“Give up the pity party, Vette. Do you think you’re the first woman in history to screw your boss? Or even the first woman to screw Dylan under questionable circumstances?”
“They will never take me seriously. I’ll be another booty-beauty that they want to poke on demand, not an educated woman who dedicated years to studying law.”
“So what? They won’t be the first men who dream of doing you or the last. Are you going to quit every job every time a man wants to sleep with you? The key is to use it to your benefit.”
“How would I even begin to do that?” The thought of seeing Dylan again made my stomach fold over.
“I don’t know Yvette. What I do know is that I didn’t spend nights helping you cram for exams and making Supreme Court case puppet reenactments for you to quit. Put on your big girl panties and march yourself right back into that office and be the determined, beautiful bad bitch that I know you are.”
“I called you to listen to my problem.” I whined. “I don’t want to go back to that place.”
“What other option do you have?” she countered and I knew that I had lost my case.
The sunshine mocked me as I passed through the revolving door of the Hanson and Associates building, my stomach churning.
I waved at the security guard who promptly turned his head. Apparently, I was persona non grata today.
Either the elevators moved slower or my heartbeat moved faster, but the journey to the twentieth floor was a sluggish one.
There were two secretaries that sat near Pete’s office entrance in the elevator with me. Huddled in the back of the car they snickered and whispered the entire ride.
I kept my face brave even though my insides quivered. I couldn’t imagine going to work every day wondering who knew about what Dylan and Pete had done or tried to do to me.
I smiled at the two women. Kill them with kindness, Aunt Cheryl would advise.
“Good morning ladies.” I imparted.
One woman tilted her neck and gave me a sarcastic smirk.
“I bet it is a good morning for you.” she said snidely.
The two women locked eyes and laughed out loud.
“It really is.” I lied cheerfully. “I hope you get back to having good mornings as well. You are usually so well put together.”
The elevator doors opened then and I walked into what seemed like an episode of Law and Order on fast forward. People were moving across the floor was in a frenzy even at this early hour.
The goof troop ladies made their way ahead of me to their desks without a further peep.
I kept a smile plastered to my face. I had made sure to dress professionally and fixed my make up with care, so that everything on the outside looked spectacular even when my insides were a massacred mess.
When I passed the bullpen of my former co-workers, James made eye contact with me and rushed to my side.
“Good Morning Yvette.” he spoke kindly as if we were old friends while we walked toward Pete’s office.
I could only blink at the man who had acted like Hell’s gate keeper during my first few days in the office.
“Hello.” I responded with uncertainty. People like James didn’t just stop working to be nice and welcoming, he had an agenda.
I slowed my pace. James had something to say, but was obviously trying to find a way to say it best.
When we made it to the entrance of Pete’s office, James moved in front of the door.
“How are you today?” he asked.
“Cut the shit.” I interrupted and attempted to side step him. Small talk was neither of our strong suits. “Spit it out.”
“Mr. Hanson has requested that you work for him again.” he said with a wince as though he feared my response.
I took a deep breath.
“Which Mr. Hanson?” I asked, almost sure of whom it was.
“Mr. Dylan Hanson has requested that you be placed back under his guidance.” He said a little more confidently.
I wanted to hit him, but it wasn’t his fault. James wasn’t playing with my livelihood or emotions. Dylan Hanson was. Figuratively, he had me by the balls. I had put on my big girl panties and marched into work, ready to take on Pete, but Dylan had snatched the rug right out from under me.
“Fine.” I agreed before pivoting on my heel and making my way back to the bull pen.
Dylan had more staff, handled more high profile clients and cases, and provided the most opportunity for growth in my career, but I didn’t want to return as his associate only because we had sex. I wanted Dylan to respect me as a legal professional and to trust me enough to have me as a member on his team.
When James guided me to my private office a few paces away from the bull pen, I knew that more than my brain had to do with the change.
I walked into the beautifully decorated office, while James waited at the entrance with bated breath.
“Is everything to your liking?” he asked eagerly.
I placed my purse down on the mahogany and glass desk and looked toward the large window filtering in sunlight. The gold and mahogany vases and knick-knacks glistened under the rays.
The office was smaller than the one I had seen in my dream, but it was gorgeous. It was everything that I wanted. It was everything that I had expected, except that it didn’t feel like it had in the dream. The office felt wrong.
I turned to James and smiled.
“Thank you James. This is very nice.”
James handed me a folder.
“Mr. Hanson instructed me to give you this case. If you have any questions or need any help, just dial my extension and I’ll be right here.”
I nodded slowly feeling as though I had been sucked into an alternate universe.
I sifted through the information that James had given me. The lawsuit was pretty interesting and had a labor focus, one of my favorites.
I settled into the posh office, but didn’t feel at ease. It was like house sitting for Ariel. My stuff was there. I knew where everything was, but it wasn’t mine.
James popped up every hour or so. I had expected to see Dylan, but as usual he didn’t do as expected.
The desk phone startled me when it rang. I hadn’t noticed it nor heard it all day. Unsure how to answer I did the best that I could.
“This is Yvette.” I stuttered.
“Come to my office.” Was all that the deep voice rumbled before the call was disconnected.
The day had gone too smoothly. I should have been prepared for the speed bumps.
When I stepped into Pete’s office, he stood.
“What can I do for you Pete?” I asked tersely.
“I already told you what you could do for me.” he responded. “You didn’t seem to like that idea.”
He moved closer.
I took a step back, almost to the hallway.
“That’s not why I called you here.” he said. “I’m done with that notion and I’m done with you too.”
He handed an envelope to me.
“I want you out of here for good by the close of business today.”
“What?”
I was stunned.
“You’ll never amount to anything here, and while you have you a nice ass, if I don’t get to see it or use it, your services are no longer needed.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather.
“The only reason that you are still here is so that Dylan can pump you as needed.”
My heart sank but my anger boiled.
“You will find a non-disclosure form binding you from speaking of the event. Also the settlement offer is more than fair. We compensate our whores well. Return the paperwork via courier at our expense. Do not set foot on my premises again.”
Chapter 12
Dylan
I had sent James on a mission. His objective: intercept Yvette before she made it to Pete’s office and discreetly deliver her to the office I assigned her. She hadn’t returned my calls. I wasn’t sure when she would return to the
office, but I knew that she would return. Yvette had wanted a mentor, support, and the opportunity to learn. James, who had no interest in women sexually, would be able to provide that for her. An office of her own would safe guard her from ridicule, if any were to arise.
I was feeling pretty smug about my plan until I walked into the office that I had someone so elegantly decorate for Yvette and found it empty. Leads on the Hunter case and meetings had kept me busy most of the day, but I had fully intended to see Yvette.
James was by my side in seconds, before I had to find him.
“Where is Yvette?” I questioned in a tone that didn’t hide my annoyance.
The constipated look of pain that crossed his face let me know all that I needed to.
The greeting area was empty as usual, so I easily made it to my father’s office undetected.
Yvette was standing in the doorway impeccably dressed in a form-fitting pencil skirt and a tucked in chiffon shirt. Her perfume lingered in the hall. She was hard to miss. I just had to follow the intoxicating smell. Seeing her after what had seemed like an extended absence nearly caused me to forget why I had come upstairs to begin with. I had seen beautiful women before, but poised grace and … my thoughts came to a stop as I heard my father’s voice.
“Do not step foot on my premises again.” my father boomed.
I noticed the familiar envelope in her hand instantly.
My father had always been a prick; he just hid it well. Money covers a multitude of sins. Women who worked for my father didn’t last very long, because his attention span didn’t last very long. He would send them off on their unsuspecting way with an envelope full of cash and a glowing recommendation for employment. None of the women knew that any personal recommendation from Pete Hanson, stamped with his personal seal, was just a whore stamp on stationary. Accepting a dismissal settlement from Pete Hanson was a proclamation to other firms of being a certified freak in the sheets.
I snatched the envelope from Yvette’s hands.
Her gasp and my father’s smirk let me know that neither of them had been aware of my presence.
“Dylan. Of course you would come running.” my father sneered. “Did you plant a chip in the girl when you fucked her?”
“Only the one that you wished you could have put there.” I retorted.
“I sneeze in her direction and you show the hell up.” He shook his head. “Are you worried, son? Scared that there may be competition?”
I stepped in front of Yvette and moved toward my father. I wanted to make sure that he saw what I was going to do and my meaning behind it.
I ripped the envelope in half and laid it on his desk.
“Where my employees are, is my business.” I let him know. “And make no mistake, Yvette is my employee.”
This seemed to amuse my father. His laughter filled the room.
“I guess you grew an inch overnight and you’re feeling tall this morning.”
“What I do at night is none of your concern. Neither is who I do. It may have been your name that started this company, but recognize that I keep this motherfucker moving.”
His eyes narrowed at that.
“You’re nothing more than a drunken mistake and a six-second regret.” he spat. “Remember who created you. I’m not dead yet.”
“We’ll see.” I snapped before exiting with Yvette in tow.
The whole building was a shrine to that man. The people here worshiped his every word and footfall. I couldn’t forget who started the company if I wanted to. Even if he died, Pete would rise and haunt my every waking moment if I ever for a second neglected to acknowledge his contributions.
We didn’t walk fast, but the pace wasn’t leisurely either. It felt natural for Yvette to be next to me.
I had thought my relationship with my father had been strained before the disagreement over Yvette. However, the possibility of losing this case and taking a huge financial loss, added additional pressure to what I was already under.
“You alright?” I asked.
Yvette was quiet during our entire walk back to my office. I didn’t poke at her. It had to be difficult being caught between my father and I.
“Thank you.” she finally spoke in a voice so small it was barely audible.
“I’m here for you.”
She scoffed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked trying to hide the fact that she offended me. I had just stood up to my father for her more or less.
She shook her head at the question as though that were somehow an answer.
“I appreciate what you did in there for me.” Her mouth turned up into a weak smile. Her eyes were sincere when they found mine.
“You work for me and me only. I’ll take care of Pete.” I reassured her.
Yvette nodded, but I doubted that the she fully understood what I was trying to tell her.
“Thanks again.” she said offhandedly, her words floating in the air as if unimportant.
It bothered me that she seemed so sullen. I was reluctant to enter my office without a kiss or touch from her. I stood admiring her alluring curves as she walked away from me. I couldn’t help but be envious of her office chair which would have the awesome benefit of holding her.
My office felt cooler than normal and I no longer found satisfaction behind my expensive desk. The place where I had once felt most comfortable and at ease was becoming less so.
James was in my doorway before I could call for him. We had worked together for a while now, so he had a way of knowing when to show up.
“Is there anything that I can help you with?” he asked.
“Set up a conference call concerning the labor case with Yvette as the lead. Send me the information once you’ve confirmed.”
He nodded. “Anything else?”
“Yes.” I sighed before pulling a folder from my desk. “You take the lead on the Armstrong case and the office next to Yvette’s as well.”
His hands dropped to his side.
“Wait. What?” He looked thoroughly surprised.
It wasn’t often that I got to be the good guy. James had worked hard and truly deserved a promotion. Plus, I needed him to support Yvette. I didn’t fraternize with my employees, but I knew they could and would talk. Hanging around Yvette’s office every day, even as a mentor to her, the rumor mill would likely be running rampant with the belief that I was screwing her. She didn’t deserve that and I didn’t want that for her. There had already been enough speculation as it was. James would never be me, but he could give her a good foundation with my crafting.
“Loyalty and dedication are two very elusive characteristics. I thank you for both.”
“All right. You’re welcome.” he replied excitedly.
My father had many characteristics I had admired him for as a child. However, his treatment of women was not one off them. Sex had been around before sliced bread, but there was a time and a place for everything. My father never learned this lesson. He even went so far as to install an apartment off his office for convenience. Work, eat, sleep, and fuck. All neatly at hand.
Shortly before Yvette’s conference call was to end I patched in. I wanted to go to her office and lay both my eyes and hands on her luscious body, but I knew that would probably lead to me bending her over the desk. I was failing to keep things separate. I justified my need to check on her as a boss wanting to monitor the performance of an associate.
When I heard her voice on the line, I knew that my well-check was about much more than monitoring how well she could handle a case. I was ready for her to handle my cock again. Anyway that I could connect with, even in the smallest of ways, would have to suffice until I could get her alone again. It would have to wait until I could get her away from the cock blocking building.
“The deposition is set for next for week. Before such, I would like to meet with you face to face.” Yvette said in a commanding voice.
I was drawn to her. Each well spoken word thickened my dick. He
r acute efficiency with the client was sexy as fuck.
“An injunction will slow the spread of the video.” she continued. “I can have a judge sign an order before the end of business today.”
I imagined her lips forming each syllable and her tongue darting in and out of her mouth. The girl knew how to use her mouth.
The call ended too quickly for me. I could have listened to her legal speak for hours. My hand found its way into my pants. Her intelligence caressed me, her assertiveness stroked over me in waves stoking my need to be inside of her.
Before I could bring myself to a much needed release, there was a knock at my door.
“Who is it?” I growled with my dick in hand.
“It’s me. Yvette.” Her voice was smaller than it had been on the phone.
I quickly made sure that everything was in order, myself included, before inviting her in.
“Enter.”
“I need to talk to you.” The words came from her lips soft but they were hard to hear.
The sight of her was too much. Her sultry voice coupled with her sassy stance in front of my desk had me at full attention.
“Make it quick.” I spit out the words before clearing my throat. I knew that I was being short with her, but I needed for her to either strip or scurry. Her standing in front of me was dangerous for both of our reputations.
“You know what?” she stated with an attitude that hardened my dick even more. “I’ll just ask James.”
When she turned to exit, I released the breath that I didn’t even realize I was holding.
“So much for ‘I’m here for you’” she mumbled on her way out.
She was angry, but I would rather her be upset now than a victim of company gossip later. It really worked to her advantage for people to see her frustrated after leaving my office. That’s how most people felt when they left.
Chapter 13
Yvette
Lethal Seduction: A CIA Romantic Suspense (CIA Agents Book 1) Page 18
