Page 66 of Very Special Forces

"Oh?" Iglanced up and gave him a friendly smile. "You've never had thatbefore?"

"I'vedated, of course, and met a lot of women but never the right one.Too many career women don't understand the importance of family orsacrifice or making time for the most special person in yourlife."

"That'swhy I'm not a lawyer," I said. "I couldn't imagine working hourslike that. You must come across plenty of women who appreciate yourperspective."

"A few,"he said, not taking the bait. Instead he rocked back in his chairand reached for a stress ball that he tossed from one hand to theother. "Just fill in your details and hand it to Natalie on yourway out. I'll add my own recommendation too."

"That'sreally kind of you." Bryce might be a sexist ass but at least heseemed genuine about helping me get a job, not that I planned ontaking him up.

"Howbadly do you want this job?" he asked. "We get a lot ofapplications since it's a great firm to work for."

"Badly,"I lied. "The money will really help out."

"Whatwill you do to outshine the rest?"

I filledin my name and paused. "I have a college degree and a lot ofexperience and..."

"What will you dofor me?"asked Bryce. He dropped the stress ball and stoodup before skirting the desk, and coming to a stop in front of me,barely inches away. He reached for my chin, turning my face to lookup at him.

"Um,I..." I frowned.

Brycepopped the button on his pants and reached for his fly. "If you'revery good, I can give you an excellent recommendation," he saidsoftly. "Are you going to be a good girl?"

Iblinked twice, utterly stunned, then recovered enough to scoot backmy chair, the legs making a soft scraping sound on the carpet. "No,I don't think so," I said, my voice strong and defiant as I rosesteadily.

Brycegrabbed me by the waist as I stood up. "Don't play coy, Lexi. Iknow chicks like you. You pretend to be so chaste and sweet and thenext minute, you're on your knees begging for it. I saw the way youlooked at me in the bar."

"I thinkyou're very much mistaken," I gasped, appalled. I stepped out ofhis grasp but with the chair pressed into the backs of my knees,there wasn't anywhere to go.

"I likewomen who play hard to get but I don't have all day. If you wantthis job, you know what you need to do."

"Yes, Ido," I said, more than angry now.

Bryce'smouth curled into an unpleasant smile and he reached for me again,wrapping one hand around my waist. "You be nice to me and I'll bevery nice to you," he said. "No one else needs to know about it andif you're very good, who knows? Maybe you can keep up the good workafter hours." He winked.

"No,thank you," I said smartly. "There is no job in this world I wantthat much."

Bryce'ssmile dropped and he grabbed me with his other hand, tugging metowards him as he bent his head. I raised my knee swiftly, andsharply kneed him in the balls. I knew I connected the moment hisface crumpled. "You little bitch," he groaned as he dropped to hisknees. "You can forget the job."

"You canshove the job," I told him as I stepped over him and reached forthe door handle.

"Tellanyone and I'll make your life hell, you crazy bitch," hegroaned.

"I'dlike to see you try," I spat as I tugged the door open and dartedout. I ran for the exit, stumbling through the corridors beforeBryce could chase after me. I didn't stop running until I was inthe elevator, frantically punching the door close button. Insidethe car, I slumped against the wall, shocked and disgusted, mybreathing hard. The moment the doors opened, I ran out of thebuilding, knowing I would never return.

Chapter Sixteen

Themusic was thumping, the lights were flashing and the air was hotand still. I couldn't remember the last time we danced like this,or on a table, or had drinks quite as potent as the ones in ourhands. "I love this song," I yelled.

Lilyswayed, her hands rising high above her head as she made a "What?"face at me.

"Thissong! I love it!" I yelled. Then I gesticulated wildly and swayedharder, my whole body reacting to the rhythm. Lily smiled and gaveme the thumbs-up.

I sippedmy cocktail, something raspberry red, and the glass rim was frostedwith sugar. Delicious. Lily was right. After my afternoon with thesex pest, Bryce, I needed a wild night to forget about it. Thetrack finished and another started, the bassline just as thumpingas the last one. Lily's head bobbed along to the music and we bothswayed and drank, glad to be alive and unmolested.

Then Iwas falling backwards in a moment of déjà vu, except instead oflanding in a dumpster, strong arms were wrapped around my waist.No, not falling. Someone was lifting me and as I looked up withinebriated eyes, I smiled.

"I loveyou," I yelled as the room began to spin.

---