“Conference room?” Victor asked, moving toward my office door.
It made sense. But the conference room had too many windows for prying eyes. I didn’t need anyone seeing my fucking business.
I shook my head, returned to my desk, and sank into my leather office chair. “No. Show her in.”
Ethan shifted in his chair but didn’t make a move to leave. He wouldn’t. He wanted to see this through.
Victor would keep an eye on our friend Stan. None of us thought he was as innocent as he let on and wondered if we'd missed anything else in the last six months while I'd been preoccupied.
The door clicked, and my attention snapped to Ms. Rhodes, who stood there in the doorway, fidgeting, wringing her hands as she nervously waited for whatever sentence she had coming. Then she remembered who she was in the room with and squared her shoulders, straightening her posture.
Good girl.
Ethan broke the silence as he gestured to the chair across from my desk. “Have a seat, Ms. Rhodes.”
She gulped and nodded. She crossed the room and sat, ankles crossed, hands folded over a folder in her lap. Dark hair pinned too tight. Blouse buttoned high. Proper. Controlled.
I saw through it anyway. The unevenness of her breath, the fear in her eyes, even as she tried to hold a strong front.
Nothing like the girl in Sanctum who had pressed trembling thighs together while watching another woman come undone in ropes. God help me, both versions of her set me on fire.
I leaned back in my chair casually, even though my thoughts were anything but.
Her tattoo reminded me of the girl Friday night. The one who had emailed me last night around eleven o’clock, when she should have been tucked into her bed. I was pretty sure she’d been drunk, as wordy as she was.
Mr. Sir?
I’m guessing that’s what I’m supposed to call you since that was the name on the card. I don’t know why I’m writing except you said you would be willing to get me out of my head. Not sure that could happen but see tomorrow is the day I lose my job and honestly I don’t know why I’m writing. This isn’t me.
-M
I’d waited an hour before replying, but I’d spent that hour imagining all the ways I could silence those voices for her. All the ways I could break her free.
“Ms. Rhodes.” I allowed her name to roll off my tongue, wondering how it would feel as I punished her for her actions. Picturing her strung up in the middle of my room, begging for her release.
Her chin lifted, her expression calm. “Mr. Reid.”
My cock twitched. I gripped the arms of my chair, thankful for the desk between us. Never in nearly forty years had a woman undone my control like this.
I steepled my hands. “Do you know why you’re here?”
She drew in a breath. “Honestly, Sir. I’m not exactly sure.”
Ethan snorted, trying and failing to mask it with his hand. My glare snapped to him. His smirk faltered.
“Ms. Rhodes, do you know how much trouble you’re in?”
“For doing my job?” she snapped, her gaze meeting mine and doing her best to hold it, but I didn’t miss her tightening her grip on the folder she held.
“I don’t recall sabotage, interference or breach of security as part of your job description.”
“If that’s the case, Sir,” she shot back. “Why didn’t you escort me out on Friday?”
This time, she didn’t look away.
Out of the corner of my eye, Ethan smothered a grin behind his hand. I exhaled slowly. HR wanted witnesses in the room for this sort of meeting, which was the only reason I hadn’t thrown him out. That and I wasn't sure I could trust myself alone with her right now, especially after the thoughts rolling around in my head after Friday.
“I don’t make rash decisions, Ms. Rhodes.”
