Page 17 of The Facilitator 1

“I just wasn’t aware my eyes had those capabilities. I would have assumed it was my mind that I used to seduceyou.”

“Play on words,” Imumbled.

“Your career isn’t ruined at all. In fact, it’s just starting. I have plans foryou.”

“You don’t own the fucking business, only part of it. I decide what I do, notyou.”

“Finally, we see the Lauren with some balls. I do own the business, I own the majorityshares.”

“What? I’m going,” Isaid.

I stood, hoping it was just the cold and not a damp wall that had my arsefrozen.

I stepped around him and caught the eye of the porter. “I need a taxi,” I said. He nodded and stepped out into theroad.

Mackenzie stepped beside me. “You can get your own taxi,” Isaid.

A car pulled up and he reached forward to open the door for me. I slid into the seat and cursed as he climbed in besideme.

“Chewton Glen, please,” he said to the driver, giving him the name of thehotel.

I refused to look at him; I kept my gaze on the side window. I fished around in my clutch looking for my phone. I swiped my finger across the screen, pretending to check for messages. I didn’t have any; no one was missing me. I threw it backin.

The taxi pulled up and I opened my door. I climbed out and walked straight through to the lift. It annoyed the hell out of me that he matched me stride forstride.

I jabbed at the call button, again refusing to acknowledge his presence. When the doors slid open, I stepped in and pressed for my floor. He didn’t present his key card to allow him access to hisfloor.

I knew he was looking at me, I could feel it. I kept my gaze on the digital dial watching thenumbers.

“Interesting, isn’t it?” he said, mockingme.

“I’m resigning, first thing Monday,” Isaid.

“No, you’renot.”

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’tdo.”

“I won’t allowit.”

“Allow it? Fuckoff.”

I heard him chuckle and he took a step closer. I could have sworn I heard him hum, or growl, or something. A noise emanated fromhim.

“You get off on that, don’t you?” I said, as the lift came to a stop and the doors slidopen.

“On what,Lauren?”

“Me swearing atyou.”

He held out his arm to keep the lift doors from closing, effectively blocking myway.

“I get off on seeing a confident woman. I get off on seeing the fire in your eyes and the confidence you think you don’t have, seep from your pores. I get off on seeing someone whose body shook with fear just a short while ago, stand up to me. And, yeah, you have my cock fuckinghard.”

I turned towards him. I tried and I failed to stop my gaze lowering. I tried and failed to not take a sharp breath in when I saw his erection straining against his trousers. I pushed his arm down and walkedaway.

“We’re not done yet, Lauren,” I heard himsay.

My hands shook as I inserted the key card; my legs shook more as I stumbled through the bedroomdoor.

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