Being eight years older, my friends and I had no interest in playing with our younger siblings. Even the ones only a few years behind. While they played their silly little games, we were busy fucking around. Experimenting with girls, sneaking alcohol, things we had no business doing at fourteen years old.
By sixteen we were shipped off to an elite boarding school in Boston. Holidays were the only time we really saw our families. And by then, we’d all become well versed with bad decisions, girls, and how to avoid going home. College only made things worse. More parties. More women. Less time.
It wasn’t until last year, after my spectacularly messy break up with Valentina, my one and only girlfriend, that I started seeing more of Anais. Unlike most eighteen-year-olds she was tolerable, fun even. Surprisingly easy to be around. She didn’t expect anything from me and truthfully, I liked that.
But then she dropped a bomb. Ambushed me outside the bathroom, to drunkenly declare her love for me. I was shocked,disgusted even. Anais Lauder was not supposed to feel that way about me. I was so caught up in my own panic, I didn’t even register her changing expression, didn’t hear the heaving sounds, until she vomited all over my thousand-dollar, custom made, Italian loafers. The shoes were a lost cause and so was my patience toward the little brat.
Since then, I’ve kept my distance whenever possible.
Until my father forced our proximity.
“Take a seat, Anais,” I say, motioning to the chairs in front of the desk, expecting immediate compliance.
She blinks slowly, her long dark lashes fanning her high cheekbones. Her lips part as she exhales. Then after a long pause, she finally moves, sashaying across my office with an over-exaggerated swing of her hips.
My teeth clench.
Fucking brat. She brings out the worst in me.
My eyes narrow as she lowers into the plush leather Wingback, crossing one long leg over the other with practiced ease.
If I were a different man, I might admit Anais is attractive. Long black hair. Unusual violet-gray eyes. Delicate features. All legs, curves, and round breasts which are highlighted perfectly in her silk blouse. She has a body made for sin. Some might call me a sinner, seen with a different woman every week, frequenting a sex club to indulge my darkest desires… but even I have limits.
And I draw the line at my best friend’s little sister.
Anais gives me a sweet, demure smile, her hands folded neatly in her lap. An innocent picture to the untrained eye. But I know better. Still… she looks so fucking docile right now. And for a brief moment of insanity, I wonder just how submissive she would actually be.
I shake the thought away before it can form further. Jesus. That escalated quickly and she has only been here for a few minutes. Stress. That’s all this is. My father agreeing to this absurdity and forcing me to deal with her. It was a bad idea from the start. And this? This isn’t even her first day and I’m struggling.
“I’ve never been in your office before,” she muses, glancing around the large space, dragging me from my thoughts.
My eyes narrow. I clear my throat, wanting to get straight to the point. Lay all her cards on the table as such. “Let’s cut the bullshit, Anais. What are you really doing here?”
Her gaze snaps to me, eyes flaring with challenge. She smirks. And here ladies and gentlemen, the real Anais Lauder surfaces. “Interning. As you already know, Evan.”
I laugh, but there’s no humor in the sound. My stare sharpens. I shouldn’t bring it up, honestly, I’d rather let it die quietly, but I have to know.
“So, this has nothing to do with your pathetic little declaration last year? Just before you threw up on my shoes?”
Yes, I know I sound like an asshole. But boundaries need to be set. If I give Anais an inch, she’ll take the entire fucking mile.
Her eyes widen in shock before she collects herself and chuckles, the sound mocking. I grit my teeth as irritation claws at every inch of me. She squares her shoulders, her tone firm, but I see the hint of uncertainty in her eyes. The flush of red rising in her cheeks.
“Don’t flatter yourself, asshole. That was nothing. I was drunk, and stupidly said something I didn’t mean. I don’t even like you, let alone love you. But I am sorry about the shoes.” She mumbles, her lips twisting as if the words themselves taste sour. It only pisses me off more. If it weren’t for that little tell in her eyes, I might actually believe the words spewing fromher mouth. “And not that I need to explain myself to you,” she adds, “But this internship will look good on my resume. Uncle Christian agrees. “
My father. Her ‘uncle’. It’s a reminder of our families’ familial relationship.
Still, I almost feel a sense of pride at her little outburst.
Maybe the little sister has grown a backbone since the last time I saw her.
I smirk. She glares.
“You’ll be working under Janice, my assistant.” I say, my tone clipped. “I expect you to follow her lead and do any task she or I assign you. That includes collecting my lunch, dry cleaning my suits, even scrubbing the god damn floors if need be. You’ll do it without argument.” We have cleaners, obviously, but she needs to know this isn’t going to be easy work to pass the time through summer. “Now, I’m aware you’re not exactly used to working, Anais.” She opens her mouth to retort, but I raise a hand up, stopping her. “But here you’ll earn your place. There will be no free pass or special treatment because of who my parents are to you. Got it?”
Her jaw clenches. But she plasters on the fakest smile I’ve ever seen. “Yes,sir,” she mocks. But it’s not the sarcasm I’m focused on.
It’s the way my cock twitches when she sayssir.
