Page 63 of The More the Merrier

“Please sit,” Blaze spoke without looking up, shuffling papers on his desk. “Aha, there it is.” He pulled something out from the stack before giving her his full attention. “What’s wrong?” he asked immediately, leaning forward in his chair.

“What makes you think there’s something wrong?” Claire robotically answered, her smile, grimace more like it, still in place. Then she remembered she’d forgotten the letter. “Sorry, one moment.” She put her mug down and raced out of the office and back, handing Blaze the envelope without a word spoken.

His one eyebrow rose as he took it from her hand and opened it. To his credit, his facial expression never changed as he read it. But when his eyes found hers, they were burning pools of ice, hence his name, Blaze. His momma sure got that one right, Claire affirmed.

“I don’t accept.”

She was shocked, her mouth falling open in a perfect “O”.

“Huh? What do you mean you don’t accept? You have to!” Claire heard the panic in her last words.

Blaze’s eyes hardened. “You know, I have three younger sisters who were always trying to get away with crap. You’re aware I think of you as a younger sister, and I know your mother’s death has taken its toll on you. But I will not accept this bullshit from you, Claire. You know me better than that. And you know exactly what I am.”

He was right, Claire knew exactly what he was. A Dom, and not just any Dom, but a Daddy Dom. Potentially hooking up with Doms had been a strong qualifier for her regarding the company was its kink-friendly environment. She’d imagined chains and whips in the break room when she applied for the job. When her first day ended with a tour of the entire facility, she was disappointed and told that, in order to see those types of things, she would have to become a member of a local club or visit headquarters in Colorado Springs.

Being way too timid, she had forgotten her interest and focused on the task at hand, moving up the ladder, always pushing for promotional positions that came with a pay increase and bonus structure. Her mother’s medical bills had them in a perpetual poor condition. When she received an invitation to interview for the position as his personal assistant, she’d jumped on it.

Blaze had pulled from her what was going on with her mother and her quickly accumulating medical bills. A week later, she received a call from her insurance company informing her that previously denied claims were being accepted and a benefactor paid her outstanding bill in full. She also received a personal email from Mr. MacLeod that her application for employment as his personal assistant had been accepted. That day was the best she’d had in forever and proved to be a turning point in her life.

“Claire, do you need me to remind you what I do with women who are dishonest?”

The threat hung between them, reminding Claire of that one time she’d almost ended up over his knee. Although not sanctioned behavior, if you were working for the top dogs at IB, then you were prepared for their unusual work ethics. Spanking within Blaze’s office wasn’t unheard of.

Even the threat of being spanked by him set off tears. “I’m sorry,” she cried. “You are the best boss ever. You really are. But I just need to leave, not here, not you, just the state, but this is where your branch of the company is, and well, I need to go. Please understand.”

His gaze softened. “How about a transfer to Colorado? It’s almost on the entire opposite side of America, and far enough away from your past, Claire?”

She knew what he was asking. Was it far enough to outrun her deadbeat father, the death of her mother, and… him? She didn’t want to think abouthim. “I believe it is, Sir, thank you for asking.”

“Go drink your coffee in peace, and I’ll get back to you.”

That was his version of ordering her out of the room. Claire stood to leave, but before she made it out the door, Blaze added. “Don’t do that again, young lady, or next time I won’t ask, I’ll do.”

Claire felt the flush stain her cheeks as she quickly exited Blaze’s office. Grabbing a fresh coffee, as her other had gone cold, she made her way to her office and closed the door.

She replayed Blaze’s threat and knew it came from a place of love, brotherly love. But how she dreamed of hearing those same words from a man sexually attracted to her, and vice versa. One could accuse her of having Daddy issues, but Claire had always wanted a larger-than-life man who could care for her and punish her in equal measures. Call her on her shit and put things right in her world. She’d loved her mother dearly, despite her many flaws, but her mom had been more of a needy friend than a mother to Claire. She felt like she missed out on most of her childhood and the usual teen angst, and she blamed that lack of experience for what happened to her because she’d been wholly unprepared for the intensity that came with adulting and dating.

In her ignorance, she assumed that finding Mr. Perfect, or Mr. Perfects, would be easy if she shared what she was looking for. Claire’s vision of the perfect family had her at its center with two amazing men who filled in all the blanks she’d missed her entire life. Even she knew enough to realize that her list was way beyond the ability of one man.

She had desperately wanted to work for MBC’s satellite location, hoping to find Mr. Rights, but that had bombed. Still, she had been super lucky to climb to the pay grade she had and be able to take care of her mother properly. Really, the last ten months of her tenure at MBC had been the best thing that ever happened to her.

Chapter 3

Gregor

Shaking his head at the sound of Atticus’ laughter, Gregor decided he’d burn off some of his annoyance on the slopes with some skiing. Before he could make his escape, however, the phone rang. Gregor grumbled under his breath as he dropped back into his chair.

“Gregor here!” he practically shouted.

“Whoa, I see I caught you at a bad time.”

“Blaze?”

“The one and only,” his friend said, chuckling into the phone.

“Sorry. Today has been a series of unfortunate events, beginning with cutting myself with my shaver. I’m not fit for human company at the moment. But enough about me. What can I do for you?”

“I’m wondering if you have any openings in Colorado?”

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