I stare at her beautiful eyes flashing with defiance. Two years I looked for her. All those long lens photos are nothing to seeing her in the flesh again. Her skin is so fine and pale. It is almost translucent. I never knew why they called it an English rose complexion, until I saw hers. It was the first thing I noticed about her when she arrived for her interview. My office is grey marble and chrome. Against that backdrop, she looked almost unreal. She had a distant smile that had my cock rock hard. Hell, I nearly didn’t hire her that day. I knew she would be too distracting.

But I couldn’t let a slip of an English girl throw me off my fucking stride. I had to prove to myself that she was nothing but a raw call to the flesh. That I was greater than the lust I felt for her.

Hiring her has been the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever done in my life, because from that moment, when I hired her, I never again had a moment’s peace.

I plan to put a stop to all that frustration today. When I’m through with her I’ll feel nothing but contempt. She is a beautifully packaged liar and thief.

“So the world famous AI inventor and bitcoin billionaire, Thorne Blackmore, gets his kicks out of forcing a woman to have sex with him,” my little rebel taunts.

I laugh softly. She’s so going to end up slung over my knees, and I am going to enjoy taming this little spitfire. Just the thought of reddening her saucy ass has me instantly hard. “No, not any woman, just those that dare steal from me. Now fucking strip before you try my patience.”

Her chest rises and falls quickly as she weighs her options. Not many. Her eyes dart around the room. Thinking. Thinking hard.

She licks her lips nervously. “Look, this is my work place. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, but … not here. Please. This is my livelihood.” She looks at me, her wide, clear eyes pleading. “I don’t want to lose this job. Please. After your three months are over I still need this job.”

I stare at her. To be honest I’m slightly disappointed. I expected something more original. I guess I must have built her up in my mind in the last two years. I should be glad. I’m not in the market for a wife. I plan to discard her after I’m done with her.

“Please. Anyone could come in. Please.”

“I locked the door,” I murmur, and watch her squirm. She really has the most beautiful eyes. Green with molten gold flecks. Like precious jewels. I watch her pupils grow large and fuck if I don’t want to bury my cock in her. This woman has been a thorn in my side from the day she arrived. I must have her. Until then there will be no satisfaction.

She bites her bottom lip, and fuck if I don’t want a taste. “I’ll go with you without making a fuss. Just don’t make me do this here. Please,” she pleads.

I do the thing she does not expect. “Fine. Come on then.”

Something flashes across her face. She thinks she has won. “I have to put in the paperwork to ask for time off. What about if we agree to a meeting place and I join you later and—”

She must think I’m stupid. “You are already on vacation.”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

I shrug. “Brian Harrington owes me a favor. I called it in. He gave you the next three months off starting from fifteen minutes ago.”

Her jaw drops. “What? You spoke to my boss! What did you tell him?”

“The truth. We had unfinished business.”

Her shoulders slump and a heavy sigh escapes her lips. She looks at me with a defeated expression. “All right. Will you give me a few minutes to pack up some of my stuff? I’ll meet you downstairs at reception.”

Her eyes are downcast and for a second I experience a strange emotion.

Not pity.

Not empathy.

It’s an odd thing. I’ve never felt it before. I try to pinpoint the feeling, but I can’t. Then it hits me. I have felt this before. Never for a human being and not since I became an adult. I feel protective. It’s the way I felt about my puppy when the silly thing injured itself and whimpered with pain.

This is not good. I turn away from her, not wanting her to see the expression on my face. “All right, I will wait for you at reception. Do not be long.”

“I won’t,” she promises.