“If you can’t get the information for me, find someone who will!” she shouts into the phone, her arms waving in the air.
Colleen is normally even-tempered, the perfect balance to Clay’s moodiness, but something has her on edge today. Whoever is on the end of the line better give Colleen exactly what she wants, or there will be hell to pay.
“I don’t care what you have to do, just make it happen. I can assure you Mr. Matthews can make it worth your while.”
I attempt to quietly exit the room, but my movements catch her eye and she waves me into her office.
Sorry, I mouth to her.
She waves her hand, dismissing my worry, and points toward the seating area on the right side of the room. I close the door behind me, as I slide through the door, and head in that direction.
Colleen is seated behind a huge desk—like Clay’s, but messier. Stacks of paper and coffee mugs scattered across the surface. With so much clutter, I’m not sure how she gets everything done, and still do an amazing job.
“I’m glad you see it my way. We look forward to hearing from you.” Colleen quickly ends the call, giving me her full attention. “Hey, Pearl. To what do I owe this honor?”
She smiles brightly at me before pushing back from her desk and taking a seat beside me on the couch.
“Clay said he wanted to meet with you in about an hour to go over the revised proposal.” I twist my hands nervously in my lap.
She places her hand on top of mine and squeezes. “I need to talk to him about a few things anyway.”
After our first meeting, I was sure Colleen and I would be at odds, but she’s gone above and beyond to make sure I was settling in, and even arranged a small welcome lunch to introduce me to the other employees.
“How are things going here for you?” she asks as she releases my head and leans back on the couch, crossing her legs. “Do you enjoy working with Nth Technologies?”
“Yes. I’ve learned a lot in the last week, both about the company and myself.”
“How so?”
“I forgot how much I enjoy numbers and trying to solve problems. Kyle never let me take part in any of the proposal discussions, or even sit in to take notes. Here, I’m more than just a secretary. I’m part of the team.”
I hate bringing up the work I did for Kyle and Xue, but I can’t act like it never happened. Working for Xue and Nth Technologies is like night and day.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Colleen stands and motions for me to follow her out the door. “I know Kyle’s your ex-husband, but please let me know if anything makes you feel uncomfortable. Xue is a competitor, and we may have contact with them in the future. I never want to force you to do anything you don’t want to. You’re one of our employees, and your feelings matter to us.”
I grin. “Thanks, but you don’t have to worry about me. I can separate my professional and business life.”
I open the door and let her walk out first before pulling it shut behind me. She doesn’t respond to my comment, but my mind wanders to my first day here and Clay’s outburst.
Memories of that day have plagued my dreams, but not in a platonic way. Instead of Colleen being present, it’s just me and Clay. He storms over toward me and demands to know why I’m here to spy on him, but when I don’t answer quick enough, he takes me over his knee and rips my panties from my body before smacking me hard on the ass.
I bite my lip as I imagine the mixture of pain and pleasure that would course through my body every time his large palm connects with my bare skin. My pussy would be dripping and I’d be begging him to take me hard.
“Why do you always do that?” Colleen’s voice breaks me out of my lust-filled haze.
“Do what?” I stop mid-stride and turn toward her.
“Fiddle with your pearls?” She points to the strand of pearls wrapped around my neck.
I drop my hand, not even realizing I was doing it.
A few of the other employees have commented on my need to “clutch” my pearls, but it’s something I’ve always done. Whether I’m happy, sad, or deep in thought, this strand of pearls seems to keep me grounded.
“It’s a nervous habit, I guess. I’ve worn these almost every day since my sixteenth birthday,” I explain.
When we reach my desk, I quickly take a seat and unlock my computer. Although I haven’t been away long, I need something to keep my mind off of the things I want Clay to do to me.
“Worried about your review?” She places her hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
“Yeah,” I sigh, but in the back of my mind, I send up a prayer of thanks.
If she had any idea what I was really thinking, she’d fire me on the spot. Lusting after my former high school crush, who’s now my boss, is not the best way to ensure job security.
“You have nothing to worry about. Clay may be hard on you, but he knows what an asset you’ll be to the company.” She raps her knuckles on the edge of my desk before striding past me toward Clay’s office.
I sigh as I turn and get back to work. Let’s hope Clay has the same opinion. But something tells me I’m in for a surprise when I meet with Clay later. Whether that’s a good surprise or a bad one is yet to be determined.
Chapter Four
Clayton
“You wanted to see me, boss,” Colleen says as she strides into my office, taking a seat in a chair directly in front of my desk.
“Don’t you remember how to knock?” I respond, not bothering to mask my annoyance.
“No, but I was told you wanted to see me.”
“I told her in an hour,” I growl, handing a copy of the proposal across my desk to Colleen. “We can’t keep her around if she can’t follow simple instructions.”
“Come off it,” she snaps, snatching the stack of papers from me. “Pearl is the best thing that’s happened to you in a long time, both for the business and personal.”
I groan internally, dreading the day I let Colleen in on my little secret. I thought I was safe when she didn’t mention it all week, but apparently, she was only looking for the right opportunity.
“Did you get it done?” I ask.
Colleen nods. “It’s done. It was a little harder than expected getting the last shareholder to sell their shares, but with a little persuasion, they gave them up. The transfer went through before I came here.”
“Excellent,” I say with a grin.
Xue has been a pain in the ass for the last few years, but now I am a fifty-five percent shareholder, making me practically a partial owner. Kyle Bates has been a thorn in my side for too long, but there’s another reason I want to destroy him. I’d do anything to make Pearl happy. If that involves taking everything from her ex-husband and making him feel as desperate as she did when she walked in here last week, I’m all for it.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Kyle showed up here demanding to know why we’re purchasing shares in his company,” she chuckles.
“I have the money and I can. Do I need another reason?”
“Are you sure your reason isn’t sitting on the other side of that door?” She motions toward my closed office door.