Page 15 of Boss

“Forgot what Kassidy?”

“Tarek asked me if I worked for his brother. You think they are fighting for control since his father is sick?”

“Could be—”

There was a knock to her door. Kassidy looked up.

“Something wrong Kassidy?”

“No, probably the mailman, I’ll call you later this afternoon.”

“Okay,” Daniel said and signed off. Kassidy set the bowl of cereal down. She punched the keys on her laptop to reveal her security camera video feed. Standing on her step was Tarek Marshall. He looked directly at the camera.

“Shit! Shit!” Flustered and charged with excitement she slammed the laptop lid down and went straight to the door. She opened it. Tarek looked at her. His gaze swept down and Kassidy remembered her half state of dress.

“What are you doing here?”

“May I come in?”

She nodded and stepped back. He walked into her townhome. It was listed under Angela Brown and leased to her by one of Daniels cloaked companies. She wore a silk scarf with an Africana pattern and she tied it to the front of her head in a roped center bun. She pulled it off. Her short hair was wavy and flat to her head. Her curves exposed. But after the intimacy they shared she could be naked and feel even less shyness.

He glanced to her cereal bowl and laptop. And then he walked around her place. His visual perusal of her personal things felt intrusive.

“How did you find me?”

“You applied for a job with my company,” he said and picked up a Vegas snow globe that if shook rained glitter.

“You said... you offered...”

“Angela Brown.” He stopped and faced her. “Born in Minneapolis on January 13, 1988, which makes you twenty-eight,” He pointed a finger at her. “I still think you’re younger.” He set the snow globe down. “You attended Roosevelt high school and graduated the top of your class. Got into Brown University, and again graduated with honors. You filed a restraining order a year ago against a boyfriend who turned stalker a year ago. He broke it and went to jail. You worked at...”

“Did you come here to tell me everything on my resume?”

“I came to tell you that you’re hired. You work for me now.”

Kassidy blinked in surprise. Tarek approached. His gaze was fixed on the delta between her thighs and the camel toe line she couldn’t conceal with her tight fitted boy shorts.

“I’m hired?” she asked.

His gaze swiveled up. “Don’t look so stricken Angela. This is what you wanted.” Something in his voice sent a prickle of unease through her.

“I didn’t expect to receive the news this way. I mean, what is my compensation, benefit plan. Hell, when is my first day?”

He moistened his lips. Again he glanced at her cereal bowl and laptop. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“Ah, no, I was just... on the internet, and breakfast.”

He smiled. “I’d like some.”

“Breakfast?” she asked.

He touched her hand. He gave a gentle tug and she stepped forward. He raised her arm above her head and made her turn for him. She did so but something about the way he made her display herself felt insulting. Out of reflex she pulled her arm down and yanked her hand away.

“Is cereal all that’s on the menu?”

“So that’s why you hired me? Sex?”

He smiled.

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