Winning Damian’s favour was never going to happen. Even after months of working for him, she knew she would never get past his impenetrable shell. No matter how she tried, there was no way he’d show her the appreciation and regard she knew was due. She might as well wish for the moon before that happened. But more to the point, why did she even feel his appreciation mattered? This was just a job, and he was just her employer. Just another man who felt his power and money could make her feel less than she truly was.
One thing she did let trouble her, was how it all affected her relationship with Chet.
Three months after she’d started working as Damian Rush’s assistant, she returned to her apartment at the close of a particularly hellish day. There had been deadlines to meet, and agreements to close. She’d barely had time to catch her breath until she walked into her nicely furnished living room where she could relax.
But not for long. Chet came storming in an hour later, his guitar case in his hand and a furious look on his face. “Where were you?” he growled.
“At work,” Hanna said, eyes darting at his attitude. “Why, what’s wrong baby? Didn’t rehearsals go well?”
“It wasn’t rehearsals, Hanna. I had a gig tonight. You promised to be there. It was only for one fucking hour for crissakes.”
With that he huffed and exited the living room, and Hanna was torn by the need to give herself a facepalm or groan out loud in frustration. Shit! She’d forgotten all about Chet’s gig tonight. His band had managed to hook an opening slot for a headlining rock band at some concert. It was supposed to be the big-time and she’d honestly just forgotten. But only because she’d been so busy! She remembered she was stuck still working on compiling files and accounts at the time Chet’s band must have been on.
“You didn’t even call!” Chet said angrily when she joined him in the bedroom, her expression apologetic.
“I’m so sorry, Chet. Sometimes I’m at work and everything else just closes off. If I didn’t do that, I’d go insane. You know what a slave driver my boss is.”
Chet’s curvy lips curled bitterly. “Are you saying it’s just work? You’re sure there isn’t something more?”
“What else could there be?” Hanna asked in genuine confusion.
Chet let out an impatient sound, shoving a hand roughly through his dark blond hair. “This job of yours. Your boss. Is there something I need to know about the two of you?”
“Like how? Goodness, Chet. No. What are you suggesting?”
“What does it sound like?” exclaimed Chet. “Look at you, Hanna. Look how you’ve changed. Make up always perfect, your professional wardrobe up to the nines. Even your underwear’s more trendy and sexy. You put in more effort for him than you ever do for me.”
“He requires it of me,” Hanna said, hating the blush that swept over her cheekbones. “This wasn’t my personal choice.”
“Your underwear?” Chet scoffed. “Can’t you see he’s grooming you into the perfect woman for him? If you’re too blind to read the signs, I’m not! I know exactly what’s going on.”
“Chet, you’ve got it all wrong. He doesn’t even notice me! He’s just some workaholic control freak.”
“Yeah, sure. Now tell me he doesn’t have more power over you than you’re letting on. This is more than just a boss-assistant thing. He wants you, Hanna. For all I know, you want him too. How long do I have to compete with him?”
Now that made her stop short. “I don’t know what to say,” she breathed. “I never…it didn’t occur to me that you felt this way. I’m sorry I missed your show. I’m sorry I work too much. But the money’s good and we never worry about bills anymore. Life is going so well for us now and I thought…”
“No, it’s not going well,” Chet said hardily. “I want my girlfriend back. The Hanna I’ve always known wouldn’t let some cruel boss push her around. I’ve always supported your career you know this but not if it demeans you the way he does.”
Hanna bit on her lip. “I’ll get some time off. I’ll find a way to make more room for us. I’ll admit I’ve been far too focused on work to realize how much our relationship is suffering.”
“Sometimes, I wonder if it’s him you think about,” Chet said with deceptive softness, closing the gap between them as he stared deep into her eyes. “When we make love I feel like your mind’s somewhere else. With someone else. It’s like you’re under a spell.”
Hanna blushed. How could Chet say that? He was implying that she secretly had the hots for her boss. That she even fantasized about him. That was bullshit! She hated Damian! If he was someone she’d met in different circumstances, and if he wasn’t really a brute in real life, then maybe she might have had a crush on a man like him. But for Chet to even imagine that she’d be thinking of Damian while she and Chet had sex. It was all crap. Utter crap!
“I love you, Chet,” Hanna said firmly, cupping his face and staring into his deep blue eyes. “It’s you I want to be with. I can’t even stand my boss. He’s nothing like you. He doesn’t make me all warm and gooey inside the way you do.”
No, Damian made her feel hot, and then cold. One look from his dark, enigmatic eyes and something strange trilled within her core. A brush of his hand would make her start like she was electrified. He would pass by her and his stimulating cologne made her senses go on a trip. He never smiled, but she wished he would. She wished he’d say one word, just once, about how nice she looked or how well she’d carried out her tasks. None of that happened. But it didn’t stop her from being aware of every little thing about him. The way his suits always fit him impeccably; the jet black sweep of his hair, his thick dark brows and blade of a nose, with lips so generously cut they looked too sensuous on such harsh handsomeness.
Oh shit. Hanna embraced Chet tighter to hide her inner turmoil. Was Chet right? Had she inadvertently started to fall for her boss?
That was an insane assumption. She’d figure out a way to show Chet there was nothing she felt for Damian Rush. He made her so mad at times she couldn’t see straight. How could she desire a man like that? Being a woman there would be times he would strike her as eye-catching and even attractive. But only in a detached sense. None of her feelings for Damian should give her boyfriend any cause for concern. And soon, she’d find a way to prove it.
*
Hanna had to save her four year-long relationship. She’d put too much time and effort to making it work. Even when her friends told her that Chet was having it too easy, chasing his music career while she worked to the bone to pay the bills, she’d stood firm. Now she could feel him slipping away from her.
She couldn’t let that happen. She hated to fail at anything even love. Especially not love. So she had made up her mind how best to win back Chet’s love and trust.
Hanna walked into Damian’s office for the normal debriefing at the close of day. She could hardly hide her eagerness to rush home and finish packing. That was until Damian’s words made her pause.
“That will be all for today, Ms. Simms. Just make sure you’re ready on time for our Seattle trip. We leave first thing tomorrow,” he informed her. “Please don’t make me have to wait a minute longer than necessary.”
“There must be some mistake,” Hanna said with a confused smile. “I’ve been approved for time off for the rest of the week. I’m not the one to accompany you to Seattle, that will be Ms. Taylor.” She had it all worked out. She’d requested time off a fortnight ago and it was confirmed via email just last week.
“Wrong,” he said coldly, looking up from his files at her. “You need to do your homework, Ms. Simms. I never approved of any days off for you, certainly not during the Seattle trip.”
Hanna really didn’t want to stand there arguing with him, so she swung round and went back to her desk to check her email. Sure enough, now there was an email showing that her request for time off had been denied. She couldn’t help her outburst as she suddenly swore out loud.
This couldn’t be happening. She rushed
back to Damian’s office, and foolishly thought she could reason with him. She knew the Seattle trip was important but he could take anyone. Ms. Taylor, Ms. Brentwood. Hanna had already promised Chet that this time would be different, special. They were going for a London music festival that was the high point of the year for many fans of the genre. If she cancelled for any reason, there was no saying how Chet would take it. Oh God, she had to do something.
“Mr. Rush, please reconsider. I really need this week for…for personal matters.” Begging him was very low, but Hanna suddenly felt she had no problem sinking to that level.
“I don’t think so. No. For some reason you were hand-picked for this position, and you accepted to take it on. Now I have to travel and need you on board. You’ll just have to cancel your plans with your boyfriend.”
Hanna felt her anger build at his smug words. She hadn’t even known he knew she had a boyfriend. He made her so upset with his unfeeling attitude. Her relationship with Chet was too shaky to take this new blow. Could she find a way to make Chet understand?
*
It turned out Hanna could not.
Chet took the news badly. She’d never seen him so furious, and yet so cold. He didn’t even yell.
“You promised me, Hanna,” he said, slowly and quietly. “This is the last straw. He keeps pulling shit like this. You need to quit.”
His frozen tone and words made her chest constrict. “I can’t do that. I want to keep my job, Chet. But I don’t want you mad at me. Please understand.”
“I understand a lot more than you imagine,” Chet said bitterly. “I understand why a woman like you would sit and take crap from a man like him. Gorgeous billionaire boss and all that. You can’t help but be attracted to him and he probably feels the same about you.”
“Oh please don’t start that up again,” Hanna said with her own burst of anger. “The man has no attraction for anyone least of all me. And I’ve told you a million times how much I love only you.”
“Well maybe you need space to make up your mind about that. Because I’m moving out.”
Hanna had had enough. He always did this. He knew all this time why she’d taken the job. They’d been able to move to a better apartment and afford all the bills and more. She’d tried so hard to be there for him with no demands or expectations of her own. Why couldn’t he just be understanding instead of acting like a petulant child?
He always threatened to leave but they were always just threats. What was he going to do now?
“Why don’t we talk about this when I get back? There’s so much you need to get straight,” Hanna said, hating the pleading tone in her voice. Twice today she’d had to grovel to a man and it irked. She hated this feeling of being a doormat, someone who couldn’t control her own affairs.
Instead of replying, he retrieved his cell phone and made a call. “Hey, precious. Yes, come get me. I’m done here.”
Hanna watched in confusion as she saw him pause to listen to the mystery person speaking before he replied, “Great. Meet me at the front door. Yeah, love you too babe. Bye.”
That word shocked her to the core. Hanna was shaking her head, feeling at a loss. She followed him to the bedroom and found he had several bags packed. If he was going for just a weekend, why did he need so much stuff? And who was that person he’d called?
“Will you at least tell me what’s going on?” Hanna asked, fearing the worst.
He looked like nothing more than a stranger as he turned to her then. “Let’s just say, you aren’t the one with someone on the side.”
“Wait! What? You’re seeing someone else? Chet, how could you? How long has this been going on?” demanded Hanna.
He paused, facing her again. “Seriously? You need to ask? Now you want answers. Well, forget it. Because in the past six months, you’ve been with him every day and night. He calls and you run to meet his commands. I mean damn, Hanna. He even has you groomed to look like his very own sex kitten. And if you both haven’t fucked yet, then you will soon. It’s only a matter of time.”
Hanna wanted to scream as she fisted her hair.
Chet’s smile was somewhat pitying. “Don’t sweat it, okay. Anyone would cave beneath the pressure.”
“I told you, Chet, there’s nothing…”
He spun on her sharply, his face a mere inch from hers. “Tell me something. Two weeks ago you requested for the few days off and it was approved. Did you by any chance tell him or anyone we had plans together?”
Hanna’s head was spinning. “I don’t discuss my private life with him! But…I did mention to one of his secretaries that we were travelling to London for a getaway. Why would she…?”
“If you mentioned it to her while you were in the office, and he was close, chances are he knew about it,” Chet said grimly.
“Can you hear yourself right now? You sound totally paranoid. What has that got to do with anything?” cried Hanna.
Chet merely shook his head. “I’m just a third wheel, Hanna. You two want each other so much it’s palpable to me. And I haven’t even met the guy! I wouldn’t have even guessed anything if not for the total change you went through. The way you look when you say his name or talk about him. Once or twice, I’m sure I’ve heard you say his name while we fucked.”
Oh God. What? No! Hanna was shaking with anger and a feeling of trepidation. “You…you’re so wrong. This is crazy! Chet, please…”
There was a sudden noise from outside, of a car horn blaring. Hanna watched helplessly as Chet gathered up his bags at the front door. She chased after him. “Don’t leave! We can work this out. Chet!”
Chet brushed past her clinging hands and opened the door. Hanna stopped short at the sight of a slim, tall beauty with dark brown hair and startling green eyes. Her sleeveless top was cropped, showing off a concave belly while her snug jeans played off her hips. She looked no older than twenty-one and her breasts seemed ready to burst out of her bodice.
“Ready, Chet? We need to hit it,” the girl said, her voice smoky and smooth.
“Give me a minute, babe,” Chet said quietly, before turning to the shell-shocked Hanna. He reached forward and kissed her gently on the temple. “Take care, Hanna.”
Hanna fell apart. She screamed at them both, telling them she hoped they rotted in hell while she threw anything she could reach their way. They hustled out with the bags and slammed the door after them. Hanna sobbed and fell to the floor, feeling like an earthen jar smashed to pieces.
*
Damian was prompt in arriving at Hanna’s place to pick her up at five AM the next morning. He told himself he expected some dramatics but she was quiet, and dressed as exquisitely as he’d desired. He opened the door to help her into the passenger side, before filling the trunk with her luggage.
“Glad to see your boyfriend let you leave without incident,” Damian commented with a sidelong glance at her. “And thank you for being ready on time. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
Hanna made no comment, which made him feel curious about her, sensing a strangeness in her behaviour. During the ride, he noticed how distracted she seemed. Beneath the carefully applied make up, it looked like she was trying her best to hold herself together.
Something didn’t sit right with him. Before he knew what he was doing, he rapped out, “Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?”
She sent him a cool glare but he was used to that. What he wasn’t used to was seeing her look so cold and almost devoid of bounce. She was always full of spirit no matter his bossy antics. Now the spirit was replaced with freezing disdain as she turned to him.
“Mr. Rush, I believe my personal life is no concern of yours.”
Damian was perceptive enough to feel not just her anger, but a sense of injustice rolling off her tongue. Somehow, he knew it was directed totally at him. If for some reason her boyfriend had turned out to be upset about the business trip after all, Damian was sure the man would get over it.
He didn’t say another word unti
l they arrived at their destination and were registered at their hotel. The bell hop carried their bags to their suite and both Damian and Hanna followed in the guest lifts.
Before she could finally walk off to her own room without a word, he found himself gripping her arm and turning her sharply to face him. “We have to meet with a client in a couple of hours and you look out of sorts. Since you don’t wish to discuss what’s troubling you, would you at least ensure you look presentable before our client arrives.”
“But of course, Mr. Rush,” she replied with more sarcasm than he cared for. But he did let her go, an annoyed frown on his face.
At ten, they were meeting with a close friend of his father and one of their biggest clients, Clay Hughes. Damian was seated at the restaurant waiting when Hanna arrived.
He looked up as she approached, and something seemed to go off loud in his head.
Fuck. She was stunning.
He’d never seen her look this way before. She had some sort of dress that stopped at her knees and hugged all those damn curves. It managed to look formal yet sensual, in the best way a dress could be. The angular cut of the neckline merely hinted at cleavage and the way the fabric clung lovingly to her full breasts, Damian felt his mouth go dry.
Her blond hair was set in waves over the side of her face and sweeping her shoulders seductively. The deep red of the dress did amazing things for her skin tone and her beautiful green eyes. Her heels were at least four inches high and screamed pure sex.
Damian had never seen her look exactly this way before and his reaction to her appearance astounded him. He realized just how much he wanted this woman. Wanted to claim her till she forgot any other man who’d ever touched her.
She walked up to their table in strides that showed she was more than comfortable in her own skin. Like a female in her prime, her thickly lashed eyes seemed to gleam with a force that had Damian sitting back and viewing her with unhidden titillation of interest. He locked his gaze with hers and with every fiber of his being, vowed that before the end of the night, he’d be buried as deep inside Ms. Simms as humanly possible.
Flirting With Desire (Contemporary Romance) Complete Collection Page 2
