Page 167 of Savage Bosses

With great timing, Madison entered the office.

For a second, my mind blanked as I took in her attire. She wore a skirt suit that would be modest on anyone else. On Madison, she might as well have put on a sign that dared every heterosexual man, lesbian, and bi-curious person to touch, lick, and fuck her until her carefully slicked bun became a sultry mess and her lips doubled in size.

“Morning, Mr. Luxe… Elsie.” She strode toward her desk.

I sat rooted in my chair. It was the most control I could exert over myself because if I unclenched for a second, I’d forcefully drag her home to change her clothes; to something baggy and shapeless. Who was I kidding? Even a nun’s habit on her would tempt a eunuch.

Instead of acknowledging Madison by word or gesture as Elsie did, I said, “To answer your question, I thought we should discuss how close we want this act to look to outsiders. Specifically, if you want to move into my penthouse with me.”

From the corner of my eye, I spied Madison as she missed a step once I finished my offer. She took a deep breath and firmed her posture before setting her briefcase on the desk.

“There are three bedrooms, so you don’t need to feel pressured into anything.” Despite addressing Elsie, my gaze locked onto every move Madison made. “I work long hours, so unless we’re attending an event, you won’t see me most nights.”

“You’re moving in together?” Madison’s lips pressed into a thin line, inspiring an urge inside me to free them for my personal abuse.

I was going to have to do something with this inexplicable need that arose inside me whenever I thought about Madison or was near her. Only one woman had ever driven me to obsession, and that had been after being around her for years. In less than forty-eight hours, Madison had lulled my senses, and I needed to wake the fuck up.

“Do you think we should?” Elsie asked.

Madison’s throat worked overtime, as if suppressing the words she wanted to say. I sat in suspense, eager to hear her comeback.

“Like everything you do from now on, there are pros and cons to your actions. Living together will undoubtedly give Mr. Luxe positive press. They’d say, how can he be a suspect when Elsie believes in him enough to sleep with him every night? But should things fall apart, all that good press will turn violently against the both of you.”

Disappointment filled me as Madison logically broke down what Elsie and I would face. Where was the jealous reaction, the desire to one-up Elsie? My words should have incited a stronger response. She wasn’t behaving like a woman with an agenda, and I began to question if I’d misjudged her.

“Kent.” Elsie rested her hand on my arm. “Based on everything Madison said, can we wait before deciding things now? First, let’s see how the press responds.”

A surprising sense of relief drained the tension from my body. Suddenly, the idea of Elsie living and breathing in my home with her things cluttering in my space lost its appeal. More disturbing was the sense of loss when a brief flash of Madison on my couch wearing my pajama top popped into my head.

“Sure,” I said, more confused than when I began this charade. “Let me walk you out. I’ll have Omar take you home, or, if you’ve the urge to buy something, he’ll get you something nice.”

When we neared Omar’s desk, I handed him my black card and asked him to see to Elsie’s needs. The brief absence allowed me to breathe and reorganize my thoughts and remove the tempting image of Madison in my home.

As I stalled, Carol strolled onto the floor. Seeing her brought a lot of my frustration to the forefront. She was responsible for my first of many blow ups at Madison yesterday. While I observed her, she glanced in my direction more times than was warranted. I couldn’t deny that Carol was a beautiful woman, blonde, tall, and lithe. Six months ago, she would’ve ticked every one of my boxes, but I would have refrained since she worked for me.

Her presence on my floor was unusual. Now that I had time to observe her, doubts about her involvement with Madison arose. I rarely question my managers’ hiring decisions, but I couldn’t ignore the suspicion about Carol’s credentials riding my back. I crooked my finger, beckoning her over.

A flirtatious smile curled her lips, and she swished her hips as she approached. “Hi Kent. I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to check on our new hire, but the desk I designated for her seems to have disappeared.” When she stood before me, Carol’s expression shifted to one of concern. “I’m worried she’s not taking her role here seriously.”

“Deke seems to have a lot of faith in your work. However, when it comes to Madison’s role and performance, that’s not something Deke can relegate to an HR manager. If she presents to be a problem, I’ll have Deke handle it personally.”

“Oh, of course.” The corners of Carol’s mouth tightened. “I won’t overstep again.”

“And one more thing, Carol.” I infused cold steel into my voice. “When my meeting requests supersede any curiosity you have. Don’t let it happen again because Deke won’t be able to cover for you next time.”

“Yes, sir,” she gritted.

Gone from her demeanor was the air of conspiratorial camaraderie and flirtation.Good.I had enough problems with my current PR crisis, criminal investigation, and the woman in my office. The brief respite from her presence did nothing to clear the fog of confusion from my head, but I had an international organization to run.

As soon as I reentered my office, my hackles rose. Madison stepped out of the bathroom. Her glossy eyes widened in shock before she averted her gaze. Her lips were fuller than before when I walked Else out; as if she’d been nibbling on them. Perhaps biting them to hold back sounds? Not that she would have had to. Thanks to soundproofing in my office and bathroom, sounds never escaped.

Suspicions whispered in my ear, but I discounted them. There was no way she would use my bathroom forthat. I narrowed my eyes at her to pick up more clues.

Her body showed no signs of lassitude, so she hadn’t released her tension. If anything, she was more tense than when I’d left her. Under my intense stare, she brought her hand up to cover her necklace.

The protective gesture rubbed me the wrong way. Was it a gift from another man? Was that why she slapped me yesterday? Because I’d trespassed on someone else’s playing field? With a viciousness I reserved for my business rivals, I crushed my curiosity into dust. I had no business wondering or getting upset about who gave Madison gifts. Not when her presence was a constant reminder of how I’d failed Lola.

Madison straightened and a determined gleam entered her eyes. “We should prep for your appearance at tomorrow night’s event. I have a list of media and political people you need on your side.”

---