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Her face.
I rest my head against the ledger on the desk as a crystal-clear vision fills my mind’s eye. Wren’s exquisite face crumbling at the harshness of my deceitful words sends a pang of regret through me, even as I know it was all I could do in the face of such temptation.
When I’d seen her on the CCTV—alerted by a laughing Ford—I’d been mesmerized. That dress fitted her like it had been made for her. The confidence in her stride as she neared my office, intent on her prey, had been a thing of beauty.
I’d not intended on laying so much as a finger on her, but once I did, things escalatedfast. I was a hair's breadth from ripping off her panties and fucking her like the whore I was making her out to be.
And it was that thought that had centered me.
You’ll never be deserving of her, no matter how much you want her, Burton.
Wren Caputo is funny, and kind, thoughtful, and talented. Determined as fuck, and sexy as hell, but tempered by a softness that a prick like me would ruin in a heartbeat.
Those eyes of hers see right down into the very deepest parts of me. Eyes I could quite happily drown in. Eyes that reflect a different man to the one I see in the mirror every day.
And I wantmorefor her. Better than anything I could ever offer her.
She’s the epitome of everythinggoodin this miserable world, and I won’t see her ruined like everyone else who’s ever meant a damn to me.
I pound my head off the desk once, twice, a third time before a sharp rap on the door freezes in place until Lucia’s voice fills my ears. “What the hell are you doing?”
I lift cold eyes to her laughing ones. “None of your concern.” I sigh heavily. “What do you want? I’m busy.”
Popping a brow, she takes in my slumped posture, sarcasm heavy in her tone. “I’m sure.”
She takes a seat as a wide smile overtakes her face. “I want you to reconsider bringing me on board as a co-owner. I have some big ideas for expansion, Vaughn. I truly think that if we—”
I hold up a quelling palm, massaging my throbbing temple with the index finger of my free hand. “No, on all fronts.” I sigh in frustration. “The answer remains the same as it did six months ago when you first broached this ridiculous topic.Don’tmention it again.”
She opens her mouth to counteract, but I raise my voice, in no mood for her shit. “And there’s nowehere, Lucia. This ismyclub. You’remyemployee. So go do your job and prep tomorrow night’s auction like a good little pain in my ass.”
Her nostrils flare as she blatantly grits her teeth to stop from spewing whatever vitriol is currently residing on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes are on mine as she rises to stand.
“Yes,bossman.”
Her lips lift in a smirk at the blatant slight before she turns to sashay from the room.
“Oh, and Lucia?”
She glances over her shoulder. “Please note, Kendra Cameron fromRapturewill feature as the top lot for tomorrow night’s fetish auction.”
She pivots fully around to face me, steam almost coming from her ears. “There’s an application process, Vaughn. Lots take months to vet through careful interviews and background checks…”
I nod when she trails off. “And Kendra is skipping the queue. Call it a personal favor.”
It’s my turn to smirk as irritation bristles from each and every pore of my second. She treatsRavishas though it’s her own exclusive playground. Allowing Kendra to skip the queue will be seen as a personal affront.
And I’m internally hoping it’s the straw that breaks the camel's back, because I’m done with Lucia and her overbearing presence, regardless of Verity’s insistence that she remains.
Surprisingly, she leaves without another word, but I instinctivelyknowthis won’t go unanswered.
I manage to get through my work, successfully distracting myself over the next several hours until Jules knocks on my door. “Ford asked me to escort Wren upstairs before I leave for the weekend.”
He steps inside. “Is there anything you need me to do, boss?”
I check the time on my watch, realizing Kendra will be here in a scant ten minutes to hear if I’ve accepted her application or not, and a new plan forms in my mind.
When she’d come to me yesterday, explaining how her ex had cleared her savings account, leaving her virtually destitute, I’d offered her an interest-free, no-strings-attached loan, whereby her monthly salary would be reduced minimally to cover the repayments.
