid and moved it to the side. A rare smile lit up his face. She felt his cool fingertips rub across the sensitive, inflamed skin.
"I must say, you've covered it up quite well. But we both know what is under all that makeup." Elliott watched as her eyes went round and her cheeks turned pink. A low, appreciative chuckle escaped him as he ran his fingertips toward her jaw. "Hannah..."
Three loud knocks interrupted him and Hannah jumped visibly away. Elliott sighed.
"Mr. Michaels," Sally's shrill voice sounded from outside.
"Yes, Sally, come in," Elliott said, moving toward his chair.
Sally walked in , dressed in a severe black suit and holding a clipboard against her chest. "Mr. Black is here, sir." She didn't wait for a response, simply waved the man into the room and left without another word.