Page 46 of Resist

“No.”

I end the call.

She wants a power play? I’ll give her one. Gladly.

Ring.

That was quick.

Ring.

Why is her temper so sexy?

Ring.

Why is her need to test me even more so?

Ring.

I let it go to voice mail regardless of how much I want to pick up the phone and push her buttons.

I focus on the Matushek brief—words and ultimatums and legalese that I know like the back of my hand—and ignore the vibration of my cell phone until it stops.

And fuck if I’m not disappointed when she gives up so easily.

The afternoon passes in billable hours, one after another, my mind wandering to Vaughn more than it should and wondering how long she’s going to let me have the upper hand in this struggle we’ve got going.

“Mr. Lockhart?” Bella asks through the intercom.

“Yes.”

“There is a Vee Saxony on the line for you.”

I fight the twitch of my lips. Vee Saxony. Can’t say the woman doesn’t have an ironclad set of balls. Then again, I already knew that.

“Let her through, and hold my other calls.”

“Yes.”

My phone rings on my desk, and I push the button to answer the transferred call. “Let’s get one thing straight,” I say in greeting. “When you’re with me, you’re Vaughn. Not Vee. Not Saxony. Just Vaughn.”

“I can’t—”

“Uh-uh-uh,” I warn.

“You hang up on me, I’m not calling you back again.”

“Then don’t say no.”

It’s as simple as that. How well will she obey? And the tense silence tells me she’s struggling with her own damn pride and with giving me what I demand.

“You’re the one threatening blackmail here.” There’s a mixture of anger and disbelief in her voice.

I tsk to fight back my laugh. “Blackmail is a very touchy word for a lawyer,” I say.

“And threatening exposure is a more-than-touchy word for a woman in my position.”

“Then do what I say.”