CHAPTER 14
Aaron
I tapped my pen against the contract I was in the middle of reviewing, unable to make heads or tails of the legal jargon thanks to the anticipation of what would soon come.
I had forced her hand. I had set the bait. It was only a matter of time. All I had to do was sit back and wait for Kenzie to show up.
How she would react when she arrived was another story. She wasn’t a pushover, even if she’d taken plenty of bullshit from her boss and the men in her office. She had a lot of pride and was stubborn as hell. I could respect that. I hoped she was as smart as I gave her credit for.
Only an idiot would turn down the offer I’d made. It had to be at least three times what she made with Reed—probably more. It would mean a lot more opportunity for her. A place of her own, for starters. With my issues regarding space, I could only imagine how claustrophobic she felt.
I wondered what Reed might have said when she arrived at the office. Of course she went in today. As far as she’d known, it was a day like any other.
My lips curled and I chuckled just thinking of it.
Did Reed make a fool of himself? I was willing to bet money on that. He made a fool of himself without ever intending to.
And how did she look? Surprised, I would guess. When had she realized it was me who wrote the letter? There was a reason I’d used the same notepaper for the roses as I had for the resignation. She wasn’t a stupid girl. I was sure she’d go to my penthouse, too, ready to let me have it. I knew the way her mind worked well enough to be certain.
A call from the security guard after she’d left didn’t hurt, either. When I’d hung up, it had been with a huge smile. There was something to be said for reading a person’s mind so completely.
I imagined her knees going weak at the thought of making all that money. It was nothing to me, of course. I could afford that—and then some—though she would have to work hard to pay me back for the investment.
Being good in bed would only get her so far.
Would she give me shit about that? I was willing to bet on it. It didn’t matter. I would convince her that sex was the last thing on my mind when I offered her the job. It wouldn’t be a lie, either. I couldn’t very well say the motive was revenge. Because that was exactly what it was, above all else. It’d been a long time coming, and Reed should have known this day would arrive.
With Kenzie in my company, I sent an unspoken message to Reed. Would he find out I had taken her? I certainly hoped so—I didn’t use that embossed stationery for just her benefit. How would he react when he knew I’d resigned and not Kenzie? Time would tell, and I couldn’t wait to find out.
I picked up the desk phone, dialing Jeanine. “Is she here yet?”
I heard her chuckle and hated that she did. It made me feel weak. “No, not yet. I promise I’ll let you know as soon as she gets in. I wouldn’t let you miss out.”
“Thanks.” I hung up before I could make an even bigger fool of myself. What Jeanine didn’t know was that I wasn’t waiting with bated breath for Kenzie because I liked her, or even because I was eager to get her started as a new employee. I wanted to be sure my win over Reed Kingsley was complete—at least, for now.
I smiled at what I was sure his reaction would have been when he saw the letter. I had to admit, I had a flair for writing resignations. If I hadn’t turned to fashion and business, I might have become a writer.
I wished I could have been there when he first saw it. What must have gone through his head? I was sure he wondered how a meek, sweet, follow-the-rules type of girl like Kenzie had the balls to write a letter like that.
I was only kidding myself when I called her meek, though. She was anything but. I had no idea how she’d conducted herself around the office, but I was willing to believe the verbiage I’d used wasn’t in her everyday business vocabulary. If she didn’t have the guts to tell him what she thought of him, I did it for her.
I didn’t think she would thank me. I was under no illusions. I’d deal with her half-hearted arguments when she arrived—if she arrived.
It wasn’t like me to wonder, to doubt myself. But she was a wild card. She could tell me off and hate me forever.
Or accept the job.
I was still up in the air as to what she would do. The anticipation was enough to kill me.
I waited like an impatient kid on Christmas morning, wondering what was under the tree but unable to open the gifts right away. Would she accept? Would she refuse, as foolish as that would be?
I both loved and hated the way she kept me guessing.
No matter what, she was taking too long to show up. She kept me waiting. I didn’t like waiting. People who made me wait often got their just punishment. I would have to punish her for disrespecting my time like that.
I imagined what it would be like, and decided that tying her to my bed would be best.
Yes, and fucking her until she couldn’t scream anymore. That would work.
First I would tease her, take her just to the edge. Then pull back. Again, just to the very brink of coming. Then I’d stop.
I’d done it so many times before, and I always took enjoyment from having control over another person’s pleasure. I wouldn’t let her come until I said it was time—probably by sinking my cock into her, deep.
I got hard at the thought.
The phone on my desk buzzed with life and Jeanine’s voice echoed mechanically into my office. “Aaron? She’s here.” Just those three words were enough to spark excitement in me.
"In her office?”
“I’ll be showing her there momentarily. Then all she’ll need is you.”
I looked through the portfolio once more, smiling. Jeanine had no idea how right she was. I couldn’t wait to get started.