Page 39

The phone.

I had completely forgotten about it. I sat there, still wide-eyed, not sure what to make of the turn of events that had just unfolded. His assumption that I was going to accept the job offer was irritating. Ordering me to join him for dinner just plain ticked me off. But the fact he came right out and said he wanted me naked…well, that had the devil on my shoulder rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

I was so flustered, and I didn’t register that he had walked away from the table.

Wait—what just happened?

I turned around in my chair and almost called out to him, to remind him he didn’t know where I lived, but then I stopped myself. Alexander Stone knew exactly where I lived. I had a new cellphone as proof.

I watched him saunter to the exit. The man had the sexiest ass I had ever seen. Just the sight of him had me throwing all reservations to the wayside. I wanted him. Desperately. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, I couldn’t resist him. I knew, with absolute certainty, I would be ready tonight when his driver came to pick me up.

Chapter Eleven

Alexander

Iclimbed into the black leather driver’s seat of my Tesla Model S with a satisfied grin on my face. I had finally made some headway with Krystina.

Regardless of whether or not she took the job I was readily willing to give her, there would be no changing what happened that day in my conference room. And there would be no going back after our conversation in the coffee shop.

She would be difficult for me, of that I was sure. Her quick wit and firecracker temper made me want to put her over my knee.

But I have her attention now.

She’d been intrigued by the job proposition, especially after I impulsively sweetened the pot with a potential partnership. And my cock instantly went hard when I saw the flash of desire in her eyes after I told her I wanted her naked. I knew I had gotten to her.

However, she had a suspicious nature about her, and she was extremely distrusting. That alone could pose a serious problem. I would have to be careful, and I wasn’t naïve to the risks I was taking with her. Krystina was a wild card. One wrong move and this could all blow up in my face. She was the antithesis to every rule I had in the book. But I found her to be irresistible nonetheless, and I would do whatever I had to do to possess her. If that meant a little extra effort on my part to tame her, then so be it.

Having cleared my schedule for the remainder of the day, I shifted lanes in the city traffic and headed toward the interstate. Using the touchscreen of the car, I activated the phone system to get Hale on the line. He picked up after the first ring.

“Hale, I’m leaving the city for a few hours. There’s a parcel of land in Westchester I’m going to look at.”

“Do you want me to meet you there?”

“No, that’s not necessary. Did you get those papers to Charlie?” I asked.

“All set, boss.”

“And he signed them?”

“Of course, he did. He would have been stupid not to. You had him. It was either take the lump sum once and for all, or you’d hit him with an extortion charge. Stephen was brilliant with the wording of the contract. Your sister can rest easy now.”

“It fucking killed me to give that worm another cent. I just hope you’re right,” I said warily. “Charlie Andrews isn’t the brightest bulb, but we shouldn’t underestimate him.”

“I don’t think he’d risk doing any time in jail,” Hale said.

“You don’t know him as I do. The only reason he wouldn’t want to end up behind bars is that it would mean time away from his dice. Keep an eye on him for a while, will you?”

“Sure thing. I’m headed to Stephen’s office now to drop off the signed document.”

“Good. After you have that all squared away, I’ll need you to pick up Krystina Cole at her place at six. I have a meeting with her.”

“A meeting,” he repeated. I could hear the humor in his voice, and I frowned.

I had seen the knowing look on Hale’s face in the rearview mirror when I told him to research Krystina the other day, and I could only imagine what he’d thought when I had asked him to track her location. I hated that I felt like I had to explain myself—which of course, I didn’t. His contracted salary and job description did not include keen observations of my personal life.

“Don’t start with me, Hale. I don’t pay you to speculate. Just be there. I’ll text you the address where I want you to take her.”

“Aye-aye, Captain.”