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“Of course it will.” Henry gave a big honest smile. “I can travel now and do all the things the missus has wanted to do. I’ll still come see you, and we will always keep in touch. This relationship doesn’t end here, if that’s what all this fuss is about.”
It wasn’t fuss. This broke me, because it would change our relationship. I wouldn’t see Henry as much. He’d be busy with his two children and five grandchildren, and, apparently, traveling the world with his wife.
I hadn’t realized how much I needed him, how much I depended on his advice, on seeing his fabulous warm smile every day, and on how much I needed that one person who was a solid in my daily life. I knew my thoughts were selfish, but I couldn’t help but think, Will he forget about me? “It won’t be the same without you.” I managed, my voice cracking.
Henry made a soft sound, wrapped me in his arms, taking me in a comforting and familiar hug. “Don’t ever change, Allie. Your loyalty is one of your greatest qualities. I’ll miss seeing you every day, too.”
His hug lasted a while, and it drained my heart during every damn second. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Henry. Maybe I wasn’t ready to find out what would happen to me when he was gone.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” a low voice cut in, “Allie, may I have a moment?”
I glanced at the doorway, finding Anderson standing there. That’s when I realized tears were trailing down my cheeks. I made quick work to clear them away, as Henry rose and said, “You can use my office.”
I watched Henry leave and then watched Anderson take his place in the seat beside me. Once settled comfortably into the chair, Anderson said, “I’d like you to rethink quitting. In fact, we’d like to offer you a position at Holt.”
So Henry hadn’t been wrong. Bemused, I asked, “Micah wants to hire me after our meeting?”
“Yes, in fact, he does.” Anderson’s lips curved, a telling sign he knew of my feelings toward Micah. “To keep this simple, tell me what you want for me to make that happen. I’m under direct orders here. Please don’t make this difficult for me.”
“What I want?” I repeated. Shouldn’t I be groveling?
Anderson nodded, crossing one ankle over his knee. “What do I need to offer you to come to Holt?”
I considered him for a moment, finding him dead serious. I didn’t want to work for Micah. I loved Richardson’s and my family here. “There is nothing you can give me that will make me move to Holt.”
A sly smile crossed his face. “So, you’re not quitting any longer?”
“Well, since Henry also doesn’t want me to, then I guess I won’t.” When I saw Anderson’s frown, I concluded, “Let me guess, I’m not allowed to work here still, am I?”
“No, I’m afraid that’s not possible.” He lowered his foot to the floor, resting his arms on his legs, and looked at me through thick lashes most girls would kill for. “You need to come over to Holt. It’s non-negotiable.”
So, it was either work for Micah or nothing? I didn’t appreciate being cornered by Micah, and my back stiffened in my defense. “If that’s the way he wants to play this, I want an upgraded office and a salary of…” I calculated quickly. At Richardson I got no salary, only a commission of 2.5 percent of my sales, and I had to pay 30 percent of that to Richardson Real Estate. “One hundred thousand a year, plus I’ll need health benefits. And only fifteen percent of my commission on each sale goes to Holt.” I paused, making sure I didn’t miss anything, then added, “Oh, and my assistant, Liv, needs to come with me.” I nearly burst into laughter at what I’d asked for. No one in their right mind would give me any of that.
Anderson’s brows rose,
yet I got the feeling I impressed him with my demands. “You drive a hard bargain.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and started texting. Once there was a beep, indicating a reply, he smiled at his phone and then at me. “Welcome to Holt, Allie.”
He rose.
“You cannot be serious.” I sputtered out. “Did you not hear what I asked for?”
Anderson turned to look at me, his hand on the doorknob. “My instructions were to get you into Holt, and now we’ve made that happen.” I saw in his knowing smile that he knew the offer was too good to pass up, and dammit, I knew it, too. “See you tomorrow at nine o’clock.”
He exited Henry’s office, and a giant waft of his spicy cologne followed him. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is crossed over my subconscious. I’d been rude to Micah. I had asked for ridiculous demands, and they’d given in on all of it. Something seemed off about all this, and I didn’t doubt for a second that that something had everything to do with Micah.
Chapter 2
Micah
“Micah, are you with us?”
I blinked into consciousness, snapping back from thinking about Allie, reminded that I sat in a cold meeting room, devoid of any decoration on the painted dark gray walls. Two-way mirrors surrounded all four long walls, giving the privacy needed for today’s meeting.
Surprised by how one little woman captivated my thoughts so intently, I shifted my attention to the three sets of eyes on me. The men sitting around the cherrywood meeting-room table made up the Dominants Council (DC) in San Francisco. We owned the only four BDSM clubs in the city—Impulse, Lace, Afterglow, and Masquerade—for a good reason. Our control kept a tight hand on the BDSM community as a whole. “Yes, I’m with you.” I placed my arms on top of the table, lacing my fingers together. “Run the conversation by me again.”
Gabe O’Keefe—who sat next to me—was sharp and intense, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair, a prominent chin and square jawline giving him a chiseled face. My roommate at Harvard had made his millions by opening his first Irish pub, O’Keefe’s, at twenty-two years old. Now, at thirty-three, he helmed a chain of bars all over the United States. His dark eyebrows rose in clear irritation at having to repeat himself. “We were talking about the current problem in our city.”
“Yes.” I gave a firm nod, recognizing his annoyance, and offering the only sign of apology he’d get from me. “Matthew Harrington”—a Dominant looking to open a rival BDSM club—“attempted to purchase the nightclub Elements the other day. I bested his offer and stole the deal out from under him,” I reported.
