“NDA?This is different.You do know I’m bound by client accountant confidentiality?”
“Yes, but we need something a little more robust,” I said.
“Lucas is right,” Miles chimed in.“We have to cover all our bases due to the nature of our business.”
“True.I understood that this might be your standard operating procedure.”Valerie picked up the NDA and began reading.
Did she really understand?The Valerie I knew wouldn’t question things like a simple NDA.I shifted in my seat, closer to her.
Miles glared at me.Was my interest in Valerie showing on my face?I didn’t think so, but I shifted back.I was going to be Valerie’s boss.Miles giving me the HR stare made me wonder what he was picking up on.
I mouthed.I’ll behave.Before glancing at Valerie, who was concentrating so hard on the NDA that she hadn’t noticed the exchange between me and Miles.Her forehead wrinkled as she read.I wanted to soothe the furrow away with a kiss.
Don’t get ahead of yourself.
After a few more minutes, she signed the NDA and handed it back to Miles.
“Thank you.”Miles slipped it in the folder, then pulled out two key cards.“Purple keycard is for the garage next door to park in if you need to.Any space available works.Blue keycard is for the elevators and to pay for anything you get at Daily Perks or the café.”
“I take it whatever food or drink I get is deducted from my pay.”Valerie took the keycards and the red lanyard with little devil’s horns imprinted all along it.
“No.It’s one of the benefits of working for us,” Miles said.
“Anything else?”I asked.
“Not for Valerie.Lucas, hang back for a minute.”Miles stood, and I followed suit before Valerie rose.
“If you don’t mind giving us a minute,” I said before stepping back to allow her to leave the table.
“Okay,” she responded before walking over to the door.
Making my way to where Miles stood by the windows, we kept our voices low so Valerie didn’t hear us.“What do you need?”I barely managed to stuff my impatience down.
“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Asher.While she’s under contract, you have to follow the rules.No harassment.No relationship without consent.And keep it out of the office.”
My eyebrows rose.“What makes you think I would harass Valerie.”
Miles laughed.“I see that gleam in your eye.Don’t make me write you up.”
“I won’t,” I said with a hint of laughter.“I promise.”I would never do anything that Valerie didn’t want.That wasn’t who I was.And Valerie?I had a feeling she wouldn’t tolerate it either.Not anymore.
Chapter Two
Valerie
I stood by the door as Lucas and Miles talked, still trying to wrap my head around how I would be working with him.
Lucas—who I met six years ago and was instantly attracted to.
Lucas—who taught me things about my body I didn’t even know.How fair was it my body still craved his touch?
Lucas—who left me for another woman.
That thought sobered me up.Fast.
Five years ago, he broke my heart, but now… Damn it, he still held a tiny piece of it, and that wouldn’t do.I needed to bury that shard deep.I was here to do a job, nothing more.Lucas was my past.I wasn’t going to fall for him again, no matter how much my body wanted him at first sight.
Maybe I should just bow out of this job?My boss wouldn’t be happy about that.Fantasies, Inc.was paying a healthy chunk of money to have me here.
