Page 7 of Break a King (Five Kings 3)

Hunter

She is nothing like I imagined. I’m not sure why, but I thought she’d arrive dressed in leathers with a gun holster beneath her jacket, wearing black shades with her hair pulled back. Not this shout out to Nanny McPhee who has breezed into the New York Stock Exchange as if she’s lost her way and mistaken it for the local mall.

Ever since she checked in, I’ve watched her. The fact she studied her phone stalking me was mildly amusing. The attitude in the elevator merely raised a rare smile to my lips, but the woman herself, well, she surprised me in every way.

Unlike Ryder, this woman looks ordinary. Not a leather jacket in sight, and just imagining her living among a horde of horny bikers doesn’t add up. If I didn’t know to the contrary, a paid assassin is the last thing I would credit her with, but now the unthinkable has happened—I’m surprised by someone.

Miss. Baxter has demonstrated why she has survived so long in my employment, because that woman would die rather than gossip and aside from our working relationship, I know nothing more about her. She’s an enigma, and that’s just how I want it to remain because I have no interest in her outside of her duties.

I continue watching Lexi Mackenzie heading my way and, if anything, I’m pleased with what I see. Not my usual type, that’s for sure, but she’s not unattractive and with the right clothes could pass for one of my usual dinner companions.

As they approach the door, I set my mood in place—usual asshole because she needs to know who she’s dealing with from the outset.

A sharp knock precedes the door opening and Miss. Baxter leads an extremely confident woman into the room.

Our eyes connect across the space and I don’t miss the challenge in hers as she says loudly, “Hi, honey, did you miss me?”

Miss. Baxter looks unusually shocked and I resist the urge to smirk a little and just nod. “Lexi.”

“Is that the best you can do?”

She turns to Miss. Baxter and rolls her eyes. “Tell me, honey, if your boyfriend greeted you like that after being apart for weeks, would you be happy?”

Miss. Baxter looks at me in surprise and Lexi giggles and heads my way. I’m almost tempted to hold up my hands to warn her off but the steely glint in her eyes makes me stand my ground as she rounds the desk and leans down, wrapping her hand around the back of my neck and pressing her lips to mine.

She tastes of cherry lip balm and surprise. Her scent is roses mixed with fresh laundry and as she gently touches my lips with hers, I’m not unhappy about it. She feels so soft, delicious, like a big fluffy marshmallow, just as sweet and bad for your health and, as she pulls back, she looks at me as if I’m her one true love. “I missed you, honey.”

Her voice is breathy, laced with desire, and for a moment I forget that Miss. Baxter is even in the room. This is unexpected but not unwelcome, and as I stare deep into her eyes, I lose myself a little. They are compelling, mesmerizing and so deep, I almost drown in their startling beauty. A blue-eyed blonde wrapped in desire, is staring at me as if I’m every Christmas present she’s ever wanted and who on this fucking earth wouldn’t love that?

It’s slightly unnerving and as Miss. Baxter coughs discreetly, Lexi pulls back and smiles mischievously before turning to face her.

“I’m sorry, honey, I couldn’t resist. What can I say, I’ve missed the bastard?”

Quickly, I drag my gaze from this blonde bombshell and say curtly, “That will be all, Miss. Baxter, I’m not to be disturbed.”

Lexi has the audacity to wink at her before Miss. Baxter turns and leaves awkwardly and as the door closes, Lexi springs from my side like a gazelle in flight and retreats to the safety of the chair in front of my desk.

“What the hell was that?”

I stare at her as if in disapproval, despite the fact my cock appears to disagree and she shrugs. “We have a part to play and I’m starting as I mean to go on?”

She leans forward and her eyes flash, changing her in an instant as she says icily, “In public only and for business purposes. You lay one finger on me in private and I’ll break your balls.”

For once words fail me as she studies her nails and says blankly, “So, here’s the deal. We are loved up in public and business associates in private. Keep the touching to a minimum though, newsflash, you’re not my type and this will be a hard ask.”

She looks at me with a derogatory gaze and says blankly, “While you work, I work. I want a list of your associates since kindergarten. I want access to your diary and your little black book. Anything you think I should know, tell me and any conversations, run past me. We need to monitor every move you take and every move those closest to you take. Ryder is taking care of the business associates and any staff in this building; my job is a lot closer to home. Any questions?”

I’m not sure what to say for once in my life because this woman has blown in here like the most unwelcome cyclone. My hesitation causes her to smirk as she leans back and crosses her legs, drawing my eyes to run the length of her, which is decidedly against my better judgment.

As I pull my eyes away, I note the irritation in hers and snap, “Fine, but just for the record, I’m not happy either, about you in my life, or my apartment. You are definitely not my type and if anyone is going to have a hard time pretending you are, it’s me. So, word of advice, scrub up better, check your attitude and park your smart remarks because if you want anyone to believe that I’m remotely interested in you, you’ll act like my usual fuck toy. Do your research. I know you’ve started already and try to replicate the usual polished perfection I demand. So, meeting over, you know where the door is, my car is waiting to take you to my apartment where your room is ready for you, as far away from mine as possible.”

For a moment we just stare at one another, a challenge passing between us, both jostling for superiority in this—relationship.

She moves first and uncrosses her legs and leans forward, affording me a welcome glimpse of an impressive cleavage as she purrs, “Dinner is at seven. I expect my demands to be ready by then. Just so you know, we are arranging added security to be installed both here and at your apartment. I will oversee the apartment installation personally and make sure it’s tight as fuck. You will authorize your security operation to include a new member. His name is Simon Jones and is on Ryder’s payroll. He will be appointed as a member of a security review you are setting up to test your systems. That’s all your employees need to know. Rest assured, asshole, I take my job extremely seriously and as much as I’m liable to carry out the job myself at some point during this nightmare, my job is to keep you alive. So, right back at you, check the attitude and park the snarky comments because we have to work together whether we like it or not, and I don’t, by the way, like it one bit.”

She stands and throws me a smile that would make the sun reach for its shades. “Lovely meeting you, Hunter baby, dinner will be on the table at seven sharp, don’t be late.”

She blows me a kiss and walks from the room, and I absolutely fucking hate myself when I check out her ass as she goes.

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