Page 4 of Dangerous Pursuit

“You’re eager to learn, huh? Well, here’s your first lesson. Knock and wait until I answer before you step into my office. And don’t thank me. Thank my parents. You wouldn’t be here if it were up to me, little girl. Now… Mia, is it?” She nods in stunned silence. “Get out and shut the door behind you.”

Her jaw drops. Usually, I’d take that open mouth as an invitation. Unfortunately, she’s off the table unless I want to be in cuffs.

Finally coming out of her stupor, she swivels and tries to walk out calmly with all the dignity she can muster. She gets props for keeping it together… she might be more of a challenge than I thought. Still, I give her a week—tops.

On the other hand, I could certainly get used to the view she gives me on the way out. That’s the finest ass I’ve seen in a while, plump and perfect on her slim little frame. I could do some damage to that body of hers, that’s for sure.

Fuuuuck. What am I thinking? I cannot possibly be attracted to a girl her age.

This week is going to be long as fuck.

My door opens once again, and Cindy comes barreling toward my desk. “What did you say to her? She was white as a ghost when she came out.”

“Only the truth. She wouldn’t be here if my parents hadn’t insisted. She’s seventeen, Cindy. There’s no way she’s qualified to fill your shoes.”

“You don’t know that. I can already tell she has a good head on her shoulders. You were young once, remember? Did you like being treated like a child? At least give her a chance, Jackson. You’ve scared the crap out of her, and I won’t always be here to run interference.”

Cindy is the only reason my head stays above water. She’s been my right hand ever since I started full-time after college. She deals with my excessive demands and doesn’t complain about my blunt communication skills. She also puts up with random office visits from my flavors of the month. I would have paid her not to have kids had I known I’d be without her for so long. She asked to be home with the baby for the firstsix months, and it wasn’t difficult to acquiesce rather than risk losing her for good.

“Look, she won’t last the week. Don’t worry. We’ll find someone else for you to train before it’s too late. Just indulge her for now, but don’t waste much effort.”

“We’ll see about that. She might surprise you, you know. In the meantime, be nicer. She’s darling, and I think she’ll work out great if you let her.” Cindy always sees the good in people, that’s for sure.

“I’ll leave her alone for the rest of the day. Satisfied?”

“It’ll do for now.” She leaves, closing the door behind her.

Damn, that woman is relentless sometimes. It sounds like she’s already got a soft spot for the girl. That didn’t take long.

It puts a damper on my plan, but I’ll figure something out. That girl cannot walk around here for the next eight months, that’s for sure. She’s way too fucking tempting. Although, I wonder if she enjoys an occasional hookup.

For Christ’s sake, what am I thinking? She might not even havehooked upyet. Nah, no way. Kids are doing it early these days. Fuck, I’m going down a rabbit hole.

On that note, I grab my phone to respond to Jessica, last weekend’s conquest. She texted me this morning that she’d love to stop by and say hi. The eggplant emoji was all I needed to know her intention. She couldn’t have picked a better day. Satisfied that she’s on her way, I distract myself with work while impatiently waiting.

It’s not long before the phone intercom beeps. “There’s a Jessica here to see you, sir.”

Damn Cindy for having Mia make the announcement. She’s the last thing I need on my mind right now.

“Send her in,” I reply curtly before a soft “Yes, sir” sounds in reply.

Fuck. Me.

It’s hard and over quickly, just the way I needed it, and judging from her eagerness, she did too.

Alone once more, I drop my head into my hands, feeling no better than I did fifteen minutes ago. I cannot believe I just fucked a woman while imagining she was my new, hot little assistant. What the hell is wrong with me? Mia is a child—I should not be fantasizing about her. Women have always been a weakness, but this is a new low. I need to get out of here, stat.

After hitting the gym for a couple of hours, I call it a day because there’s no convincing myself to return to the office. Having already texted Eli and Braden, I head to the bar where we meet when it’s too early for the club scene.

There’s no traffic this afternoon, so getting there takes minutes. I spot them immediately and make my way over, feeling the tension I’ve been holding begin to release.

“Hey, guys. Thanks for meeting so early. I needed out of the office.” I run my hand down my face and blow the air from my lungs, grateful to see a beer waiting for me.

“She’s that bad, huh?” Braden knows why I’m on edge, having heard about it over the weekend.

“She’s that hot is more like it. I wasn’t expecting her to be total eye candy. I can’t have her running around there, tempting me with those fucking curves. Especially not when she’s a minor, for fuck’s sake.” I won’t be able to handle it.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up. You’re lusting over a kid?” This from Eli, who’s not been clued in.

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