Possessed - Part One
Read Possessed - Part One Online
Authors: Coco Cadence
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Coming of Age, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Romantic Comedy
Possessed
Part 1
Coco Cadence
Possessed Part 1 copyright © Coco Cadence
The moral rights of this author have been asserted.
License Notes
All rights reserved. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or person, whether living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design by
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Editing by
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My boss is an asshole.
I’d take off my heels and throw them at his face, if they weren’t so expensive.
Why? Because my boss, the sexy, billionaire bad boy Leo King, wants me to be his wife.
That’s right. His wife. Except, it isn’t real. It’s all pretend so his family believes it, and I’m supposed to go along with it.
Asshole doesn’t even begin to describe him, and it’s only going to get worse. Especially because his cocky attitude and sudden interest in my private life make it difficult to concentrate on something other than his sexual innuendos. I always do what he wants, and we both know it. It’s not like I have a choice. Agree or get fired.
I’m going to need a drink … Or twenty.
The first part of Possessed, a three-part series from Coco Cadence.
Note: This ends in a cliffhanger. Parts Two and Three will be released within the next few weeks.
Table of Contents
My boss is a fucking asshole.
If he wasn’t handing me a paycheck every month, I would be throwing my last pair of unbroken, non-horribly-smelling heels at his face one by one. I love those heels. They’re my babies
and
the last ones I have, but damn, I’d sacrifice them for a good cause. This man needs a right smacking.
Let me explain. I’ve never been very fond of my boss. He’s an obnoxious asshole who tramples all over my privacy, as well as personal time. As his assistant, he expects me to be there for him 24/7, ready for any order he has to give me.
I could’ve gotten used to it if it wasn’t for the fact that he ignores the shit out of me. I’m only there when he needs me, and that’s it. Conversations? Don’t happen. Chatting like a normal human being? Not in it. Social interaction, you know, asking about my week or saying ‘you look cute in that dress,’ not by a long shot. A little kindness goes a long way, but not with him. Unless I fish for it, but no way in hell am I going to stoop that low.
I often wondered if he treated his previous assistants the same way, but then I realize that might be why I got the job in the first place … because they all left. Of course, this job pays too well, so I’ve made it my personal ambition to stick with him for as long as I can muster. As long as the cash keeps flowing and I can pay my bills, I’m happy. Maybe it’s also the fact that I consider staying some sort of achievement, despite the cocky asshole sitting in the chair in front of me.
I’ve learned to deal with his aloofness over time. I treat him with equal stuck-up bitchiness by not giving him an inch of emotion during our brief exchanges, but not to the point of actually getting fired. I might get the sack now, though, because I’m about to shatter glasses with my voice.
“What?!” I yell.
“Oh, c’mon, it’s only for a couple of months.”
He’s referring to his latest crazy request. He wants me as his wife.
His fake wife. As in, pretending to be married.
Leo fucking King, the CEO of
W
, a women’s magazine, wants me—a big, curvy fake redhead—to be his wife?
This assistant job was just pushed to a whole new level of crazy.
“No. Oh, no, no, no,” I say, frowning.
He raises his eyebrows in that same annoying way whenever he won’t take no for an answer. Oh, hell no. Shit’s about to hit the fan.
“You haven’t even thought about it,” he says.
“I don’t need to think about it,” I say, shaking my head. “Are you crazy?”
He smirks. “Maybe just a little.”
“For thinking I would actually do it, yeah!”
He lowers his eyebrows with a faint smile on his face. “Oh, c’mon, Samantha …” The way he speaks my name, like he owns it, gives me goosebumps. “You’re not even a little curious?”
“What? No, what would I be curious about?” I mumble, but some little voice in my head tries to pry my lips open to ask for more information. I drown the fucker in Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. Sugar rush and coffee keeps me on the saner side. Need as much of that shit as I can get to deal with this asshole.
When he opens his mouth, I’m slurping up my ‘heroine’ for the day, and I’m totally not prepared for what he says.
“What it would be like.” He raises one cheeky eyebrow, slowly.
I cringe, trying to keep the laughter inside. I fail. Miserably. So badly, I spout my coffee all over the floor.
My bad. I’m not sorry. This dude … really?
“Sorry, I couldn’t – I’ll clean it up later,” I mutter, still recovering from my outburst. I want to laugh but pressing my lips together so hard it hurts seems to do the trick.
“You’d better,” he muses, clearing his throat. “You seem very amused.”
“You’re right, this is hilarious. As a matter of fact, I’ve never enjoyed any moment with you as much as these two minutes. This is amazing, Mister King, this prank … you’ve taken this asshole routine to a whole new level.”
He smiles, not even slightly amused; it’s more of an ‘I’ll punish you later’ smile. “Except this isn’t
Punked
and we’re not on MTV.”
“You’re not serious, are you? Because if you are, I’ll need to leave for like ten minutes.”
“You’re robbing me of more time with you?”
Robbing him? That’s a laugh. I squint. “So I can get some more coffee so I can drown this day away. Besides, it’s not like you
want
more time with me. I know you want me to agree, but throwing me a bone isn’t going to work. I’m not that easy.”
“Such a shame,” he says, licking his lips, which distracts me momentarily.
To any woman, he would be an eye-fuck. Like those guys you see on those runway shows and you just wanna lick them. He’s like that – chiseled jaw, kissable lips, sparkling brown eyes, scruffy stubble, sleek suit. Who knows what more he’s hiding underneath? Except, he’s a jerk, so thinking of it only makes me want to hurl. Or at least, I force myself to remember that I should. Nothing pretty on the outside can mask the ugly on the inside. I try to keep that in mind every time he has me distracted with his handsomeness; I shroud myself in loathing, just for the sake of my honor.
“… You assume too much, Miss Webber. Throwing you a bone is the opposite of what I want to achieve.”
“You want me to run out of this office then? Because you’re achieving that in a minute.” I chortle. “You can ask me a lot, but being your wife is at the bottom of my list of things-I-have-to-do-for-my-boss, and that list is a mile long.”
“Funny,” he muses. “You’re so funny.”
“You, too,” I retort.
We’re so not funny.
This is so not funny. Not in a million years.
If he’s actually serious, that is – which I still doubt because what in the effing hell? Who would ask something like that? And why?
Now he just sits there, staring at me, his hands folded on the table, and I’m seeing his serious face in action. I’ve only heard of it in rumors before, the impact it has on people he wants to get shit done with, and I’ve always assumed they were exaggerating. They weren’t. This look rips panties off. Those eyes are like cracking whips, forcing you to beg for mercy.
Oh my god, how am I ever going to work my way out of this without losing this job? I’m starting to get this feeling, like I don’t even have a choice in the matter, because he keeps his eyes on me at all times, his fingers strumming continuously.
This is happening, whether I like it or not.
Oh, dear.
Well, I’m not going down easily. If he wants to pin me down and make me do something I know I’ll regret, I’d better get as much out of it as I can get. Time for some big girl panties and overrated confidence. This fat girl has some demands up her sleeve, and she isn’t saying ‘yes’ for anything less.
“Okay, so let’s for a second assume you are serious about wanting me to be your wife. What’s the reason behind this request? Because as your assistant, I’m supposed to be ‘working’ for you in this office, not in your home, so if you require my assistance there I’m afraid you’ll have to think of some kind of reward. Hypothetically speaking, of course. Because there is no way in hell I’d ever agree with this.”
“Oh, Samantha… you have no idea how much I require your assistance. For example, there are plenty of times I’m dying for some ‘personal’ assistance at home … and if it was in the contract, I’d definitely make use of your ‘assistance.’”
The way he says ‘personal,' in that low voice of his, has me momentarily frozen in place, eyes peeled.
“Hypothetically speaking, of course.” He smiles slyly. “The reason will be explained once you agree. And as for a reward, I can think of a few things …” He frowns, and while he cocks his head to check for someone passing through the hallway, he bites his lip.
Oh, sweet lord. This is too much.
His eyes find their way back to me again. “I could give you anything you want … anything you desire. You’d just have to ask.” He smirks. “Hypothetically speaking, of course.”
“You’re bribing me now?” I place my coffee on the table and cross my arms. “Hypothetically speaking.”
“I would call it a proper incentive.”
“Not good enough,” I say.
This guy has some nerve. After all that ignoring, I’m having a hard time believing his interest or innuendos are real. I know this man, and I know he thrives to tease. He’s never given me a glance, though. Not once. It’s like I don’t exist, at least not as a ‘sexual interest’ to him, whatever the hell that means, because I have no clue what he likes. All I know is that I was never ‘it’, and it bugs me that he throws it into our conversations right this very moment. It’s so out of the blue, I can’t help but associate it with just another cheap trick at getting me to agree.
“What kind of reward are you looking for then?” he says, rolling back his chair.
As he stands up, I take a deep breath to keep my posture. I feel weak in the knees as he comes toward me. His vibe has always been so overpowering as if he’s trying to claim the very air we breathe. Everything. Doesn’t matter what, he needs to control it.
Now, even my decision.
“I want a raise,” I boldly state.
He smirks. “Oh, you’ll get a rise out of me all right.”
Somehow, that statement heats up my cheeks like nothing else he’s ever said before. Goddammit.
“Miss Webber, is it that you enjoy taunting me or do you just
want
to be punished?” He squints. “I must say, you are extra sassy today. I like it.”
He tries to touch a string of my hair, which hangs in front of my face, but I block his hand and avoid it. Sweep across the floor like a ninja. Out of the danger zone where snakes bite my ass.
He takes a deep breath and then sighs. “All right, I’ll give you a raise.” He laughs, clearing his throat afterwards.
This has to be a cruel taunt because he keeps mentioning raise and I keep glancing at his package every time he says it. I swear to god, these treacherous eyes should be gouged out.
“Hypothetically speaking, of course,” I add.
Suddenly, the amused look on his face disappears. “This isn’t a game or a joke, Miss Webber. As my assistant, it’s your job to supply whatever I want you to supply. Now, I want you to be my wife. I won’t take no for an answer.”
I cringe. “What? You’re not even giving me a choice?” Somehow, I knew this was going to happen.
“You have a choice, but if you want to keep your job, I suggest you say yes.”
My jaw drops. “This is ridiculous.” I look around. “Where’s the camera?”
“For the last time, Miss Webber. This isn’t a joke. I need you to become my wife for a few weeks. It’s not much, and you won’t get any other strange requests from me other than this.”
“It can’t get any stranger than this,” I interject. “You’re going to extort me?”
“I wouldn’t call it that …”
“But it is …” I shake my head. “This is insane.
You’re
insane.”
“You have no idea …but thanks for the compliment,” he muses to spite me. “The point is, I need you for this, and I’m willing to double your salary.”
I stare him blank in the face. “Triple.”
“Fine.” He holds out his hand. “For as long as I need you, you’ll be my wife.”
“Pretend-wife.” I swallow.
“As real as we can both muster up.”
“That’s going to be hard, and I don’t mean for me.”
He smirks. “There are a lot of remarks floating through my head right now, like other things that are
hard
, but I’ll spare you. For now.”
He didn’t spare me one bit.
“Ha-ha,” I say. “If I do this, I want it on paper.”
He squints. “Aw, you don’t trust me, Samantha? You, out of all people.”
“Trust is earned. You just wasted it all by giving me no choice in the matter.”
“I know what I did, but I promise you it’ll be worth it. I’ll make it so you won’t regret this.”
I sigh, closing my eyes. “I’m crazy for doing this …” I hold out my hand. “Ignoring that little voice in my head right now.”
“Keep ignoring that voice, Miss Webber. It makes life easier. Does for me.”
“Ha, like you ever have such a thing.”
“Oh, I do. For instance, there’s this thing in my pants that keeps pointing in all directions, but if I let it make all the decisions, this company would be down in the gutter pretty quickly.”
Not just this company but this conversation, too. Holy damn.
“I didn’t have my second coffee yet, Mister King, can we spare the dick talk for later, after lunch maybe?”
He laughs. “I’ll take that offer.”
I sigh loudly; tired of all the sexual innuendos he’s throwing at me. I hold out my hand. “Let’s get this over with.”
He shakes my hand, and I know that I just made a deal that’ll kill me.
It’ll definitely kill my career, all right, if I don’t manage to keep this quiet. The chances that this comes out is about fifty percent, which means I have to get as much out of this as I can before someone blows the whistle and exposes us.
