Laid and Leveraged (5 page)

“
Are
you
sure
about
that?
”
Now
he
seemed
more
amused
than
anything
which
made
Michelle
downright
enraged.

“
Every
single
one
of
the
employees
will
follow
me
not
you!
”
she
shrilled.

“
Then
I
will
replace
every
single
one
of
them.
”

Michelle
couldn't
take
it
anymore,
having
lost
the
last
of
her
poise
she
snatched
up
a
paper
weight
and
threw
it
at
him.
He
caught
it
easily.

“
Assault
in
the
workplace?
”
he
shook
his
head,
mocking
her.
“
You're
lucky
I
find
you
so
pretty
or
else
I'd
have
called
security
by
now.
”

Her
hand
had
already
reached
for
another
paper
weight
and
froze
as
his
words
sunk
in.
He
thought
her
pretty?
She
came
to
her
senses
when
her
eyes
met
his.

“
I
believe
that's
sexual
harassment,
”
she
informed
him
icily,
sitting
back
down.

“
Actually,
”
he
perched
on
the
edge
of
her
desk
and
leaned
forward.
Michelle
couldn't
help
but
notice
his
intoxicating
cologne.
“
It
is
only
sexual
harassment
if
I
have
to
repeat
myself.
I
am
allowed
to
ask
once.
”

“
Ask
me
what?
”
she
asked,
suspending
–
for
the
moment
–
her
animosity.
He
was
just
so
handsome
and
the
way
he
looked
at
her
now
with
an
almost
boyish
innocence
made
Michelle
forget
that
he
was
the
ruthless
tycoon
bent
on
destroying
her
life's
work.

“
To
dinner,
”
he
answered,
his
voice
rich
and
seductive.

Her
breath
caught
in
her
throat,
her
heartbeat
accelerating.
Dear
lord,
did
her
boss
just
ask
her
out?
She
hesitated.
Could
she
really
accept?
Michelle
had
never
once
in
her
life
mixed
business
with
pleasure
and
she
new
that
now
above
all,
with
everything
she
held
dear
on
the
line,
she
couldn't
risk
changing
that
habit.
And
yet,
she
gazed
at
his
lips
–
so
soft
and
sensuous,
she'd
be
damned
if
she
said
she
didn't
want
to.
She
waited
too
long
to
answer.
Roger
Hollins
laughed,
standing
up.

“
I'll
send
a
car
to
pick
you
up
at
eight
tomorrow.
”
He
took
her
silence
for
acquiescence,
she
realized
only
a
little
too
late
as
he
headed
for
the
door.
“
Oh,
”
he
called
over
his
shoulder.
“
Make
sure
you
wear
something
that
shows
off
those
amazing
breasts.
” 

The
door
slammed
shut
behind
him,
rattling
the
contents
of
Michelle's
office.
She
let
out
a
sigh
of
relief.
He
was
gone
for
the
time
being.
She
chewed
her
thumbnail,
but
he'd
be
back.
And
tomorrow,
she
almost
hyperventilated,
she
was
having
dinner
with
him!
Oh
dear
God!
Michelle
slammed
her
forehead
against
her
desk.
Whatever
was
she
going
to
do?

The
car
arrived
promptly
at
eight,
just
as
he
had
promised.
Michelle
hurried
out
of
her
apartment,
stopping
only
to
pat
her
cat,
Brisket,
on
the
head
before
leaving.
Outside
she
found
the
driver
standing
by
the
open
door
of
the
black
limousine.

“
Ma'am,
”
he
nodded
to
her.
She
bent
to
get
in,
but
he
stopped
her.
“
I'm
sorry,
Ma'am,
but
if
you'll
permit
me...
”

Michelle
didn't
know
what
he
meant
until
she
saw
the
driver
reach
behind
her
and
remove
the
clip
that
held
her
long
tresses
up
and
away
from
her
face.
She
could
only
gape,
too
surprised
for
words,
at
the
intimate
action
as
her
hair
tumbled
down
over
her
shoulders.

“
I'm
sorry.
”
The
driver
really
did
appear
sheepish.
“
I
was
only
following
orders.
Mr.
Hollins
specifically
insisted
that
you
wear
your
hair
down.
”

Michelle
stiffened.
And
here
she
thought
he
only
wanted
her
to
show
off
a
little
cleavage.

“
Do
you
always
follow
Mr.
Hollins'
orders?
”
She
was
unable
to
keep
the
sarcasm
out
of
her
voice.
The
driver
didn't
seem
to
notice.

“
Always!
”
he
informed
her
before
helping
her
into
the
backseat
and
shutting
the
door.

Michelle
leaned
back
into
the
leather
and
noticed
that
a
bottle
of
expensive
champagne
on
ice
and
a
single
crystal
flute
waited
for
her.
The
driver
must
have
opened
the
bottle
as
soon
as
he
saw
her
coming
out
of
the
apartment
because
it
still
steamed.
She
decided
she
could
use
a
little
liquid
courage
and
poured
herself
a
glass.