Page 29 of Dark Holiday

The truth…do I even dare? With a sigh, I turn from him, not wanting to stare into his eyes as I say it. “I want you. Okay? Happy now? You know that I want you. I’m not sure why you’re making me say it.”

“Do I know that, though? Seems to me you’ve wanted to keep our relationship purely platonic. The rules we’ve set in place are those of colleagues, not of lovers. Is that what you want, Little Viper? Do you want me to come on you like I came on those panties?”

Heat swoops up, engulfing my face. Daniel was always so slick with his words. That’s how he lured me in the first time. “I can’t.”

“Can’t? Or won’t? Because, if you give up control, let me lead, I can assure you that you can do anything I order you to do.”

I pause, contemplating his words. They’re good. Too good. In his words are all the things I wished for between us - a power exchange, a chance at a Daddy of my own. However, what is missing from his words is the promise of forever. If I submit to him, let him have my heart again, it would have to be forever. I couldn’t bear knowing he walked away again.

“I won’t.”

He sits back up, shock dropping his jaw for just a moment. Then, in the blink of an eye, he’s back to cool, calm, collected Daniel. “I see.” Picking up my panties, he tosses them to me, something akin to hurt shimmering in his eyes. “The day will be starting soon. I’m sure you’ll wish to hide these before someone sees them and comes to the wrong conclusion.”

CHAPTER 16

Cynthia

Weeks go by, and it’s all still the same. Daniel barely looks at me, let alone talks to me. After that day in his office, it’s like we’re strangers. The gulf is even bigger now than it ever has been. With a sigh, I look about the office. It’s so close to Christmas, but not even one decoration has been hung. Picking up my notebook, I walk over to Daniel’s office, knocking before crossing the threshold.

He’s on the phone, his actions animated. Whatever the conversation is, he’s not liking it. With a sharp, punctuated motion, he signals for me to sit down. Clutching the notebook in my hands, I sit and doodle in the margins until he’s done.

“Make it quick. I’m late for a meeting.”

“Oh. But you don’t have one scheduled -.”

“You’re damn right I don’t. Seems to me you missed a very important email.” Sighing, he rubs his fingers against his forehead. “I can’t keep doing this with you. After the break, you’ve got two more weeks to find another job. You’re just not good at this, Ms. Lewis, and I was a damned fool to even think you’d improve.”

Fear fills my core at his words. Without this paycheck, how will I ever get my own place? “I - but please, Sir.”

He gives me a heated look. “Are you here to renegotiate?”

“No, I -.”

“Then that's it. You’re fired. Two weeks after the break, consider yourself terminated.”

“Wait. You can’t just fire me because I won’t give in and let you do your filthy sex games with me.”

“You didn’t think they were all that filthy when you came. Twice if I recall.”

“You’re the same jackass as you were in school. I can’t believe I thought you’d be different.”

“Me? Look in the mirror, sweetheart. Using me to get what you want then bailing when I ask for something in return.”

“I never used you.”

“Like hell, you didn’t.”

A sharp beep interrupts us, and he looks down at his phone, growling. “I’m going to be even later. What the hell did you want anyway?”

“I -.”

“Spit it out.”

“It’s almost Christmas, and there are no decora -.”

“No. There aren’t. There will never be Christmas decorations in this office. I fucking hate Christmas. Now get the hell out of my office and actually do some work for a change.”

Daniel storms past, his rage flowing out as he pushes past me. How can he just devastate me like this and then act like nothing happened? Walking over to his desk, I look at the scribbled notes. Based on the timing, he should be gone for several hours. If he wants to act like a jackass, then two can play at that game.