Page 9 of Restrained

“I assume you’ve had a chance to look over the contract.” My eyes don’t leave Penelope’s as I study her, her lips pursed together as she looks around my office with quiet curiosity.

“We have, and we accept your terms,” Lola answers, snapping my attention to her. Her posture is so perfect I wonder if it hurts to remain that stiff.

“Good.” I turn back to Penelope. “And I expect you both on this project.”

I can feel Lola bristle, but my eyes stay on Penelope who turns nervously to Lola with a tentative laugh. “Actually,” Her eyes meet mine, and I take the opportunity to search them for any hint as to what kind of person she is. Lola was easy to read. The typical spoiled princess type I know well, who doesn’t follow anyone else’s rules because she’s not used to having them laid out for her. “You will have mostly Lola on this one. She’s far more experienced, and that will allow me to focus on our other clients while she gives you her full attention.”

My eyes flick to Lola who doesn’t look thrilled but keeps her chin up.

This isn’t what I wanted.

My teeth clench as I grow more and more frustrated with her defiance. “That’s not what we agreed on.”

“Mr. West, I assure you Lola is more than competent. She’s the one you want.”

I turn to Penelope.No, she’s not.“Ms. Jones, I hired your company as a whole. I expected you both on this.”

“Look, if this is some sort of weird dating thing, a way for you to meet women, you should know Penelope is very happily involved with my brother and not interested.” My chest fills with an irritate breath as I turn back to Lola, who’s looking me dead in the eye. “And I'm just plain not interested.”

My back is straight as I glare into her eyes, rimmed with long black lashes. “The feeling, Lola, is, without a doubt, mutual.” I fight leaning closer to her, thankful for the desk between us. “Believe me, I don’t have to work hard to get laid. I definitely don’t need an elaborate scheme to find women.”

“Okay,” Penelope tries to play mediator. “We believe you. The fact is, to keep our business afloat, we’ll need to split the work. I’ll be there as often as I can, but I have to fill in the gaps left by Lola working on your massive project.”

I hate losing control of the situation. I’m not used to people telling me what to do, at least not anymore.

I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm. I should have known this wouldn’t be easy. My gaze flickers to Penelope. “Fine.”

She nods her head at me and then to Lola, encouraging her to sign the contract she’s still clinging to. I watch as Lola inhales deeply and places the contract on the desk. “Do you have a pen?”

“Do you want to involve lawyers?”

She shakes her head. “I had a lawyer look over it last night.” That was quick, but not surprising. “Everything seems to be in order.”

I hand her a pen and she signs, handing it to Penelope, who does the same. I stand, and they both follow suit. “I’ll have my assistant contact you with the details to get you started, but I’ll be overseeing this every step of the way.”

“Of course you will.” Lola’s cold eyes show a hint of fire.

I walk them both to the door, eager to get them out of my house to figure out where to go from here. I didn’t anticipate them not working together on this.

Lola Sterling will no doubt make everything more difficult.

5

LOLA

“See, total fucking asshole.” I climb behind the wheel and close my car door as Penelope laughs, buckling up.

“Yeah. He definitely is. He got under your skin for sure.”

“Did you see the way he looked at you? He was obsessed. I think we just signed a contract with your fucking stalker.”

I start the car and back out of the drive of Hayden West’s massive—and I mean fucking insanely huge—home. The house is a Tuscan style home with pillars and grand arches. He clearly has money, a large amount of it.

I hate that I had to accept his contract. I hate that his house is as gorgeous and stunning as he is. I despise the way his navy suit clung to his body as he couldn’t take his eyes off Penelope.

He was fuming when he heard Penelope wouldn’t be working with me on this project. It’s yet another red flag. I don’t trust him.

There’s more to this story, and I can’t fight the feeling of danger in my gut.

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