Page 22 of Promise of Destruction
It’s not enough to kill her and be done with it. The article she ran has already hit its mark.
I’ve gotten a dozen calls from Daphne, each one which I ignored. If I want to clear my reputation in the public arena, I have to eviscerate her so completely that she’s willing to say or do anything I demand of her, the least of which will be writing a retraction.
“Staff meeting in the conference room in three minutes.” I announce, looking over the pit. “Bring your most recent piece that’s gone live and don’t be late. If you’ve got a meeting, push it. If you’re on a call, hang up.”
I turn back to my own desk to gather my notes as the office by and large scurries into action. I’ve just tucked the papers under my arm when I catch sight of Soren, standing there with her forearms braced against the desk. The way she leans forward offers me a tantalizing view of her cleavage, and I realize I was right about the black lace bra.
Predictable, but classy.
Safe.
Boring.
I let my eyes fall to what I can see of her waist, wondering if her panties are part of a matching set. She looks like the type who would go for that sort of thing.
“Miss Palmer.” I acknowledge her, giving her what she clearly wants. “Is something wrong?”
She debates that a long moment before even opening her mouth to try and answer me. “Yes.” She says with all the ferocity of a little kitten. “Let’s cut the shit.”
“Excuse me?” I glance at my watch.
Two minutes until I’m late to my own meeting.
“I saidlet’s cut the shit. I ran that article about you yesterday and then you run into me at my bar? You show up outside my house and watch me in the bathtub? You buy my fuckingjob?”
I let her lament her accusations and glance over my shoulder to see that the office has cleared out. Every last person out there has taken me seriously, and now they’re waiting for me in the conference room on the other side of the office. Which leaves me completely, blissfully alone with her.
“Anything else?” I prompt. “While I have you here?”
The question takes her by surprise, and she stiffens as I step closer to her so that only her desk separates us.
Up close, I can see the spark of fear in her eyes as I don’t deny any of what she’s trying to pin on me. Despite that fear, though,she doesn’t move, her eyes on my face like she expects me to make a sudden move.
In the silence, I swear I hear her heart skip a beat and then work double-time to try and catch up.
“No,” she says, the word small and considerably weaker than the rest of her claims.
“Good.”
It’s hard to imagine that fluorescent lights are flattering on anyone, but something about the way it makes the shadows fall across her face is enticing. I reach out a hand and drag my finger over the apple of her cheek, watching it bloom red in my wake as I trace a path to her lips.
She doesn’t have much room behind her desk—she’s already backed against the wall, literally and metaphorically speaking.
“Let’s get something straight, Miss Palmer. First of all, you will address me assir. Disrespect will not be tolerated.” I push my finger past her lips, which part all too easily for me. I have to conceal a groan as I try to push away the thoughts of how well she’ll take my cock when I finally give it to her. “Is that understood?”
Soren says nothing, but her chest heaves up and down, her cheeks scarlet. Her fury radiates off of her in a delicious wave of heat that I want to bask in, but she clamps her jaw and tears out from my touch so that my hand falls away.
“I asked if you understood?”
She’s rigid with anger, resembling a live wire, but she manages to grind out a simple ‘yes’ through her gritted teeth.
I shake my head, tsking in disapproval. It’s hard to deny the smirk, but I think I manage it as I say, “Yes,what?”
Fuck, she may be easier to break than I thought.
I’m pretty sure I’m single-handedly driving her to consider murder, and it’s a glorious intoxication. Her face is as scarlet as the hair of the red head who sucked me dry last night, and Idecide in that moment that no pair of lips will wrap around me until Soren’s have been there.
“Yes,sir.” She nearly chokes on her indignity, but I’m not through with her yet.
