“Over the course of the last few years I have learned I do not dislike them. Drake’s children have rather grown on me. Dmitri and Elise’s children have also surprised me by how much I quite like them. Although I do wish Dmitri’s wife would stop handing me her baby and laughing when it spits up on me.
“It is not that I like or dislike children it is that I do not like the idea of marriage. I like my life the way it is. I am aware of my faults and do not desire to change for anyone. My work is more important to me than getting home in time to have dinner or going to some party women always seem to want to attend. Let me guess? You want a large number of children?”
She nods, her head down. “At least three but I think four sounds like a nice round number. Your work is really that important to you? You don’t care about anyone but yourself?”
I do not care for the question or the tone of her voice. “The scotch has weakened your tongue when you really could not afford it further weakened.”
For the first time tonight, she is timid. I remember her fiery responses I knew were lurking beneath her calm surface. It has been more years than I have memory since someone insulted me to my face and even more since someone swore at me. It was clear upon her beautiful face, she was dying to tell me to fuck off and walk out. It was what I have wanted yet as the seconds ticked and I wondered if she had given up when she made up her mind, and I knew she was not going anywhere the relief, the need, the fire that was burning me whole for her flared brightly inside of me.
How I did not pull her across my desk and fuck her, I will never know. It would have been hard and fast though, which would not have satisfied either one of us. I like slow, I want to taste her for hours, I have heard her yell, I want to hear her scream my name.
Her eyes glow, she senses the desire growing in me. She blushes. “I better be getting back to work. Thank you again, for the scotch and the food.”
Alexa does not look back as she walks out of the room. She will find the connection, I know she will. I have complete faith in her. She has good instincts, intelligence, patience and she is the best assistant I have had since Victoria. It’s too bad I still have to get her to quit.
***
Alexa
I found it! I pop up from my seat and squeal with happiness. I found it! As I give a little dance my leg cramps, shit. Ouch. It takes a minute to work out the cramp before I can sit back down. For the first time in two hours, I move with speed. My highlighter dances across the page. I find the page and hit print screen to get the shots, I plug them in and hit print. Excited I knock on Leo’s door.
Leo opens the door, and I wilt at how stunning he looks. Or was I still kind of weak from sharing dinner together? He’d been suited up during dinner, I’m extremely glad for that now. His jacket is off, his tie is gone, his shirt is open almost to his chest, and I can’t breathe. With all the golden skin glowing against the snow white of his shirt he looks like something off a billboard. “What is it, Alexa? I’m ready to leave.”
“I found it.” I shove the print out in his face. “Roth Limited has a pass-through, Arka Corp. he went through. Payments went to his ex-wife to a child she had previous to their marriage. It’s the reason why she was able to get so much out of him in the divorce.”
He just nods. “I knew you would. Put it on my desk. I will look through it tomorrow. Good night.”
I was so stunned at the sight of him, I had backed up like a wooden puppet as he walked around me. Now all I can do is watch as he walks into the elevator without a single look back at me. The elevator closes releasing me from my stupor. No way! No fucking way. He did not just do that.
Nothing, all that work
and no good job, I’m proud of you? He couldn’t even say thank you? I toss the report on his desk and deflate. It’s almost nine thirty. My entire day has been here and all about Leo. All that time I’ve worked for him, and he leaves without even thanking me for it. I’m pretty sure I’m growing to hate Leandros Kaplan.
10
Thursday
Leo
When the elevator opens, Alexa isn’t at her desk. For a moment I go still, I cannot move. Where the fuck is she? Did she quit? Had I pushed her too far yesterday? Had I not made up for it with dinner? Was she really able to just walk away? I should be exultant. I am not, I am hollow.
“Sir? Is something wrong?”
I look up to see Alexa looking at me with concern. She was simply away from her desk. “Why the fuck were you not at your desk?” I snarl, furious at her.
Her blue eyes flash brightly. “I was putting your coffee on your desk, so it would be there when you arrived like you demanded. Fuck, Leo. I’m not even allowed to leave my desk?”
“I have not given you leave to address me as anything other than sir or Mr. Kaplan. Take care, Ms. Clark.” Watching her little mouth pout, it is so ridiculously adorable I want to kiss it into a smile. I blink with a shake of my head. “Has Ms. Ward responded to my request?”
“No.”
“Then call her again. Tell her if she comes into my office by noon today I will donate three hundred thousand to Planned Parenthood in the Vice-President’s name. If she keeps me waiting I will spend it on the Ferrari 812 that has been calling my name.”
I’m still enjoying the first sip of my coffee when my phone beeps. “Ms. Ward is asking if ten o’clock will be okay?”
“Yes, and email Natalie, tell her that I want her in my office the minute she gets in. Do you know shorthand?”
“My own kind of shorthand. I never had a problem taking notes for Ernest.”