Laid and Leveraged (4 page)

Becky
frowned,
her
penciled
in
eyebrows
coming
together.
“
I
dunno,
”
she
chirped.
“
It
kinda
seems
to
me
like
his
idea
about
getting
rid
of
the
solar
plant
was
a
good
one.
”

Michelle
glared
at
her,
crossing
her
arms
over
her
breasts
through
the
thin
cream
colored
blouse
she
wore.
She
was
about
to
set
Becky
straight
when
the
door
to
her
office
flung
open,
sending
her
little
assistant
flying.
In
the
next
minute,
Roger
Hollins'
big
body
stood
within
the
frame.
He
caught
sight
of
Becky
sprawled
out
on
the
floor
and
pointed
to
the
hall
behind
him.

“
Out!
”
he
hissed
so
menacingly
that
both
women
jumped
at
the
sound
of
his
voice.
Becky
scrambled
to
her
feet,
ducking
out
of
the
office.
Alone
at
last,
Michelle's
new
boss
turned
his
wrath
to
her.
He
took
a
deep
breath
as
though
he
was
willing
himself
not
to
do
something
that
he'd
regret
later,
before
marching
up
to
her
desk.
He
placed
both
palms
on
the
surface
and
leaned
in,
towering
over
her.
To
her
own
disgust,
Michelle
found
herself
cowering
under
his
glare.

“
Tell
me,
Ms.
Grant,
”
he
demanded.
“
Why
have
my
orders
not
been
obeyed?
”
Michelle
knew
it
wasn't
really
a
question
and
his
mafia
style
interrogation
was
only
meant
to
intimidate
her,
but
damn
it,
if
it
wasn't
working.
He
was
just
so
big
and
his
arms
looked
as
though
they
could
crush
her
in
a
second.
He
wore
a
fitted
black
suit
and
in
that
moment,
as
he
leaned
over
her
desk
Michelle
felt
that
he
was
a
panther,
ready
at
any
second
to
strike
her
down.
She
leaned
back
in
her
chair,
fingers
trembling
in
her
lap.

“
I
can't
be
here
everyday,
”
he
seethed.
“
This
isn't
the
only
business
I
own,
and
yes,
I
own
this
business
.
I
have
left
you
in
charge
as
a
figure
head
since
you're
already
familiar
with
the
employees.
But
when
I
give
you
a
direct
order,
Ms.
Grant,
I
fully
expect
you
to
cooperate.
”

Michelle
butted
her
chin
out
stubbornly.
“
And
if
I
refuse,
Mr.
Hollins?
”
The
moment
the
words
came
out
of
her
mouth,
she
wished
she
hadn't
spoken
them.
He
grinned
suddenly,
a
lethal,
cat-like
grin,
and
in
that
moment
he
took
her
breath
away.
She
hated
him,
but
by
God,
he
was
such
a
beautiful
man.

“
How
I
hoped
you'd
ask
that,
”
he
purred.

Michelle
cringed.

“
My
wishes
for
Today's
Energy
will
happen,
with
or
without
you,
Ms.
Grant.
I
suggest
you
either
get
on
board
with
the
policies
I've
implemented,
or
you
start
tidying
up
that
resume
because
you're
gonna
need
it.
”

“
You
wouldn't
dare!
”
she
breathed,
her
voice
barely
rising
above
a
whisper.
But
even
as
she
said
it,
Michelle
knew
that
he'd
have
no
problem
throwing
her
out
on
her
butt.
She
felt
the
tears
prick
the
corners
of
her
eyes
at
the
thought
of
being
removed
from
the
company
that
she
herself
built,
but
she
swallowed
them
back,
refusing
to
let
him
see
how
much
it
hurt
her.
She
wondered
for
a
moment
if
he
did
see,
because
for
a
split
second
she
thought
she
saw
those
glittering
blue
eyes
soften.

He
straightened,
crossing
his
arms
over
his
chest.
“
The
thing
that
gets
me,
”
his
voice
had
softened.
“
Is
that
if
you
really
cared
about
this
company
you'd
do
what
I
ask
instead
of
resisting
me.
”

That
got
Michelle.
Infuriated,
she
jumped
to
her
feet.
Who
did
he
think
he
was
coming
in
here
and
telling
her
that
he
knew
what
was
best.
Hadn't
it
been
her
that
started
Today's
Energy
and
hadn't
she
been
the
one
to
stand
by
her
fledgling
company
through
thick
and
thin.
Sure
last
year's
profits
were
down,
but
it
wasn't
her
fault.
It
was
just
a
flux
in
the
market.
These
things
happened,
didn't
they?

“
You
have
no
idea
what
you're
talking
about!
”
she
seethed.
“
I
have
a
vision
for
this
company
and
I
tend
to
fulfill
it.
You
can't
stop
me!
”