Page 284 of Sins & Secrets

“I suppose I could leave you uncomfortable then?” It’s not quite a tease or a threat, but some combination of the two.

My response is firm. “Don’t tempt me to punish that mouth of yours before we’ve had dinner.” She swallows, the threat coming through as it should. To remind her that she loves whatI do to her, that right now the office is behind us and we’re to get lost in each other.

Her posture remains stiff, though, and her gaze guarded.

In an attempt at a truce, I rest my hand on hers, and she reciprocates by turning her small hand to hold mine. “Thank you,” I murmur and then run my thumb along her soft skin.

“Please, answer me one thing,” she presses and I close my eyes to respond with a short nod.

“What are you going to do with it?”

“With what?”

“The company?”

I remain silent. As if it were so simple to have a one-sentence answer, or to even know what would be best so early on.

“A split-up? Go public for shares? I looked into the other companies under your LLC, so I doubt you have a merger in mind.”

When I finally open my eyes and look back at her, fear lingers in every nuance.

I debate on confiding in her, knowing how quick office rumors are to spread and the chaos that little bits of information can create. But then she utters a single word, staring back at me like I could make every little worry she has vanish. “Please.”

“The plan is a split-up and the merger of the new entity and another company I have in mind … if possible.”

She doesn’t hesitate to question, “And what about the other? The original entity? The departments that aren’t useful for the merger?”

I’m silent, half wondering if she’s playing me. If all of this was a setup and she’s pumping me for information. “There are inefficiencies that cannot be overlooked.”

“Where does my department?—”

My tone is harsher than I’d like as I interrupt her. “Not everything has been decided.” Gentling it, I add, “You don’t need to worry.”

“As your lover or as your employee?”

“When I tell you that you don’t need to worry, I need you to believe it. I need you to trust me.”

She’s silent, and every second that passes feels as if another weight has been added to my chest. It’s obvious I haven’t eased her concerns in the least. She wants a definitive answer and I can’t give her one. I can’t say anything with certainty.

“No more. It’s after six and I promise, I will make time for you at work. As your boss. Right now I only want to be your lover, as you put it.”

It seems for a moment that she’ll say something; her lips part and she inhales, but then her gaze falls and she merely nods. Not looking back at me.

“Thank you for respecting the boundary.”

“I don’t like it,” she whispers, at first looking out the window but then she meets my gaze.

“You look gorgeous squirming, though.” I pick up her hand and kiss the back of it, our fingers laced together. “It would please me if you wouldn’t worry.”

In a breath she laughs, as if it’s the most ridiculous thing she’s heard. “Is that all you need, for me to just not worry?”

Softly, I repeat the reassurance, “You will be all right.”

She’s quick to tell me, “It’s not just me.” She shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I’m done. I’m done for right now. I won’t bring it up again.”

“I want you to confide in me, I do. I wish I had the answers for you, but I don’t.”

“When you do, will you tell me?” There’s hesitancy in her tone, but also hope.

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