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Chapter 1
Easton
“You must come to my club,” Nikol Antonov says. “As my special guest. Believe me, you’ll love what we have planned at The Black Door on Saturday. You might even become a regular.”
He gives me a greasy wink that makes me recoil. Schooling the features on my face, I avoid allowing myself to grimace.
I seriously doubt that we have the same ideas about fun. Most Saturdays I’m still in the office, long after the most dedicated of my employees have given up and gone home. I’ve tried hobbies, so-called stress relievers. But the fact of the matter is I like to work, and whenever someone wants to take me away from it, like Nikol was trying now, I balk.
People talk about his nightclub, which is so exclusive that it doesn’t need advertisement or even a sign, just a glossy black door set back discreetly from the street. It’s known to be a den of lust and debauchery—not my scene.
A reputation not unlike its owner. Nikol is rich, powerful and, with half the city government in his pocket, he can do whatever he wants.
All the more reason I don’t want to go. I enjoy keeping things simple as I build my financial empire. But the more I try to brush off his invitation, the more adamant he gets.
“We have been working together for a while now. Yet you’ve mentioned nothing about your life outside of work,” he says.
“There’s nothing much to tell,” I answer.
“Exactly why you need a night out. What are you, thirty?”
“Twenty-eight,” I say, clenching my jaw. He’s really irritating me now, but his eyes are shining with cheer and not cruelty.
“You shouldn’t waste your youth on work,” he tells me, shaking his head. “Take it from someone who knows. I was exactly where you are when I was in my twenties, always keeping my nose to the grindstone and never having any fun. That’s why I make up for it now that I’m older, with The Black Door. I won’t take no for an answer, Easton.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I take a deep breath, knowing that I need to keep this lucrative client happy. And maybe he knows best. A night out with a few drinks won’t kill me, and maybe I’ll even make some more business connections.
“Sounds great,” I finally say, trying to inject some excitement into my voice. “I’ll be there on Saturday for the mystery event.”
“I promise, you’ll love it,” he grins, heading for the door.
The door swings open, revealing one of my interns, Kate, on the other side. Her eyes widen and she jumps back, as though she’s been caught. Was she eavesdropping?
“Good afternoon! I completed my presentation and would love for you to look it over if you have a few free minutes,” she gushes.
I force a smile, because why not get it over with so I don’t have to contend with her later? On paper, she’s the one I should hire permanently when the internship ends. She’s always ahead of her timelines. The clients and other employees seem to get along with her, and she’s definitely eager to please, but there’s just something about her I don’t trust.
I can’t dwell on it for long because my other intern, Sloane, appears. As usual, everything else fades into the background when she’s nearby. Today her lush curves are encased in a simple gray skirt that brushes her bare knees and a pink blouse with the top button undone, revealing just an inch of smooth skin. My fingers twitch to pop open each one, following the line of them all the way down. To unwrap her like a tasty confection. God, I shouldn’t be wondering how she tastes.
Her smile is less confident but more sincere than Kate’s, and she anxiously brushes her long, auburn hair behind her slender shoulder. I notice right away there are dark circles under her normally vibrant blue eyes, and her porcelain skin is pale. Concern and a sudden surge of protectiveness rush through me. What can I do to fix whatever’s wrong?
This is exactly why I need to hire Kate. As much as I yearn for Sloane, her being here is a distraction that I can’t afford. My mouth waters as I imagine pulling Sloane into my office and bending her over my desk while sliding that snug skirt up her thighs.
Shaking my head, I break out of her spell.
“Are you finished with your presentation as well?” I ask her. My voice is controlled, slightly cold, and doesn’t betray a hint of what I’m thinking.
Her tired eyes fill with tears. “No, sorry. I’ll have it done by the deadline, though.”
I want to tell her it’s fine. She’s not late, and Kate is just showing off, as usual. More than wanting to reassure her, I want to brush away those traces of tears and kiss away her pain.
But I can’t let my true feelings show. “Very well,” I say aloofly, turning away before I do something rash.
What is it about her that makes me want her this way? I’ve had college-age interns since I started my business. Now that it’s one of the top firms in the city, they line up for a chance at a permanent job here. I’ve barely noticed them before, but Sloane captured my attention on her first day and I can’t shake her from my thoughts.
I pause at the door to let Kate go into my office before me, watching Sloane slip back to her desk. Despite her defeated appearance, I keep in mind what truly matters- not screwing my interns, no matter how tempting they may be.
Chapter 2
