Page 218 of The First Time
The shiny doors slide together. My reflection stares back at me. She looks even more uncertain than she did a minute ago.
That's no good. I'm here to negotiate.
I'm holding the cards. I'm not sure what Blake sees in me—he could have any woman he wants—but I don't care. He wants me for thisjob. I need to use that to my advantage.
Ding.
The elevator doors slide open.
A bright sign greets me.Sterling Techin luminous white. It's the only light in the lobby.
My heel squeaks against the hardwood floor. This place is beautiful. The steel and glass of the city on one side. The deep blue of the river on the other.
That royal blue—the mix of indigo and fluorescent bulbs— fills the cloudy sky. It never gets dark here. Not really. Certainly not dark enough for the stars to shine.
Yellow light peeks out from under an office door. The one in the corner.
When I move closer, I see the chrome sign.Blake Sterling.
I move towards it. Knock softly.
"It's open." Blake's voice flows through the door.
I take a deep breath and turn the handle. It's cold. Metal. Like him. Well, like what I know of him.
He's standing behind his desk. It's one of those trendy desks that changes positions. His computer is like Lizzy's. Two screens. A fancy keyboard. A vertical mouse. A mesh ergonomic chair in the corner.
He moves out from behind the desk.
His eyes find mine. "Have a seat." He nods to the couch to my right, then moves to the bar in the corner. "What do you drink?"
Shit. That's a lot of top-shelf stuff. "What do you have?"
"Anything you want."
"Really? What if I want iced rooibos tea with a hint of lemon and a splash of lime vodka?"
"Then I'll get it." He stares back at me. "Is that what you want?"
No. I want money. And understanding. And his hands on my body.
He's not even touching me and I'm on fire from the proximity. His blue eyes are so intense. And his voice is so strong.
He drips power.
Is he like that when he fucks?
I want to know.
It's ridiculous— I never think about sex. I certainly never think about kinky sex. But my head is filling with all sorts of images of Blake.
Him staring at me with that demanding look in his eyes, ordering me to strip out of my coat. To sit. To wait at his beck and call.
Him pinning my wrists to the bed.
Throwing me against the wall and tearing off my panties.
"Kat?" His voice is soft. "What do you drink?"
