Page 6 of Trigger's Temptation

I raise an eyebrow. “Do you even know what digitalized means?” I joke.

He flips me off and sprawls onto my couch, sinking into the expensive leather with a groan. “This couch is the best thing to ever hug my ass.”

I shake my head. “What the fuck am I gonna do with you?”

Tiny shrugs his shoulders, “Don’t know, don’t give a fuck. All I know is I’m going to take a nap on this couch. Wake me up when you’re ready to go.” Tiny yawns, his hand absently stroking Peanut’s back, slowly petting her until he falls asleep with his mouth wide open, snoring like a freight train.

I push back from my desk, straighten my cut, and leave my office, quietly closing the door behind me. Now that the tedious part of employment is out of the way, the fun begins. My security team should have each new employee in a room alone, waiting for me to screen them.

Cracking my neck, I stride down the hall, ready for the interrogations.

I open the first door and freeze. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Chapter 4

AERIANNA

This has got to be the weirdest job training I have ever had. When I went in through the employee entrance, a big bald man was waiting for me. Without a word, he led me through a maze of corridors, twisting and turning until I completely lost my sense of direction. We finally stopped in a stark white room.

He told me to sit at the desk and not move. I complied, my senses working in overdrive. I sat down and a few minutes later, he came back with a change of clothes, told me to put them on and don’t fuck around.

His tone left no room for argument, so I quickly stripped out of my leggings and t-shirt and slipped into the provided outfit. A pair of black dress pants, a crisp white long-sleeved shirt, and a purple-and-green vest. After I pulled my hair up in a ponytail, I sat down and slipped on the black shoes. Everything fit like it was tailored just for me, but I don’t know how. I haven’t given anyone my measurements.

Before I could dwell on it, another man entered. He didn’t introduce himself, just dropped a thick booklet and a pen onto the desk with a loud slap. He told me to fill it out and yet again, don’t fuck around.

I opened the booklet that was more like a damn novel and began filling it out. It asked everything from where I was born and who my parents are, right down to when I have my menstrual cycle. I skipped half the questions not giving a shit if they want them. They don’t need to know half this crap to get a job.

Closing the ridiculous questionnaire, I set the pen on top. I was half-tempted to draw a middle finger on the cover, but I resisted. Patience have never been my strong suit and I’m struggling to not walk out the door and tell them to fuck off.

The door suddenly swings open, and standing in front of me is the man I can’t stop thinking about. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

His piercing blue eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, I’m speechless. I let my gaze travel from his boots to his head, halting when our eyes meet again, a look of disgust crossing his features.

My hackles rise, and I narrow my eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, sitting back in my chair and crossing my arms over my chest.

“I should be asking you the same thing.” Trigger growls, agitation rolling off him in waves like he’s pissed because I’m here. His eyes roam down to my chest and then back up again. He crosses his arms over his chest, mimicking my posture. The veins along his forearms stand out, a clear reminder of his strength. It’s impossible not to look. Strong arms are my kryptonite. “But I already know the answer and it’s fuck no.”

I drag my gaze back up to this sexy but frustrating man’s eyes. “Wait, you can’t tell me no.” I protest, my voice rising with a mix of disbelief and frustration.

“The fuck? I can tell anyone who I want, no. And that includes you,” he snaps, a scowl forming on his face. Thescrunch of his nose is either disgust with the idea of me working here or with me personally. Either way, it stings.

“Please, I need this job.” I stand up, practically begging him. “I’ll do anything you want. Just give me a chance. If I fuck up, then fire me. But don’t hold our past against me.” The words hit hard, and I feel a lump in my throat. I straighten my spine, fighting back the tears.

For a moment, his angry demeanor shifts, the scowl softening before it hardens again on his handsome, rugged face. Aeri, stop thinking like this! “Fine. But if you mess up once, your ass is out faster than you ran me over a few weeks ago.”

“Thank you!” I jump and hug Trigger. Pulling away quickly, I wipe the smile off my face and pray he doesn’t can my ass now. I need this job, and not just for the money.

Trigger turns on his heels and walks out the door. “Hurry up. You’re late. Your shift started twenty minutes ago.” Trigger throws over his shoulder.

I scramble to gather my things and follow him down the clean corridor. There isn’t even a scuff mark on the tiles. We walk, well, Trigger’s long legs walk, while my shorter ones hurry to catch up until another man approaches us.

He has on a Royal Bastards MC cut, and his patch reads Tiny. He has a yellow carrying case that looks small in his big, meaty hands. He nods at Trigger before his gaze sweeps over me, sizing me up. I feel his scrutiny like a weight. He appraises me from the tip of my black uniform shoes to the sleek ponytail on top of my head. Trigger growls low in his throat and Tiny chuckles. One of the first security guards that I met approach us with caution. That gets my attention quickly.

“Take her to the training floor. Have her learn Blackjack from Annabeth.” Trigger orders, flipping open a folder I didn’t notice he was holding. He scans it like he has no clue who I am. “Once Miss Faber gets the hang of it, bring her to the gaming floor.”

“Yes, sir.” The security guard practically salutes Trigger, and I try to hold back my eye roll. Tiny chuckles while Trigger growls again from deep in his throat, and it sets my body on fire. Oops. Maybe I didn’t do as good of a job as I thought.

Jesus,that was brutal. I’ve been playing Blackjack for over four hours, and now Annabeth is taking me to the gaming floor. I left my backpack, which has my clothes, keys, and wallet in a locker in the women’s bathroom next to the employee entrance. If I need to leave quickly, I won’t lose my stuff. My eyes search the robust design, looking for Trigger.

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