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“What woman isn’t interested in sleeping with me?”
“Arrogant much?”
He flashes me his million-dollar smile. “I’ve been told I am.”
I’ve known Atlas for several years, and he never showed any interest in me. He flirts with me here and there, but it’s part of his personality. He’ll charm a tree if he can. Atlas can have anyone he wants, but now, he wants to fuck me. I’m not pretty anymore. The accident took away my beautiful face and my confidence. My mother used to say I was so beautiful, I made angels smile. When people learned who my father was, modeling agencies contacted me for gigs. I turned them down. The fashion industry is too toxic. I know the ends and outs of being a model since my mother was one before she had me.
I don’t understand why he wants to have sex with me, and maybe he’s doing it out of pity. He feels sorry for me. My palms sweat so I wipe them on the edge of my dress.
My gaze wanders to the paintings of different jazz bands hanging on the purple walls. “You don’t have to have pity sex with me.”
He tilts my chin to glance in his eyes, and shame weighs me down like a ton of bricks.
“What are you talking about?” he snaps.
His lips turn down as if he smells something foul. He’s mad. Why is he mad? Did I strike a nerve? His eyes venture down to my lips, then he stares at them as if he wants to kiss me.
“I have always been interested in you.”
Tears sting my eyes as I shake my head. “You feel sorry for the ugly girl.” I jump up from the stool. “You know what, forget it.”
He snatches me by the wrist, and I can’t help it as tears cascade down my cheeks. I don’t even know why I’m crying. He makes me feel wanted, and I haven’t felt that way in a long time. Carter left because I didn’t fit into his image of beauty, it took a toll on my mental health.
He uses his smooth thumb to wipe a tear from my face. “I told you before I thought you are gorgeous, and I want yo—”
I snatch my wrist away. “Please, stay away from me.”
Today I’m meeting my boss for the first time, and I’ve been a bit nervous because I never worked for anyone before. It’s my first official job where I earn real money. Daddy has always given me money and made sure school was paid for, and now I’m living alone without any family. It feels strange, exciting, new, and free. Oh-so free. I want to grab my freedom like an apple and bite it.
Wanting to make a good impression on my new boss, I put on my polka-dot pencil skirt and black blouse. I’m going for a professional but stylish look. I hope I don’t stick out like a sore thumb. Once I put on my makeup, I brush my silk hair to the side of my face to cover most of my scar, and head out the door.
The drive from my condo to my new workplace is only thirty minutes. Stepping out of the taxi, I inhale the crispy air of New York City, then I stride inside the fiber glass tower. I use my badge to scan myself in and take the elevator to the fifth floor. When I arrive at the conference floor, my gaze widens at the spacious room. The airy room is gigantic, it can fit my living room three times over, and employees perch in their seats, speaking among themselves. Slowly, I stroll past the podium disappearing behind the dark curtains. Exhaling, I rush to Mandy and tap on her shoulder.
“You’re just in time.” She gives me a cheery smile. “Once the meeting starts, you’ll sit in the chair behind the podium, but for now, set it up with a bottle of water.”
I grab a chilly beverage from the cooler next to a wooden table and set it onto the podium, then I plop down on the comfy chair.
Awkwardness takes over my body. I don’t like sitting in front of large crowds, and I feel as if someone is watching me, staring at me, or making a mockery of me. Maybe it’s just jitters.
I hear Mandy’s soft voice, and I glance in her direction. My eyes land on the person she’s speaking to. My heart sinks like a ship, and adrenaline spikes my blood. I study Atlas’s custom-tailored suit that hugs his frame, and his sandy brown hair is parted to the side. His broad shoulders are tense and rigid, and my gazes slowly trails down to his ass. He has a nice one. I can grab onto it while he dee—Stop it, Lake. It’s never going to happen. No matter how hard I try to tear my gaze away from him, I can’t stop staring. I haven’t stopped thinking about what he said to me last night about him wanting to take me home. What is he doing here? My pulse accelerates and my face heats.
“Lake!” Mandy beckons me to them. She flattens out her skirt and strokes her fingers through her chestnut hair.
I dust invisible lint off my skirt and head in her direction. Once I stand next to them, his gaze clings to my outfit. His eyes light up like Christmas lights, and a smile slithers across his face. My pulse beats loud in my ears, and butterflies flop in my belly. I hate how he makes me feel when I’m around him, like I’m a lid on a pot ready to burst.
“Meet your new boss, Atlas Conrad,” she murmurs.
His eyes slowly trail over my face, to my outfit, to my hot pink shoes, before traveling back up, then he holds out his hand and I shake it. Energy zaps through me. Did he feel it, too? When I try to let go of his palm, he tightens his grip and brings the back of my hand to his mouth, but I snatch it away, taking a step back. I don’t know why my legs feel weak around him.
I plaster a fake smile across my face. “We’ve met before.” I straighten my shoulders and clear my throat, trying to break the sexual tension between us. “He’s a friend of my family.” Glancing back at Mandy, I can feel Atlas’s beautiful eyes boring into me. As I try not to melt under his stare, I swallow hard and attempt to control my rapid breathing. It doesn’t help.
“Oh,” Mandy answers nervously. Probably sensing the tension between the two of us. “I had no idea you two knew each other.” She bats her long eyelashes. “It isn’t going to be a problem, is it?” Mandy asks.
Atlas’s gaze glues itself to me as he wiggles his eyebrows. “No problem. Boots and I are going to get along well, aren’t we?”
No. We are not, Atlas, unless you stop making me feel as if I’m a firecracker, waiting to explode. I want to tell him I don’t want to work for him and find another department to work in, but I won’t find a job that pays as good as this one. I have no idea why he gave me that ugly nickname, but it makes my heart flutter.
She claps her hands together, then pats him on the arm. “Good. I’ll announce you. The meeting starts in ten minutes.”
