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Jacob's voice deepened to the low, authoritative tone that gave me chills as he wrapped it up. "There is to be no alcohol consumption of any kind, Rachel." He gestured at her glass of water. "We've arranged for a substantial amount of Evian and Perrier and I don't care if you tape it to your wrist like a corsage, but when you're in public, no glasses, no cups. Everything is bottled and clearly H20."
She bat her eyes at him dismissively. "You and your rules."
"I mean it," he said, no undercurrent of joking to be found. "Remember what we discussed last night. My terms are non-negotiable."
The gasp that shot from my lips was gone before I could stifle it. The rational part of me knew that it was possible that the two of them met platonically. But since Jacob Whitmore touched me, there was no room for anything except irrationality and doubt. And Rachel squeezed right into that hole of uncertainty.
"What is it, sweetheart?" she said, with condescension practically oozing from every word. She steepled her fingers beneath her chin and let out a gasp of her own. "Are you finally getting that the billionaire doesn't ride off into the sunset with the help?"
I shoved back from the table, my anger erupting from my lips. "I'm not gonna sit here and put up with this bitch for one more second."
Rachel went wide eyed. "What did she just call me?" She too stood up, crossing her arms tight against her chest. "I refuse to work with her, Jacob. I absolutely refuse."
All eyes were on him and I could tell from the way he grit his teeth that he wasn't happy with any of us. Still, he remained quiet.
His silence only stoked her indignation. "Jakey, did you hear me? I said-"
"It's Jacob," he said curtly. "And I think we all need to take a breath." He looked at each of us, daring us to question him. I had a lot more to say, but I jutted out my lip. Rachel flipped her hair. Allegra was still as a statue.
"Now," Jacob said after a moment. "Everyone's a little on edge. Leila, I believe you owe Miss Laraby an apology."
"What?" I snapped. He couldn't be serious.
He moved to my side and dropped his volume level. "I know Rachel can be trying, but she's our client. As such, you have to put aside your baggage-"
"My baggage?" I said in disbelief. "She's been treating me like crap since the moment she met me. Any baggage was already packed and ready to go. Her baggage is you." I stepped away from him, getting Rachel in my crosshairs. "I'm sorry I'm the first person to call you that to your face."
Seeing nothing but red, I found my way to the door and threw it open. Tears of frustration cascaded down my face and I knew I looked a hot mess from the stares I got, but I didn't care. On some level, I knew I wasn't being professional, that Jacob was right about putting aside my issues for the job, but that woman had a way of getting under my skin. I couldn’t just let it go.
As soon as I opened the door to my room and saw Jacob’s card on the bed, I knew it was a little more than a client with an attitude. It was the idea that he'd been with her, that he'd cared about her. It was the thought that maybe instead of coming to my bed last night, he'd gone to hers.
"Doesn't matter now," I whispered, walking to the bed and sinking into the mattress. What came next was pretty obvious--no way Jacob would let our exchange fly, especially in front of a client. I'd gone from applicant to research aide to personal assistant to the boss....and now, back to unemployment.
The door echoed with knocks and I peeked at it. Probably the staff removing me from the premises. Another sets of knocks, more urgent followed--along with a familiar voice that made my heart stop.
"Leila, open the door."
I kicked my legs over the edge of the bed and snatched the door open, looking at him in shock. "Jacob."
The side of his lip curled upward. "So you do know how to obey."
He was upon me, his lips crashing into my lips as he kicked the door closed with his foot. I had no time to catch my breath as he spun me around and slammed me against the door. The spasm of pain was dulled by the tenderness of him holding the sides of my face. It was confusing; the mixture of force and power as he pinned me in place contrasting with him caressing me like I was something precious.
He pulled back, scanning my face and gauging my reaction. I brought a shaky hand to my lips, still feeling him there before I let out a giggle.
"I guess this means I still have a job."
His eyes sparkled and when he smiled, I felt the warmth in it down to my very bones. It was quickly replaced by lust as he roped an arm around my waist and pulled me in close.
"The last thing I want to talk about right now is work."
His touch tightened, the hands at the curve of my back venturing down until he clutched my ass. His mouth possessed mine and with those luscious lips pressed against me I knew I was in major trouble. The boom boom in my chest was more than arousal, the blood rushing through my veins more than the fantasy of finally being with him. I'd do anything for him. Anything.
When we came up for air this time, he reached around and unhinged my scarf. My hands instantly flew to my hair, but he brought them back down with a look that made my core clench. Without using a single word, he'd just given me an order.
He ran his pointer along my jaw line and even that slight touch made me tremble for more. But his hands didn't drop to the usual suspects; not to my breasts, finding my nipples solid and aching, or down further, to the part of me that was dripping wet. No--he bit his lip as he toyed with the stray curls from my bun. He reached to the base of my neck, unwrapping my ponytail and freed my wild hair. He threaded his fingers through my locks before dropping his mouth to my ear.
"That's better."
