“Not for me. I like to be alone.”
“I know.”
“Your family would drive me insane with their constant yapping.”
“Oh, you bet they do. Why do you think I spend most evenings here?”
“I thought it was to keep an eye on the husband.”
“Ahh that’s just one of the perks.”
We sit for a while, he catches me up on his life, which, to be honest, I couldn’t give a shit about, but it’s the kind of white noise that I needed for distraction. So I settle down and take advantage.
It’s the end of the week and there is an underlying sense of relief that buzzes through the office. It’s something that I’ve picked up on over the years while studying my employees. The change in their behavior when Friday approaches. Everyone is more eager to complete their work. Smiles on their faces. Talking more to each other about their plans. I cannot fathom why anyone cares what someone else does outside of work. Is all of that interest and nodding their heads emphatically when discussing plans with family real? Or a lie so that their conversation ends quicker, because the person feels satisfied that they have had their five minutes of attention? So dull and exhausting.
I assess the two women gossiping in front of me. Sharon and Mia. Sharon is the hotel manager for New York and Mia is my company lawyer. I have no idea how they got to know each other, but they haven’t taken a breath to breathe in the past three minutes. You could actually mistake them for sisters. Both the same height. Shoulder length light brown hair. Round faces, brown eyes and make-up that looks professionally done. They even have the same length and color nails. Dark red. I’m staring at them so hard, completely engrossed in their body language that Sharon must sense me, as she breaks me out of my haze.
“Are you okay, Ethan?” she asks. It’s a very high toned voice that I’ve heard turn shrill when she gets angry with the hotel staff. That’s why I like her. She keeps the machine running on fear.
“I’m waiting for Mia, considering we have a meetingbooked that started five minutes ago,” I say, unable to keep the mask in place for a brief second as my gaze rests on her. I hate tardiness. Her face blushes and I can see her pulse beat in her neck.
“I’m so sorry Ethan, I was on my way and got distracted,” she flusters, grabbing her bag off the desk next to her and moving at a swift speed toward my office. I follow behind her with long strides, enjoying how she is reacting. I like it. I like the doubt and worry that I can instill. The over the top responses to please me, rather than annoy me. It’s powerful. It’s a shame I don’t have a spark of interest as I’m sure I could have some serious fun making her my toy.
I walk into my office behind her and take satisfaction from the little jump I get out of her as I slam my office door. I plan to make her sweat during this meeting. Just to please my inner monster who paces inside of me everyday, looking for a new challenge.
After my meeting with Mia finishes, she heads off to her own office, slightly unbalanced on her feet and rosy cheeked. After making her squirm for the past hour, I decide to stretch my legs and make myself a much needed coffee. I don’t have a PA. I delegate evenly to my staff as I like to keep complete control.
As I start to walk down the large corridor to the drinks area, I check through my phone, paying no attentionto what is in front of me. This lack of awareness is what changes my life.
I don’t believe in accidents. Not really. But when it happens, when I turn the corner at the end of my office corridor, I collide with a solid, warm body. A hand catches my arm, steady, firm, unapologetic.
“Sorry,” he starts.
Then I look at the man in front of me. This was no accident. This was fate. And everything narrows.
This guy is fucking sexy. He’s only an inch shorter than my six-foot two and close enough that I can feel heat through his clothing. Dark hair, slightly messy like he has been tugging on it. The kind of thick hair you want to pull on until he screams while you stuff his mouth with your cock. Then there are his eyes, large hazel eyes where the green sparkles more intently under the harsh lighting. They widen as the look of recognition lands a beat too late.
“Oh,” he says quietly. “Sir.”
Leo.
The name surfaces instantly, plucked from memory with surgical precision. New hire. Mail room. I have a photographic memory and like to know everyone who works at my company. But his picture did him no justice.
I release his arm, though every instinct tells me not to as I watch him swallow hard, his Adam’s apple moving with such force to portray discomfort. Nervousness. My senses peak, like I have scented a mate. I can almost smell the horror emanating off him and it’s fucking intoxicating.
“It’s fine,” I say, smooth, calm, already wearing the version of myself the world prefers. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
I fight all of my inner instincts to remain calm, to portray a normal reaction. Understanding and compassionate. When what I really want to do is grab him by the throat, throw him against the wall and suck on his neck until he cums.
His mouth twitches with a half a smile, half uncertainty. “Still. I should’ve —”
“You should get back to work,” I finish gently. Clenching my fists to keep myself under control. I need him to leave before I do something.
Authority settles between us like a held breath. His shoulders straighten. He nods, professional, obedient in a way that sends something dark and electric through me.
“Yes, sir.”
He moves to step around me where I refuse to budge.
