Mine (14 page)

The next morning, I parked my black Volkswagen Golf in Holt's parking lot, located east of Kearny Street. I made my way toward the modern skyscraper on Montgomery Street, in the heart of the Financial District. The scent of bacon-wrapped hot dogs being grilled by a street vendor farther down the street spiraled through the air. I never understood why anyone would want a hot dog so early in the morning.

Surrounded on three sides by water, San Francisco had a mild climate that didn't change much throughout the year. Fog was a given on most days during the summer. The city's eclectic architecture, cable cars, and landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge all made for great selling points in the real estate market.

All things, on any given day, I took complete advantage of to seal a deal.

Today, on the corner of the street, I noticed a sidewalk café, and regretted that I didn't have time to grab a cup of coffee for Liv and myself. I was running a little late, since I wasn't used to the traffic in this part of the city.

I crossed the street and approached Holt, and glanced up at the high-rise, taking in the dark glass that sheathed the entire building and the huge silver letters on one side that read
Holt Enterprises.
A building this nice gave the impression that important people worked here.

It was a lot to take in at once, as was the fact that I now worked here.

I drew in a deep breath for strength, focused myself, and passed through the main doors. The foyer was open all the way to the top and had balconies on each floor. I headed toward the security guard to introduce myself, but before I could get there, Anderson intercepted me.

“I'm pleased you showed up,” he said.

I didn't bother trying to hide my smile. “You thought I wouldn't?”

“It was fifty-fifty.” Anderson turned to the security guard, sitting at the large black desk with computer monitors in front of him. “Allie Bennett is a new employee at Holt. I'll take her up.”

The security guard nodded at Anderson, and then said to me, “Carry your identification with you at all times. It's an annoying process if you forget it.”

“Got it,” I replied, and then followed Anderson.

The security was a tad ridiculous. It wasn't like Holt was holding secrets. They were selling real estate. Was all the security really necessary? I stayed close behind Anderson, taking in the sheer luxury of the building. By far, it was one of the nicest buildings I'd seen in San Francisco.

Once Anderson reached the elevator, he waved me inside. “I've got your office all set up for you, and your assistant's as well. Liv arrived about twenty minutes ago.”

“Perfect,” I replied, stepping beside him. “Thank you.”

The doors shut and the elevator whizzed up to the sixtieth floor. The fact that there were sixty-one floors noted on the elevator panel told me that Micah and his group of yes-men were likely housed on the top floor.

When the doors chimed open, I faced a huge reception area with three receptionists working at the front desk. “Jeez, this place is something, isn't it?” I remarked.

Anderson nodded, gesturing me out of the elevator. “It's impressive.”

Impressive
was an understatement. Each office had glass walls and fancy glass desks, with Mac computers on every one. We passed by the receptionists, who were busy on the phones, and I followed Anderson down the long hallway. That's when I spotted Liv sitting at a desk right outside of an office.

She rose, smiling at me. “Dude! We are in real estate heaven.”

“No kidding,” I agreed.

“Your office is right in here,” Anderson said, turning into the office on his left.

I followed him in and my mouth dropped open. From ceiling to floor, windows made up the back wall of the room, giving a stunning view of San Francisco's Financial District. I felt like I'd walked into my brother's office—and he was a billionaire.

Instant embarrassment flooded me, and I turned to Anderson. “I've changed my mind.”

Anderson's brows winged up, arms folded. “About what exactly?”

“About the office.”

He frowned, eyeing me with obvious confusion. “This is one of the best offices on this floor because of the view. The only other person who has this view is Micah, and he is above us. I can't give you anything better.”

“I don't want better,” I retorted, hating myself right now. “I want smaller.”

“Are you nuts?” Liv exclaimed, smacking my arm, horror crossing her face. “This office is perfect.”

“No, I'm not nuts,” I said to her, then added to Anderson, “This is way too much for me.” I waved my hands around the lavish office, feeling ridiculous that I'd implied I deserved—or needed—such treatment. “Something smaller will do just fine.”

“This used to be one of our meeting rooms, and I'm afraid that Micah requested that I make it your office,” Anderson said very matter-of-factly. “It's a done deal.”

I felt like I was stuck between a rock and Micah Holt. I had asked for this. And I didn't want to seem ungrateful either, or difficult. “So I'm stuck here?”

Anderson gave me a leveled look. “Is it really so awful?”

Yeah, it kinda was. I felt spoiled in the worst way, all because I'd gotten angry over Henry's retirement and being backed into the corner by Micah. “Well, if this is my new office, I need to make a change. Can you help me?” I exited my office, walked over to Liv's desk, wrapped my fingers around the desktop, and started pulling.

“What are you doing?” Anderson snapped.

“I can't stay in there alone. It's huge.” I paused, since my pulling had gotten me nowhere. “Is that going to be a problem?”

“I'm not sure.” He reached into his pocket, took out his phone, and began typing. After a beep, he read the reply, shook his head, and snorted a laugh. “All right. Let's do this.”

I grasped the side of the glass table. “You seriously needed permission for that, too?”

A sly smile crossed his face as he positioned himself on the other side of the desk. “When it comes to you, yes.”

I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but I didn't press the matter. Instead, annoyed by his smirk, I asked, “What exactly is so funny?”

“You are, my dear.” Anderson began to pull the desk, while I heaved the thing forward.

“Why?” I grunted against the strain of my muscles. “Because I wanted to move a desk?”

“No.” Anderson tugged from his end. “Because Micah bends to your will.
That
amuses me.”

We settled the desk next to the far wall, leaving it out a few feet so that Liv could put her chair behind it. She came strolling in with a huge smile on her face, pushing the chair in front of her. “Well, that's because our Allie is a force to be reckoned with.”

“I'm beginning to see that.” Anderson smiled at me.

I was discovering I liked him. It was an instinctual thing. He seemed trustworthy, kind, and Micah's powerful personality also seemed not to have rubbed off on him too much. “There,” I said, stepping away from the desk. “This is much better.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.” Liv dropped down into her chair, placing her hands on her desk. “I think this arrangement will suit us both perfectly.”

“Of course you do,” I replied dryly. “We're being spoiled rotten.” But I did like seeing Liv so happy. She hadn't had what I had growing up. Her family was middle class, and Liv had had to work hard for her condo that she bought a couple years ago. Mulling that over for a minute, and maybe realizing how ridiculous I'd been with my demands, I suddenly had an idea. “By the way,” I said, turning to Anderson, “remember that salary we discussed?”

Anderson nodded.

“Give half of it to Liv.”

Liv's eyes widened. “Ooh! Do I get a raise?”

Anderson snorted, reaching for his phone again. “
Raise
isn't the right term, I think.” He began typing again on his phone as Liv looked on in confusion. His phone beeped, and he smiled. “Your terms have been accepted.”

“Great.” I felt pretty damn good about it, too.

“How much do I get?” Liv asked.

“Add fifty thousand to what you got at Richardson,” Anderson said, and Liv's mouth nearly hit the ground. “If that's all, I'll let you get settled. Today we thought you could learn our system and get acquainted with the office. Tomorrow we'll send you your first client.”

I startled, even more so than Liv. “You'll send me my first client? Isn't it my job to find the clients?”

“Not at Holt.” Anderson grinned, moving closer to me. “Here, clients come to us.” He reached into his pocket and handed me an envelope. “This is your company credit card and appropriate ID cards. It's not unusual for clients to request meetings over breakfast, lunch, or dinner—five-star restaurants are mandatory when entertaining clients.” I accepted the envelope and nodded, and then Anderson addressed both me and Liv. “Enjoy your day, ladies.”

Once he cleared the doorway, Liv threw her arms around me. “You didn't need to do that.”

“Yes, I did.” I squeezed my arms around her, feeling good about doing this for Liv. The money did matter, because it'd make things easier for her. “We're a team, remember?”

She leaned away, big tears in her eyes. “I guess. And here you thought coming to work for Holt was a bad idea. A big raise. A spectacular office. Life is looking up for us, girl.”

I moved to my desk and placed the envelope on top of the glass. “Bigger company means bigger perks, I guess.” I dropped down into my chair, swiveled to the side, and looked out at the wall of windows beside me. “God, look at that view. I could sell this office in a second.”

“I know,” Liv said, awe in her voice. “And just think—while you're out doing what you do, I get to look at this all day.”

“Excuse me. Allie?”

I turned toward the doorway again, finding a slender man entering the office. Liv gave me a wide smile, but it wasn't because he was holding a large bouquet of flowers. His shoes were nicer than mine. He dressed better than me. His eyebrows were plucked to perfection. Of course Liv would totally love him. Three of her best friends were gay men. Best shopping buddies, she once told me.

I smirked at Liv and then nodded at him. “Yes, I'm Allie.”

“Hi, I'm Neil, Mr. Holt's assistant.” He placed the flowers on my desk and smiled at me brightly. “These are for you.”

“Wowzers,” Liv breathed from her place at her desk. “That man sure knows how to treat his employees.”

Neil barked an unamused laugh. “You must have made a great impression.”

I wasn't sure why he would think that. I had been rude to Micah, but maybe rude was something he respected. “I wouldn't go that far.” I grabbed the card out from the flowers and opened the envelope.

Allie—

Welcome to Holt.

—Micah

I stared at the card, thinking it odd he'd send me these flowers. “Does he always do this for new employees?”

“Oh, no.” Neil laughed, as if what I'd said was the most absurd thing ever, and stepped away from my desk. “This is a first, believe me. Like I said, you must have made an impression.”

I began to frown. An
impression
wasn't what I wanted to make on Micah. He was my boss now—therefore, completely off-limits—and I wanted him and every other employee in this office to respect me. I'd worked too hard—putting my personal life on hold—to rise to the top at Richardson to allow that respect to fall apart now.

Even if deep down I didn't
hate
that Micah sent me flowers, I picked them up and handed the bouquet back to Neil. “Please thank Micah for the gift, but take them back and tell him not to send anything like this again.”

Neil's eyes went huge. “I can't do that!”

“Yes, you can.” I gave him a light push, easing him out of my office. “Thanks for bringing them by, though. It's great to meet you.”

He left my office muttering something I didn't understand.

“Why in the hell did you do that?” Liv snapped the second Neil vanished from the office.

“I want to be known as the girl who refused flowers from Micah.” I turned to Liv. “I don't want to be known as the girl who maybe got the job and the nice office because the boss likes her.”

Liv's eyes widened. “He
likes
you?”

“Well, no”—
but would that be so bad if he did
ran across my subconscious—“but you know women—that is exactly how it will look.” I might be attracted to Micah, but my work mattered to me more than giving into sexual desires.

Liv pondered, and then gave a firm nod. “You're right. Catty bitches will
so
think that.”

“Exactly.” I returned to my seat at my desk and powered up my computer. “Let's see about figuring out this new system so we can make magic happen.”

Liv smiled. “That
is
what we do best.”

Who rejected one of the best offices on the sixtieth floor and gave away half of their salary to their assistant? I kept pondering Allie's actions—she'd asked for those things specifically, but now she didn't want them? I didn't pretend to understand her. Yet I found myself wanting to get inside her head. She was a curious creature to me, seemingly doing the direct opposite of what I expected from her.

Behind my large glass desk, I leaned back in my leather chair, staring out at the city's skyscrapers. When I designed Holt's new office seven years ago, I had the exterior and interior walls of the office made from one-way glass, instead of classic plaster. Perhaps because I hid so much in my private life, it felt good to see the world around me, and to always view the city that I had conquered.

My chest grew tight, as the swell of lies in my life surrounded me. I shut my eyes, forcing my mind elsewhere, wondering if Allie, who sat in her office below me, was looking out at the same view. She fascinated me with her intense loyalty to Henry and how she defended him. I wanted to know why everything that I valued—material and monetary things—didn't matter to her. I couldn't help but wonder what her world would be like to live in—so untainted, so pure with loving relationships, so honest.

I never lived in that world.

A knock on my door caused my eyes to snap open and I turned my head toward the sound. “Sir,” said Neil, entering my office with the flowers I sent to Allie in his hands, “I'm sorry to interrupt. I don't really know how to say this, but Allie told me to tell you thank you, but she doesn't want these.”

I frowned, annoyed. “Did she now?”

A nice office and a big salary increase didn't impress her, which, after yesterday, I had hoped would soften her view of me. After her latest recent demands rejecting those luxuries, I had thought that a smaller gesture would win her over and ease the tension between us, making her look to me in a more romantic way. I began to think she wasn't a challenge; she was an impossibility that I couldn't overcome. “Call her into my office, Neil.”

He accepted the order with a nod, hurrying back to his desk. I drew in a deep breath, collecting myself, and moved from my seat. I rested against the edge of my glass desk, hands stuffed in my pockets. My fingers danced across my cellphone as the minutes ticked by.

By the time I saw Allie striding through the door, my hands were now fisted in my pockets. She entered my office, head held high and shoulders stiff. I didn't like how she turned her nose up at me; it made me feel the need to defend myself. “Why did you refuse my flowers?” I demanded.

She stopped in front of me, folding her arms. “Thank you for the kind gesture, but it's best that I don't receive anything like that from my boss.”

“I didn't want a thank-you,” I told her sternly, unsure how to proceed with her. Even my greatest challengers had still accepted my offerings with gratitude. “I wanted you to enjoy my gift.”

She watched me for a long moment, her lips pinched. Finally, she sighed and asked, “What is your play here?”

I arched one brow at her. “My play?”

“Apparently you want something from me, since you're giving me everything that I'm asking for with little objection and sending me flowers when you normally don't do that.” Her voice was cold, almost calculating. “Say what you want, so that we can be clear.”

I bristled, staring at her. This little woman had bigger balls than some of the richest businessmen I knew. In response, my cock went rock hard. “If you want us to be clear, then I have no trouble playing it your way. I had hoped to get to know you better before going down this road, but since you're requesting honesty…I want to take you out for dinner.”

Her brows winged up. “Why?”

I folded my arms, mirroring her posture. “Is it so hard to believe that I would like to take you out on a date?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, kinda, considering our first meeting yesterday.” Her mouth shut in haste, eyes slowly narrowing. “Wait just a second. Did you hire me because you're on some power trip because I'm not drooling on your shoes, and you thought getting me here and giving me all those things I asked for would lead to a date?”

Well, she wasn't completely wrong about the power trip. But she wasn't entirely right, either. “I hired you because you're an excellent real estate agent.” She didn't look persuaded, so I added, “Your sales aren't one million, as you thought; they're closer to a million and a half,” which I learned from Anderson after our meeting yesterday. “Henry sang your praises and thought you would do amazing things at Holt. And a review of your past clients showed that nearly every client you've dealt with has returned to Richardson.” She stared at me as I ran down her résumé. “First and foremost, I'm a businessman. I would never have hired you at Holt if I didn't think you would bring more to my company than it already has.” I stepped closer, watching her suck in a deep breath. “Besides, if I wanted to date you, I wouldn't have to fulfill your demands about office space and salary to make that happen. And I'm sure you're well aware of that.”

“I don't date my boss. Not ever.” She stepped back, glaring at me. “I would appreciate if you would not send me gifts like that anymore. Believe me, you and me would never work.”

I considered her, completely baffled by how determined she was to shut me out. Allie was a different breed of woman. She seemed completely unaffected by my fame, my power, and my money. It made me ever the more curious about her, and why exactly she saw me differently.

Truth be told, I began to wonder if she saw the
real
me, and that's what this was all about. I couldn't begrudge her for thinking the worst of me, because I already knew she was a far better person than I. “Do tell, why can't I give you gifts if I'd like to?”

Her chin lifted, eyes showing so much distaste. “I want to be respected here at Holt. I've worked hard to get where I am, and I don't want to be known as the woman that the boss sent flowers to.”

I heard what she said, and I respected her thoughts, though my mind stayed focused on the softness of her cheekbones and my desire to touch her. I kept my hands stuffed in my pockets, fighting off the urge. “Is it really so awful to be known as the woman I'm currently interested in?”

She gave a firm nod. “Yes, because the word
currently
says it all. As in at some point I'd be replaced and I would still be your employee. 'Nuff said.”

I didn't respond to her statement, because I wouldn't lie to her. I respected any woman I touched. I never made them promises I couldn't keep. And I was always straightforward that I didn't do long relationships—most lasted no more than a month. But I wasn't asking for a relationship, I was asking for a date to dig a little bit deeper into this woman captivating my every thought and surprising me at each turn. Apparently, she'd rather eat a nail than consider that a possibility.

Why?
ran through my mind.
Over Henry?

Because I was her boss?

Because she thought I'd replace her?

It seemed like she was grasping at any excuse to reject me. When I ruled one obstacle out, she threw up another one. It looked an awful lot like bitterness. It bothered me that I saw this in her now. Darkness belonged in me, not someone like her.

“So…let's keep this strictly professional, okay?” She shifted on her feet, moving a little closer to the door. “Do we understand each other?”

“I understand perfectly what you're saying.” I zeroed in on her pouty lips, and she reacted promisingly, tugging at her lip with her front teeth. That's where she confused me. What she said and the way she acted didn't match up. Her sensual looks were blatant, and I couldn't ignore them now. “I promise not to make you feel uncomfortable again in such a way.” But I wouldn't agree to keep things between us professional. I wanted her.

“Okay, good. I'm glad we've come to an understanding.” She exhaled a long breath, turning to leave my office. “I guess I'll go now.”

I couldn't help myself; I reached out and grabbed her wrist. A dangerous move on my part, as it could be considered sexual harassment. But I had to know if I read her wrong. If the signs she showed me with her body were somehow created in my mind because she refused me.

I loved a challenge.

I wouldn't be a stalker.

The second my fingers wrapped around her skin warmth spiraled down my spine. My cock swelled as I heard the hitch of her breath, saw the dilation of her pupils, and felt the tremble of her body. Pure, unadulterated desire in its rawest form swept through the room, making it harder to draw the warm thick air into my lungs.

I tightened my grip, needing to hold onto her. She softened with a yearning, striking me straight into the chest. There, I saw vulnerability and it yanked me so hard I nearly found myself pulling her straight into my arms. “Again”—I dragged my finger across her wrist, controlling the carnal urges storming into me—“I'm sorry for upsetting you. That was never my intention.”

She looked at her arm when I removed my fingers. Head bowed, and avoiding my gaze, her voice became raspy. “As long as we understand each other, I'll forgive you.” She turned to leave my office, and I noticed the slight waver in her step and how her legs were close together. I knew her cunt was wet and that her clit was swollen and throbbing.

I watched her every move the way a predator would watch his prey, studying to understand her. Now I knew all I needed to about Allie. She was a liar, and she wanted me as much as I wanted her.

The game changed in that second. Allie wasn't a submissive I played with under contracts. She also wasn't a dominant woman I dated in the public eye. She was something else entirely, and I wanted to know more about this woman who kept calling me out, demanding I do better, and who made me fight to stand beside her instead of kneeling at my feet.

Allie could run.

But she was mine to catch.