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Liv snickered into her hand.
I stared at Micah as intently as I could, watching his shoulders stiffen. Sure, on my end of things there was a sexual attraction making my panties nearly burst into flames, but I had a bad feeling that Henry’s retirement wasn’t by choice, and that made Micah my number-one enemy.
I watched him draw in a deep breath, shifting his strong shoulders almost imperceptibly. A line formed between his brows, and to me, it seemed like he was sizing me up. I refused to back down. Most women would, I guessed, but he couldn’t rattle me. I would never allow some overconfident guy to take away everything Henry had built.
Richardson might not be much in size—we had only twenty employees—but we were a family and our clients were loyal. I doubted Micah had a loyal bone in his body. Men didn’t rise to power, as Micah had, without stepping on toes to get there. I knew this, because I’d seen my brother start out as a kind, loving young man and turn into a ruthless, heartless businessman.
Wealth could—and often did—ruin people.
That’s why I hated money and the power it offered, and it’s the very reason no one at Richardson—even Liv—knew how much money I had in my bank account, or that my brother was as well known in San Francisco as Micah.
One second passed.
Then another.
Micah’s smile slowly became sexier. I could almost taste the intensity passing between us in the dry air. My traitorous body reacted to him, flushing with an unnatural heat.
His one brow lifted at me before he looked away, and addressed the group again. “As Henry departs from the company, there will be some changes. We’ll do our best to make them as seamlessly as possible. That said, I’d like to introduce the CFO of Holt, Anderson West.” He gestured to a tall, clean-shaven man standing by the door, who was handsome in his own right, just not Micah handsome. His hair was dark with hints of silver on the sides, his eyes were a soft blue, and his oval face had gentle lines. “Anderson will be assisting in the transition. Starting today, some of you will join us at Holt. Others will remain at Richardson. But any changes will be to better both companies.” The smile that was as fake as the breasts of the co-worker sitting across
the table from me returned. “I’m confident we’ll take Richardson to the next level.”
Oh, hell no! My fists clenched in my lap. Richardson didn’t need to change. Our sales were sitting close to $2 million. While that wasn’t much to celebrate by Micah’s standards, for everyone else in the room those sales meant something.
Sometimes, a bigger company wasn’t better.
It was just bigger.
Micah continued. “I would ask that you excuse yourselves now until we call you back into the room.”
As the crowd began to leave the meeting room, I rose from my seat and muttered to Liv, “Let’s hope he stays at Holt. That smile was as cold as the chocolate ice cream I devoured last night.”
“Oh, please.” She grinned. “I don’t mind looking at him one bit.”
I chuckled with her, pushing my chair under the table. The moment I stepped away to interrogate my boss about this so-called retirement business, Micah called, “Allie. One minute.”
My heart dropped into my stomach as I turned, finding Micah staring at me with a different smile now. I wouldn’t call it friendly. That smile belonged on a predator who’d marked me as his prey.
Micah
Allie wasn’t a model, or an heiress, or a celebrity, but I wanted her beneath me, touched by me, owned by me. She was understated, wearing a white silk blouse and modest black skirt that didn’t flatter her body. But nothing an Atelier Versace dress, Manolo heels, and pearls couldn’t fix. She had a round face with only light makeup; her cheekbones were highlighted with rosy blush, and her light pink lips were alluringly pouty. Her stunningly crystal clear blue eyes had caught my attention first, as did her long straight chocolate-brown hair flowing over her shoulders, though I also noticed small hints of cleavage through her blouse. My groin tightened against the surge of attraction overcoming me, as her glare met my gaze.
That’s what I liked right there.
The fight.
I stayed beside Anderson, watching Henry approach Allie. He dropped a hand on her shoulder, saying to her, “I can always count on you to piss someone off, kid.”
She gave him a sweet smile. “Don’t go far. We need to talk.”
“I wouldn’t have expected otherwise” was Henry’s dry reply.
I noted the pride in Henry’s eyes and the love in Allie’s smile. An odd sort of hot jealousy blazed through me. That type of affection was pure and honest. And I’d never experienced such love in my life.
As Henry left the office, Anderson gestured at Allie, and I motioned for him to leave, too. He smiled, thoroughly amused by her, I assumed, before shutting the door behind him.
I stayed intent on the woman spiking my curiosity and awakening my cock. “Please sit,” I said, pulling the chair out for her.
She approached, never lowering her glare. Only when she took her seat did she look away, and her scent, a mixture of baby powder and flowers, spiraled around me. I stood behind her, noticing my affect on her as her knuckles went white on top of the table. Good, because she affected me, too.
