No matter how many times he tried to talk himself out of it, he couldn’t stop the unease inside him. She shouldn’t be working for Cadeon inside that office. Then to top it off, the report that Tate had given him explained the rather dubious relationship she’d had with her professor in college, Michael Lovell. He recognised the name and the man. He’d been a frequent visitor to the dungeon at one time. Prudence’s name had never been mentioned once.
James knew something happened between them, and he hated it. She was sweet and young, and Michael should have kept his hands away from her.
Why are you here?
Why do you want to kill the man for touching Prudence?
Why do you want her to look at you and for her to tell you she’d go anywhere with you?
So many questions and he refused to answer any of them.
“I know Michael Lovell. I know what he likes.”
Her gaze went back to his. The blush in her cheeks was unmistakable.
“You have no right to question the men in my life.”
He knew she was attracted to him. James had always known the feelings he invoked in this woman before him. When she was younger he’d seen the admiration and the desire, the desire of a young girl who had no idea what real life meant. The woman before him knew true desire. She stared back at him. The fire danced in her blue eyes as she looked back at him.
James saw the challenge in her gaze, and what was worse was the fact the Dom inside him wanted to answer that call.
“I’ve never asked you about any of your conquests, James. The many women you’ve f**ked.”
None of his conquests would come forward. The relationship he held with women was strictly business. He trained them in the art of submission until he found the right Dom for them. The time he spent with them was good but not ground breaking. He’d never felt any connection of souls like his two friends had described to him. Not even with Veronica. She was the only anomaly in his life. He’d never taken her or trained her. She’d been a passing fancy that only age had shown him the truth.
He’d never felt this need to keep her close. Staring at Prue, he felt the need.
“You can work for me,” he said, hating the words the moment he said them.
“Why would I work for you?” she asked.
She hadn’t taken her hand away. James held her hand close refusing to let go. He needed to keep her close, and the only way to do that was by having her near him at all times.
It was wrong of him. Veronica would probably kill him if she ever found out. He didn’t care. James was going to do whatever the hell he liked.
“I can double your salary,” he said. He’d seen all of her personal details. Tate had been thorough in his search. James expected the thoroughness, especially after the mistake he’d made with Violet.
“Exactly how much did your check go into? You know I’m paid well for my work.”
“I’ll make sure you can pay your student debts and own this house within the next five years,” he said. His wealth could keep her in the life of luxury for the remainder of her life. He didn’t want her to feel like a kept woman. Prudence was independent. He saw it, understood it, and would respect it, at least for as long as he could handle her independent streak.
“I don’t want to work for you, James. I think you should leave before we say something we might regret.”
James felt an excitement course through his body at her challenge. Did she not know what her words were doing to him?
“Are you sure you don’t want to work for me?” he asked.
“I’m positive.”
He stood, pulling his coat on. Another plan had already begun to form inside his mind. She’d refused to work with him, and he’d find another way to get what he wanted.
She followed him to the door. He turned, cupping her cheek against his palm. “You’ll be mine soon.”
Before she got chance to speak, he walked back to the car. The taxi driver was waiting for him. He climbed in the back seat waiting for him to drive to the club. While they were on the road, he pulled out his cell phone and dialled Cadeon’s number.
Cadeon answered on the fifth ring.
“What’s the matter?” Cadeon asked as a way of greeting.
“I want you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“I want you to fire Prudence Star on Monday.”
Chapter Eight
The weekend couldn’t end fast enough for Prue. Her dreams over the last three nights had been filled with James and the last words he’d spoken before he left.
“You’ll be mine soon.”
Those few words were enough to send her heart-rate sky rocketing. She’d never been spoken to with so much possession before. Unfortunately, because of her dreams, she’d woken up late and was currently running toward the Ashwood building in the pouring rain and was soaking wet.
The moment she walked through the doors, she wrung her hair out then made her way to the elevator. Prue saw her reflection in the steel and groaned. She looked a mess. Opening her bag, she pulled out a hair brush and tried her best to make herself look presentable. Her skirt felt incredibly tight around her stomach, and her bra was digging into her shoulders and br**sts.
The doors opened, and she walked over to her desk. Anya and Becky were waiting for her.
“Mr. Ashwood has demanded your presence in his office immediately, Prue. What have you done?” Anya asked.
She frowned. Prue had never met the owner of the building where she worked. There was no reason for her to be meeting him.
“I have no idea. I better go even though I do look like a lost cause.”
She ran her fingers through her wet hair then went back to the elevator for it to take her up to the top floor.
Prue walked across the office floor towards his office. Her heart was pounding. Cadeon Ashwood’s personal assistant asked her to wait. She took the time to gaze out of the window down to where people were getting wet from the rain.
Her thoughts drifted to James and his unexpected visit on Friday. She also recalled the swelling in his pants. His arousal had been hard to mistake. She crossed her legs on the spot trying to stem her own desire. Her needs when it came to James were getting harder and harder to ignore.
“Miss Star? Mr. Ashwood will see you now.”
Prue followed the woman. Cadeon was seated behind his desk. She recognised him from the photographs taken over the past year.
“Miss Star, thank you for seeing me.”
She nodded her head, taking a seat in front of him. Her hands were shaking as she looked at him. He was a handsome man. Not as handsome as James, but he could rival most men in the looks department.