Prologue
“Why am I here?” I asked the question when I already knew the answer. And it wasn’t so that I could experience the wandering eyes of half the men at the Christmas party, a solid two-thirds of them arriving with a beautiful woman by their side.
“To keep me from losing my mind,” Tawny said while grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the open bar, one of several offering sparkling beverages in cut crystal.
“Then too late,” I teased, pulling away.
“Very funny. Did you forget you’re my plus one?”
“How could I forget? I’m squeezed into a dress a size too small just for the joy of being your date.” Disdain tainted my tone.
“Stop whining. You look beautiful. Most of the men in the room are hungry little bastards.”
Her laugh sparkled throughout the room. “I would call most just bastards. My guess is three-quarters of these men are married.”
“Not all of them. Remember, you’re here to make an impression. I heard there might be a job opening you’re perfect for.”
“How quickly you forget I’m not into marketing.” She was well aware of the number of jobs I’d applied for.
“No, my darling best friend. You’re into numbers even if they aren’t sexy. Now, my job on the other hand…”
“I’ll have you know numbers are very sexy. Besides, you could make funeral directing look sexy.” And she could. Nothing fazed her, a bubbling personality that refused to quit.
“Two champagnes,” she ordered, even flirting with the bartender. “Numbers are black and white, not like the hot, sexy flesh of a man.”
I had to admit that he was kind of cute with his thick wavy hair and nonchalant attitude. But the last thing I needed was to engage in raw, carnal sin. Even if it had been a long time since I’d indulged in anything but numbers. Mostly, my failing ones in keeping afloat. While I enjoyed being a barista in a fancy Fifth Avenue coffee shop, my bank account didn’t.
“Why do you believe there will be a job opening?” From her I’d learned some about the elusive Chertov Corporation, a company who’d recently appeared on the cover of Fortune Magazine. They appeared to be a shooting star. They’d gone from rather shady beginnings to fast becoming a giant in the hospitality industry.
And that was before they’d diversified into gas and oil.
Maybe a strange combination, but with them, the model had worked very well to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. If the predictions were correct, they could hit a billion-dollar empire by this time next year. Companies like them required experience, and being an intern for a financial advisor once didn’t seem to cut it.
“Don’t worry. It’s in the finance department. I heard it from a reliable source that one of the owners can’t keep an assistant to save his life.”
“An assistant?”
“He’s the CFO and from what I was told, a horrible man to work for.” Tawny giggled as she handed me a crystal flute, the bubbles drawing my attention. She and I had been friends for a couple of years. She was a woman who enjoyed fancy parties where everyone pretended to be on their best behavior. This wasn’t my scene whatsoever.
I was the homebody, uncertain if I could even cut it in the Big Apple.
“Perfect. You want your best friend to go to work for a certifiable jerk. That’s exactly what I dream of every night.” The crush of people coming to the bar forced us to step away, allowing me a perfect view of the spectacular ballroom. With elegant chandeliers, gleaming marble floors, and a historic vaulted ceiling, the location was one of the most exquisite hotels in all of New York.
The hors d’oeuvres were scrumptious, the caviar and smoked brie my favorites.
Even the name of the establishment reeked of opulence. Chateau Elegance.
A girl from Iowa didn’t belong here. I’d thought more about returning home, trying to help my parents save the ranch. It was my mother who’d insisted I follow my dream of becoming a stockbroker on Wall Street. That felt like a million miles away.
“I’m saying that you’d be perfect for him. The way you handle arrogant assholes is amazing.”
“So what exactly does he do that’s so terrible?”
She laughed, even rolling her eyes. “The typical. He expects perfection, doesn’t seem to understand not everyone desires to work all night or into every weekend. He’s curt, never giving praise, but quick to criticize. And he’s grumpy all the time.”
“Oh, wow. That sounds like just the boss I’d want to work for.”
“You could always bring a whip with you and tame him. Ooh-la-la. Plus, the starting pay is astronomical, the benefits sublime.”
“Great. Where do I apply?” Taming. Whips. I shuddered from hearing both words, a prickle of heat tickling the back of my neck.
Her giggle was followed by her line of sight falling on some hot guy. She was the flirty one of the two of us. I wouldn’t know how to successfully flirt if required. Doing so wasn’t in my gene pool.
“You’d need to kick the other girl to the curb first. However, I think the odds are your favor since he’s on number three and he only started working with the company a couple months ago. Oh, my God. Look at that hottie.”
“Ouch.”
Tawny sighed, and not as if our conversation was boring her, but a dramatic, breathless sound that carried several feet away. To the man in the tailored suit who’d had his eye on her all night.
“I think he’s coming this way,” she breathed, although barely. I was worried the girl would hyperventilate right here, passing out on the floor. At least I knew there’d be a ton of men clambering to come to her rescue.
“Why don’t you go talk to him?”
“Are you sure?” The way she looked at me with her dark eyes glistening in the perfectly ambient lighting was soul draining.
“Go. I’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll get some fresh air.”
Her ruby-stained lips curled in a saccharine-laced smile, one that she’d perfected. She proved the saying that you could attract more flies with honey, or in several cases with her, vermin rather than flies. She didn’t have the best taste in men.
Her squeal was too adorable. “Maybe you’ll find a tall, dark, and handsome stranger on the balcony and engage in hot sex.”
Bubbles from the sip of champagne floated up my nose. At least I managed to cough gracefully. Maybe she was dead wrong.
Tawny blew me a kiss and tossed her long, dark mane over her shoulders.
Cringing, I felt like a fish out of water. There had to be two hundred people in the ballroom. While the space was expansive, a tickling sensation of suffocation threatened to turn into a full-blown panic attack. I searched for an exit to the balcony for some fresh air.
Even though it was December in New York, I’d heard the outside area was fully enclosed with heating lamps. I hoped so since the scarlet dress I’d borrowed was barely there.
The twinkling lights covering the gorgeous fake trees drew my attention even before I slipped outside. Once I did, I was pulled into magical surroundings.
If the area was really called a balcony, then I couldn’t imagine what a terrace at one of the coveted hotels looked like. The setting was gorgeous with various seating areas, outdoor fireplaces, and warm glowing lights from flameless candles on every table.
Why wasn’t a single person outside? The space was gorgeous. Maybe because there wasn’t bar service.
Still the view of the city seen without interference, the fencing all thick glass, was spectacular. I moved toward it, already drinking in the fresh air. While I was a touch claustrophobic, heights didn’t bother me in the least. I was instantly mesmerized by the thousands of shimmering lights and noise, the Christmas music piped through unseen speakers adding to the festive atmosphere.
What would it be like to work for such a profitable company? At least working with a CFO of a major corporation would provide some experience that I needed. Three hundred resumes in the last four months and I couldn’t get a single financial advisory or wealth management firm to even call me for an interview. Forget about stepping onto the stock market exchange floor.
“Could you work for an arrogant asshole?” Maybe I was asking the universe that question. An answer was truly needed since I had a mouth on me.
“That’s an interesting question. But I’m curious. What constitutes arrogance in your mind?”
Tiny prickles shifted down my arms that had nothing to do with the light breeze. The man’s voice was a deep, smooth baritone, husky, a soft kiss of velvet dancing across my naked skin. What made his question so intriguing was his accent, Russian if I wasn’t mistaken.
I’d heard there were several Russians working at the company, which was another reason Tawny was enthralled with working for them. She had a thing for accents.
Ordinarily, I couldn’t care less, but the sound created vibrations in my heart, a flutter of butterfly wings in my stomach, and pool of wetness between my legs. I hadn’t experienced such a reaction to a man in a very long time.
As in forever.
“A man who doesn’t give compliments and expects his employees to work all weekend; a perfectionist who doesn’t budge an inch and a guy who doesn’t have a decent bone in his body. A real jerk.”
“He sounds deplorable.” He inched closer, enough that a wonderful whiff of his aftershave spiraled toward me. There was an unmistakable scent of cinnamon and cloves, perfectly fitting the season. There was also a hint of expensive leather and a touch of other spices that reminded me of exotic locations.
“Yes, he does. I have a friend who believes I could put him in his place.” I dared turn my head, praying his facial features were as attractive as his rugged scent. Wow. There was no other way to describe him. While his face remained partially in the shadows, his chiseled jaw immediately grabbed my attention.
His features were aristocratic, a nose that was far too perfect and high cheekbones. With his long, dark eyelashes and plump lips, he was without a doubt the most handsome eye candy at the party. How dreadful for me to think of him that way. Maybe not.
I was obviously not very subtle in my appreciative stare.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how would you put him in his place?”
A laugh bubbled to the surface as if I was flirting. Hmmm… Maybe I was for a change and doing so felt good. Very good, in fact. “You have to understand that I was the girl in class most likely to be put in detention.”
He burst into laughter and the sound created another more intense wave of vibrations. “You? You seem like an angel.”
“Ha. Me? An angel? Not a chance. You see, I don’t mind telling anyone when I catch a mistake. Forget about the arrogant jerk catching one of mine. Numbers are my friends and if the asshole were to be so bold as to try and use me as a scapegoat, he’d learn the hard way I’m not the kind of girl to take the blame.”
“Admirable qualities.” The compliment flowed from his mouth. “And very… desirable.”
The dip of his voice was unmistakable. He was also flirting with me. “You think so?”
“I do.”
“Not all men would find that to be the case.”
“True, but then again, I’m not all men. In fact, I prefer a strong woman who always speaks her mind.”
I hadn’t realized he’d crowded my space until I was forced to tilt my head so I could look him in the eyes. He wasn’t just tall, dark, and handsome, he was also in a tailor-made Tom Ford suit that accentuated his long, muscular legs. While I was tall, well over six feet in my heels I’d been forced to wear, he was at least six foot five and all muscle.
“My guess was that the arrogant man in question wouldn’t feel the same.”
He was far too attractive and I found myself longing to know what his soft lips felt like pressed against mine. Where in the world had that come from?
“Then he’s missing out, which is something I have no intention of doing.” He lowered his head and I was completely enthralled by the sexy stranger.
Maybe I was a little crazy in wishing he would kiss me. That was completely irrational thinking, especially since he could be anyone. Except not just everyone could be out on this balcony. He wasn’t some nutcase or man who’d come in off the street. The security had been tight just to get into the festive event.
My body hummed with electricity, a wash of heat drifting along my spine and at this point, my core was molten lava. No man had ever had this type of effect on me.
“You are truly beautiful,” he said, his voice dipping to little more than a whisper. When he lifted his hand, his actions completely deliberate, I uttered a single moan. The moment he brushed his knuckle across my cheek created such an intense need that before I realized what I was doing, I pressed my hand against his chest.
When I dared look into his eyes, I was mesmerized by the intensity of his gaze. No one had ever looked at me in such a way.
“Nekotoryye zhenshchiny—eto imenno ta prichina, po kotoroy muzhchinam voobshche stoit prosypat’sya po utram.”
The hoarseness of his voice and the closeness of his heated body were as overwhelming as should ever be allowed. Feeling lightheaded around a man hadn’t been on my dance card for the evening. Yet here we were. “If you’re a gentleman, you won’t keep a lady in suspense about what you said.”
“You are right. My apologies. I said some women are the very reason men bother waking up in the morning.” His eyes were hooded and the way his chest rose and fell managed to match the rapid beating of my heart.
I could easily lean into him, enjoying letting go for just a single kiss. But I wasn’t that girl. So I pushed away instead, thankful for the darkness hiding my intense blush. “Does that usually work on the women?”
His laugh was one I’d never forget. Forceful and in full control. As if he didn’t have a care in the world. “I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he mused, the sound ceasing as his fingers shifted, gripping my jaw with utter dominance. I didn’t need to lean into him. He did so with me. “Not even one.”
When his lips captured mine, I was as thrown as any woman should be when kissed by a stranger. But within seconds, the hint of discomfort and even anxiety slowly began to fade as a wild and almost angry desire took over.
Even with his firm hold, I was forced to lean in, breathless from the power he wielded as if a sword during battle, capturing the damsel in distress. As he rolled his lips over mine, all thoughts faded, a tingling series of electric vibrations moving from one side of my body to the other, leaving every inch on fire.
The handsome stranger slipped his tongue inside, consuming my mouth as he explored every dark crevice. I clung to him, completely breathless as dazzling stars floated in front of my eyes. I could easily let go, enjoying a carnal moment knowing I’d never see him again. Why not? I was a good girl. I followed all the rules and laws. I gave to charity when I could afford it.
I helped people cross the street when needed.
He was so passionate, so warm and inviting. When he pulled me tightly against him, I could feel exactly how much he hungered for me. He was rock hard and throbbing.
But somewhere in the beautiful shift in my mindset, a little voice inside my head screamed my behavior was reckless. There was no other choice but to push him away.
Hard.
While surprised, he didn’t try to stop me as I rushed further away into the shadows, refusing to go the way I’d come and be forced to pass all the rich guests. I suddenly felt completely inadequate, Cinderella at a ball she didn’t belong at. That’s why I headed toward the opposite end of the terrace, hoping there was another set of doors leading me inside.
I could use every excuse in the world about why I needed to leave the party. The real reason was one I’d keep to myself. I wanted to let go. With a stranger. For once. Fuck being a good girl.
When a hand grabbed my arm, I was shocked, but my mind was ripped with the hope that the person who’d stopped me was the sensual stranger.
A single breath told me otherwise, the stench indicating far too much alcohol mixed with cigarettes.
“I saw you inside. You’re very beautiful. I think you and I should go somewhere. All alone.”
Whoever this was appeared to be drunk, slurring his words just enough I doubted he’d remember accosting a woman in the morning.
My reaction was more reminiscent of what a woman should do when faced with a slimy asshole.
“I think you need to get your hands off me.”
Instead of taking a step away, he decided to wrap his hand around my neck. Then words were spoken in the same language I’d just heard, but with an entirely different inflection. This asshole’s words were a threat.
I’d leave tonight feeling as if I’d been shoved into an action thriller. The horrible man was suddenly yanked away from me. The darkness couldn’t hide when he was lifted into the air and off his feet before being pitched against the side of the building.
There was no mistaking that the handsome stranger from before had come to my rescue. The instant fear sweeping through me only seconds before faded as my handsome hero lowered his head because the man who hadn’t wanted to take no for an answer was that much smaller. While I couldn’t hear the words, I instantly knew the weight they carried by how much the unwanted stranger started to shake.
And nod. Violently.
He muttered two words and my hero released his hold, growling like a beast in the wild when the jerk scuttled away.
My stranger watched him leave then turned his full attention to me, moving in front of me, placing one hand beside my head. The move was completely protective and, in my mind, and with the explosive heat of my body, I was already swooning.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Thanks to you.” Annoyance crept into my voice.
He didn’t budge and neither did I. While my breathing remained labored, he was very much in control. And maybe that’s why I didn’t mind letting go of mine if only for tonight.
In an insane move that I’d likely question later, I gripped his shirt with both hands, pulling him closer. The way he peered into my eyes screamed of possession.
“What do you want, beautiful lady?” he asked in a voice only allowed in dark fantasies.
“For you to kiss me. Fuck me. I need you right here. Right now.”
“Are you certain?”
A true gentleman allowed a woman to decide. “Oh, God, yes.”
He didn’t hesitate any longer, his lips crushing mine. Now I was free to enjoy the taste of him, scotch and cinnamon, a deliriously amazing combination. I remained as lightheaded as before, but I’d never wanted anything as much as I did having his cock thrust inside.
If that made me a very bad girl, I just didn’t give a shit.
As he controlled my mouth, his tongue becoming a lethal weapon, I ripped at his shirt so that I could slide my hands underneath. Oh, my goodness, his skin was on fire, scalding my fingertips. We were both making primal sounds, growls and grunts that would match any predator in the wild.
He ran his hand down my side, tickling my breast before moving to my thigh. When he curled the material in his hand, I parted my legs. Eager.
Willing.
Demanding. Who was I kidding? I was yearning to be touched by someone who felt the same. The kind of burning desire that refused to let go.
The kiss was phenomenal and the feel of his long, thick fingers as he brushed them toward my soaked panties kept the electric sensations dancing all the way to my toes.
There was nothing romantic about the dark passion shared, neither one of us needing much foreplay. This was about fulfilling a need refusing to be denied. I ripped at his belt while his mouth consumed mine. While we were in the dark, away from the shimmering lights and candles, I felt a sense of excitement from someone possibly witnessing our filthy act.
His fingers toyed with me, the tips rubbing the smooth crease near the thin elastic. But just as I unzipped his trousers, I sensed he was about to lose control. Sweet Lord, the moment I wrapped my fingers around his thick shaft, shock tore through me. He was freaking huge, so much so my thumb barely met my middle finger.
That was the moment he chose to slide his fingers under the thin elastic. He flicked his fingers across my clit, pinching once before driving them past my swollen folds.
I pushed his chest involuntarily from the wild moment of shock. Our lips parted, my gasp settling into the air around us, lingering along with his low-slung growls and my scattered moans.
“So fucking beautiful,” he whispered in my ear. “So wet.” With his fingers spread wide open, he plunged them deeper inside, pumping several times as I stroked the base of his cock.
“Please. Just fuck me. I need you inside.”
“My pleasure.” He pushed me against the wall, yanking one leg around his thigh then the other. I clamped my feet together as he yanked my thong to the side.
I clawed his shoulders, using them like a lifeline when he pressed the tip against my pussy lips.
This wasn’t about teasing the other. He thrust the entire length of his cock deep into my aching pussy. Before I could scream, he captured my mouth all over again, swallowing the sound.
My muscles stretched, the immediate ache incredible. When he sensed I’d regained control, he pulled our lips free, laughing softly as he did.
“You feel so good, sweet beauty.”
For a man I didn’t know, he had a way of making me feel as if I was the most important person in his life. He pulled out, driving into me again, the force slamming me against the wall. I laughed in response, squeezing both my thighs against him and my pussy muscles around him.
With only a hint of moonlight providing any light, we stared into each other’s eyes as he fucked me. I’d never been so wet, so hot that beads of perspiration tickled my upper lip. He was that powerful, so dominating that I felt like I was freefalling.
His strokes became harder. Faster. More intense. We were both breathless, the cool air incapable of keeping us from overheating. That didn’t stop him. Every plunge pushed me closer to a level of ecstasy I’d never experienced.
All because a stranger who didn’t know anything about me could provide more pleasure than any man had attempted. With every sound, the strong sweep of adrenaline and the feeling of floating intensified.
His body tensed much like mine, his control slipping. He was so powerful, a man who enjoyed taking what he wanted. There was no way for him to know that he was fulfilling my greatest fantasy of being taken roughly by a mysterious man. A man I’d never see again.
That’s why I felt so free.
He shifted his angle, piercing me deeper than I’d known possible. “Come for me,” he commanded, the deep baritone penetrating.
With his actions even faster, I didn’t bother trying to hold back. In that moment while under a bank of twinkling stars, holiday music creating an enchanting atmosphere and the weight of the world pushed aside, I allowed my fantasy to come true.
As a powerful climax rolled through me, I cinched my eyes shut, half laughing from the sheer joy. All while he erupted deep inside.
We clung to each other as we both fell back to Earth, scattered breathing all we could accomplish. When a few minutes had passed, he allowed my legs to fall and took a step away.
Such a gentleman to turn away, allowing me to try to make myself more presentable.
There was no conversation about having a drink together or seeing each other again. The intimate moment had been special and would stay on this balcony as well as buried in the darkest recesses of my mind where it belonged.
After another kiss to his soft lips, I moved away, heading toward the door I’d walked out of. My curiosity made me stop, half turning. “What did you say to that man who accosted me?”
His chuckle was laced with the type of darkness that created a wave of shivers. “That if he ever dared touch you again, he would die.”
[divider]Chapter One
Saige
Months later…
“Tawny,
Let’s do lunch tomorrow. I need a venting session more than I need any air to breathe. I know what you’re going to say. Don’t let the arrogant prick get to me so much, but he is just so… Oh, I can’t stand him. The way he sashays around the office as if he owns the company. His smug attitude. The man is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, ridiculously expensive clothing. Maybe I should describe him more as a rooster the way he struts around the office.
It doesn’t matter that he’s breathtakingly handsome or can command a room from afar. He is a nightmare to work for and wouldn’t be nearly so successful if he didn’t have me to pick up the slack. Imagine what would happen if I dared point out all his mistakes. And do you want to know the worst of it? He doesn’t listen to me. Not a word. Not my advice or suggestions on investment opportunities or in considering taking the company public.
By creating strategic partnerships, Chertov Corporation would double their financial standing in one year. One year! But no, the man with the perfect abs and gorgeous, albeit frigid blue eyes continues to go about his merry little way in his own glass house world.
Just like all men. They can’t handle the strength and intelligence of a woman. You know exactly what I mean. I tell you what, his life must be dull and full of drudgery. Mr. Boring. I bet he has eight of the same suits, six of the exact same ties. Who the hell is his tailor. I know, but he’s the boss. Right?
Even with his perfectly sculpted body, he is a cold fish who likely eats small children for breakfast. Can you tell I need a night out on the town? Right now, lunch will have to do. Anyway, let me know if tomorrow is good for you.”
Huffing, I quickly read over the email before hitting send. It had only taken me several months of bickering and bantering with him to come to the conclusion he was hardheaded as any man could me. I’d thought I could work miracles, convincing him to listen to me.
I’d been dead wrong.
Time for a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow was another day of maneuvering around the sleeping bull.
Or maybe I should call him a caged lion.
[divider]
Get out of my way, you idiot!
The words were on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I gritted my teeth while the asshole who remained seemingly completely unaware he’d created a people jam barked out orders on his cellphone like he was a drill sergeant. However, I knew his type.
He was an arrogant man-child who believed his presence alone on this earth allowed for his bad behavior.
The only reason I didn’t fill his ears with some creative expletives was because my mama had raised a good girl.
At least for the most part.
Although even I could admit living in the Big Apple had been impactful. No longer was I the kind of girl to allow anyone, including rich, handsome men, to walk all over me.
Especially this asshole. I almost laughed. I’d been down the road with a stranger. Never, ever again.
“I told you, Jeanine, this report is unacceptable. What you gave me is absolute garbage. My six-year-old son could provide a more qualified report. Maybe I’ll task him to do so.” He laughed when poor Jeanine attempted to rebut his horrendous and very nasty comment.
People were actively trying to get around him, finding it difficult since he needed to spend more time on a treadmill and less behind his desk studying useless reports.
Horns honked.
People shouted.
Bells rang.
Collectively the sound was worse than a teacher scratching her long, sharp claws down a blackboard while being eager to condemn your work. Yeah, I’d had one of those teachers in elementary school, our tiny district unable to afford modern equipment. I was sweating bullets and in my off the rack silk blouse, the material was going to stain.
That was unacceptable.
“And don’t even think about going on vacation,” the prick continued. “Your time off has been canceled.”
The bastard laughed after making the statement, enjoying Jeanine’s pain. I fell into step directly behind him, the bones in my neck cracking when I stretched it from side to side. The sound of my increased tension echoed in my ears even on a crowded sidewalk in the middle of Manhattan.
A strand of hair fell into my face because of the haphazard bun stuck like a pincushion on top of my head. The horrific hairstyle was the product of my alarm deciding to take a vacation, and awakening to my body covered in sweat since the air conditioning was broken in the entire apartment building.
Then a phone call from my mother, which meant she hadn’t been able to sleep since it had been five in the morning when she’d called. Just to see how I was doing. Bullshit. She wasn’t a good liar, putting on a good face when facing losing everything. And even after enduring the most infuriating man in the world for endless months, I still couldn’t provide my family with the type of help they required.
Oh, I needed a vacation, a huge bottle of tequila, and a raise.
Not necessarily in that order.
I wouldn’t give credence to the fact my pantyhose had remained damp based on the high humidity, causing a run in two pairs. Money I didn’t have to waste. Every dime saved for a very specific reason.
On top of the ugly start, my poor kitty hadn’t received her morning snuggles. She would be a pissy little bitch when I returned. Nothing a little catnip couldn’t fix.
Yeah, I was in a foul mood.
Which is why without thinking, the good girl side of me failed completely and utterly. I managed to step in front of him, painting on a practiced smile while yanking the phone from his hand.
“What the—”
“Jeanine,” I said, cutting him off. “Your boss is suddenly in a crisis moment where he’s uncertain of the best way to get his head out of his ass. Now, I realize your job might be very important to you, but there are other jobs and other bosses. This one will never learn it’s all the people who work for him, not under him, who can make or break a company. For now, take your vacation and enjoy yourself. When you return, find another job where weasels don’t run free.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” he huffed and puffed. Of course he did. I skipped launching into him personally. That would truly get me on the naughty list for the holiday season.
And I was all about the presents.
“Making someone’s day.”
“Give me back my phone.” His demand was adorned with a red face and an attitude that screamed of a man capable of terrifying young girls in a dark alley.
The phone accidentally on purpose slipped from my fingers, immediately stepped on by several New Yorkers, all of which were running as late as I was.
“Oops.” My smile more genuine, I suddenly had a little pep to my step as I gently pushed my way through the crowd and toward the building where I worked, thankful I traveled in running shoes, my heels in my tote bag. A single check of my watch was enough to initiate a horrific groan.
I was already late. My only hope was that my boss had taken the morning to sleep in.
As I rushed inside, I almost knocked over a guy who was way shorter than me. “Excuse me. So sorry.” He didn’t seem worse for the wear, smiling from the close contact. I was full on running toward the bank of elevators, zigging and zagging my way through the onslaught of people.
One of eight elevator doors was still open. “Hold the elevator. Hold it!” My cry was certainly loud enough the man standing by the control panel could hear. In fact, I know he heard me because we locked eyes a split second before he shifted his hand onto another button.
And the doors closed.
“You son of a…” I glanced around me, cognizant I’d made a scene. “Biscuit eater.” As my mother would say. With no time to waste, I smacked my hand on the up button, immediately glancing at the LED displays indicating what floor they were on. Why were they all going up at the same time?
After three more brutal smashes of my palm on the button, I considered taking the stairs.
“Relax,” some guy said from behind me. “It’s a gorgeous sunny Wednesday in the best city in the world.”
There were actually people who were that damn chipper. I resisted even turning around for fear the same expletives I’d thought about for ten minutes would be used on the wrong man. As I waited, I tried to envision a happy, peaceful location where time stood still. A location where the world went silent because of extreme relaxation and not from a powerful man entering a room.
Let’s face it. While the jerk from minutes before did have a special place in hell based on the way he treated people, my anger was directed toward someone else.
My boss.
A man who made Hannibal Lecter seem like a favorite uncle who enjoyed inviting you to dinner.
The man so many called the Wolf. Why? Because he was a silent predator controlling and stalking the halls of the Chertov Corporation. If he was a shifter, he’d be sleek black in color, a deadly killer. I’d envisioned him more than once with sharp canines, slicing through a man’s jugular. That helped ease the pressure of being his… glorified assistant.
He was also the man I’d briefly thought a hero, saving me from a drunk asshole on a glorious night where I’d believed fantasies did come true. The moment I’d walked into his office after passing the first round of interviews, I’d been blown away. I hadn’t recognized his face at first, especially since he hadn’t been wearing his signature glasses, but the man I’d had an intimate interlude with had been holding court behind his desk.
Wearing a smug look.
Maybe to use in punishing me later or to hold something over my head, not a word had been mentioned about that night. I’d spent months tiptoeing around the incident as if it had never happened. But given the brief conversation we’d had at the time, I honestly believed that’s why he’d chosen to make my life completely miserable.
At least I’d learned early on how accurate the phrase that looks could be deceiving was.
The second the elevator doors slowly opened, I was the first one inside, crowding the corner in the back. If I was going for a little space, I was an idiot. The steel box was soon packed like sardines. To avoid suffocation, I closed my eyes and instantly, images of my boss’s chiseled face popped into my mind, a cause-and-effect moment hitting me hard. In a split second, my pulse had skyrocketed.
He could still cause me to swoon. Damn the man.
I narrowly avoided another collision while heading to my desk, which was strategically placed just outside my boss’ office. When I slipped in, I tried to avoid eye contact with anyone else. I’d jump into work and no one would ever know I was twenty-seven minutes late.
You bet I was precise because he was. Stash Chertov, chief financial officer and part owner of the Chertov Corporation. While his surname was on the building and etched in the all-glass entrance doors, he was the cousin of the president of operations. Half cousins to be precise.
If there was such a thing.
Both friends and enemies had accredited a portion of the company’s successful expansion to the sultry Russian himself. What was I saying? There were several men of obvious Russian descent who appeared every so often. Maybe I was hungry for a larger piece of the pie. They could certainly afford it. While the incident at Christmas remained painful, at least I hadn’t crossed paths with the drunk jerk from that night.
The male owners of the company were similar in attire and demeanor, barely saying two words while gracing the team with their presence. Rumors were typical in any successful business, yet those involving the Chertov family were dark and sordid in nature. Whispered words regarded the family as being true Russia Bratva, only recently increasing their presence and powerful control over New York City and beyond.
There was a third man on the books, someone I’d met only twice. Kazimir and his family remained in Russia, holding down their corporate operations and some said a true kingdom.
Several of the stories were wild, tales of catching one or another bludgeoning a man to death, another being shot outside Broadway. While the Big Apple had both its share of vicious crimes and bystanders refusing to get involved no matter how heinous the situation, I highly doubted one of them could get away with murdering someone in cold blood in front of the bright lights of Broadway.
The allure of danger was a powerful aphrodisiac, half the women and a portion of the men in the company drooling over Stash and his cousin Dimitri. There were a few staunch believers in never dipping a toe into the gray area, fearful our company would eventually be shut down by the FBI.
If the company was involved in dark economics, I’d discovered no evidence. Given I was heavily involved in every financial aspect, my spidey sense would have been raised at least once. However, I was no fool. I could smell work underground and was determined to find out what Stash and his family were involved in. I’d always had a strong sense of curiosity, something my mother had also warned me against.
With my boss’ door closed, meaning he’d arrived right on time, I was hopeful he was busy on a conference call, which were frequent and typical given the time difference with Moscow.
In a flurry, I yanked my glasses from my purse, shoving them onto my face. I’d never manage to see the financial numbers on the screen without them.
I didn’t miss a beat, opening my email and within five minutes, I’d answered all twelve emails with precise attention to detail, returned an RSVP for a luncheon I knew Mr. Chertov didn’t want to attend, and signed off on a large order of office supplies.
You bet I’d learned to be efficient as the man’s glorified secretary. At least he’d yet to have me grabbing his dry cleaning while on my forty-five-minute lunch break. With a roll of my eyes, I pulled out a piece of my favorite candy, popping it into my mouth.
When my personal cellphone rang, I groaned. Personals calls were permitted but frowned upon, like almost everything else personable, entertaining, or heartwarming. With the morning I’d already had, I was fearful the bad luck would continue. Ah, just my bestie calling, hopefully confirming lunch today. Not that breaking bread would be any big deal.
We were working girls, everything in New York expensive. We confined ourselves to either the company’s cafeteria or on nice days the lovely atrium on the fourteen floor to eat our white bread and mayonnaise sandwiches. I rolled my eyes before answering.
“Hey, hey,” Tawny cooed. “How’s it shakin’ this morning, babe?”
“Uh-oh. I know that tone.”
“What tone?”
I glanced over my shoulder to ensure his door hadn’t been opened. “The ‘I need a favor’ tone.”
“How do you do that?”
Chuckling, I closed the email screen, moving to the Excel document I’d been working on. At least I’d finished the report before leaving the office the day before. All I needed to do was to doublecheck entries. “I’m a soothsayer who can read minds as well as see into the future.”
“I wish that was true. Then you could tell me definitively if I need to dump Brian.”
“I don’t need my precognitive abilities to offer you advice. Dump his ass. Toss him to the curb.”
“Tell me how you really feel about him. Don’t worry. I have other irons in the fire.” Somehow, she didn’t sound overly convincing. I knew Tawny too well. Something was on her mind and given the last favor I’d performed was being her plus one at the Christmas party, I had every reason to be dubious.
“About time. So what’s the favor?” I pressed, my nerves still on edge. Stash wanted the report by nine sharp. That left me with eighteen minutes to doublecheck the formula.
“Oh, no. It’s a bit too complicated to go into over the phone. How about lunch today? My treat.”
I glared at my little bag of eatable goodies, which I’d forgotten to put into the fridge in the break room. Another tell that I shouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning. Something about the way she mentioned having lunch caught me off guard. “That’s fine. Didn’t you get my email anyway?”
“Girl. I’ve been swamped since I walked in. I didn’t see anything, but you know me.”
“Yes, I do. Our favorite table in the atrium?”
“I’ll be there. And please say yes.”
“Not until you tell me what the favor is.” Her favors usually got me in trouble. Still laughing, I shoved my phone into my purse and returned to the spreadsheet.
I’d obviously gotten lost in the numbers and not the ones on my watch I should be paying attention to. There were several aspects of Stash Chertov that were unnerving, but by far the biggest was his ability to communicate subtly yet effectively in silence. He used his deliberate actions to get his point across.
A deep sigh or a lingering look lasted long after the discussion was concluded. The way his eyes narrowed when he was scrutinizing the person sitting across from him was methodical. There was no rushing him, no pushing him into doing anything he didn’t want to do. And when a decision was made, he could burn down the world, fire an entire room full of people, or condemn a whole week’s worth of work with just a few words.
I knew because I’d been a party to him doing so early in my employment with him. To say he was difficult to work with was an understatement.
What he lacked in words he made up for with his overbearing presence. Right now, what I felt was surge of electricity coursing through me, a live wire of activity during a raging thunderstorm. However, instead of my blood boiling as someone might expect, it felt as if ice was running through my veins.
Very slowly I looked up from the computer screen and into his eyes.
Stash was standing in the doorway, his massive body a fortress while his broad shoulders filled the space. Wearing one of his signature Stefano Ricci suits, the luxurious Italian linen accentuating every sculpted inch, his jaw was set, a usual sign of his frustration. Yet the hardline expression was incapable of downplaying his gorgeous features or muscular physique.
With the angle of the morning sun streaming in through his office windows, his entire frame was surrounded by a luminous glow. In my mind, he appeared godlike. Or maybe I should call him the antichrist given his surly attitude.
For whatever reason he was even more handsome. Maybe the bold color of his tie. Instead of the usual crisp white shirt and dark linen suit with a coordinating dark and gloomy tie, the shade was a deep maroon. Close enough to vivid for government work.
Or that of a Bratva enforcer.
I bit back a smile with the ridiculous thought.
There was no other way to describe him but as tall, dark, and devastating.
“Ms. Mitchell, I’d like to see you in my office.”
As if by some instinct I checked my watch, immediately realizing the error of my ways. Yes, he was ten minutes early in ‘fetching me,’ which he always did even with a scheduled meeting, but I should know better than to question his motives.
“Is there somewhere you’d rather be, Ms. Mitchell?”
If I didn’t know better, which I certainly did, I’d say there was a gleam in his eyes. For only a split second. Then it was gone and I was fearful the lack of sleep was creating false images.
I shook my head, more to shove away cobwebs than anything. If he only knew how I really wanted to answer him. Our sparring was Olympic level and no one, including Tawny, knew why.
Why yes, I’d rather be anywhere rather than deal with your sullen attitude and over the top entitlement. Where, you ask? I’m glad you did. Perhaps getting a root canal or listening to a full eight hours of country music piped through my iPod. Or perhaps participating in a hot dog eating contest.
Instead, I offered him the same smile I’d given the jerk outside only thirty minutes before.
Saccharine sweet with a huge dose of toxicity. “Absolutely not. Your wish is my command.”
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