Powerless (Power Series Book 1)

by Lauren Cooper

  “Shall we get started?” Becca asks, clearly sensing something else in the air as she starts pulling the papers from my file and turning them to David.

  “These are some of the deadlines Amelia would like to meet as soon as possible. As you can see she has signed off on some of the ideas for the departments already, and we would like to set a date on closing everything off. I think we would all like to see a finish line in place”

  The merger itself is a done deal, it’s the finer details that need refining – like a name! Seen as David was the CEO I had met with him and his board months ago, but these niggly details that come with owning and running a company keep crawling their way out of the woodwork.

  The meeting goes on like this for around two hours. By the end of it, I think I have burn holes in my head from Liam’s staring. He contributed lightly to our discussions and nodded along when prompted by his father. Smugness washes over me, he is a daddy’s boy. Does he not have his own ability to think and speak without any encouragement from David? Maybe David does know about Liam, maybe he does the same thing. Yuck! I shove that image away as quickly as it appeared.

  “I would like to establish some office rules for when we’re situated at the new building” I start, giving Liam my best fake smile. I’ve sat here and done the work that’s required of me, now it’s time to play his game. Liam looks up at me through his long, thick eyelashes and I fight the urge to bite my lip.

  “Of course, We already have employee rules and regulations but are happy to add any you have in mind” David nods.

  “I’ve actually taken the liberty of looking over them and highlighted the ones I think are most important and should be reinforced” I took the time during the meeting to highlight one in particular. I pass the paper across the table to Liam, careful not to touch him. I can’t deal with the sparks he sends off right now. I see Becca fidgeting in her seat and David tries to glance at the paper. I watch his face for any reaction, but I get nothing.

  “I’ll handle this” Liam says with a curt nod to his father, as he does his best to hide the paper from view. The anger returns to Liam’s features and I can’t help but feel proud that I finally got a reaction out of him.

  “Great” David nods, seemingly unaware at the internal war his son and I seem to be having.

  I highlighted the section that says ‘Interoffice relationships are allowed. However, we strictly ask you to remain at the professional standards of Hadleigh Solicitors at all times. Any breach of this rule will be the direct result of a formal inquiry and your position at the company will be questioned’ I smirk at Liam across the table and the anger in his eyes is evident. I squirm a little but remain as composed as possible.

  “All staff will get new contracts under the new company, so all company policies will be included in them” David reiterates. “I think we’re done here” he claps his hands together and stands. We all shake hands, but I avoid Liam’s. Becca and David head for the door and I follow suit, but not before Liam slams it shut and slaps his hand across it.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” his voice is angry, and his eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen them, if I was in any other frame of mind I would be melting into them.

  “What’s wrong with me?” I ask him, sarcastically. The look on his perfect features darkens and I can see he doesn’t appreciate it.

  “Care to explain?” he shakes the paper in his hand.

  I scoff at his feigned ignorance. He really is an asshole!

  “I thought we left on a good note yesterday and now you’re being the fucking Ice Queen towards me” he hisses. The Ice Queen. I like that.

  “I’d hardly call yesterday a good note Liam. But I thought you could use the reminder of how to be professional and I think it’s my right to be cold towards you after what I seen you doing in your office don’t you?” The lines on his forehead deepen, and I resist the urge to reach out and stroke them. Knowing deep down that if I start giving in to his demands now, they will only get worse. Nip it in the bud and all that.

  “What are you talking about?” he asks, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets, along with the now crumpled paper.

  “Really?” I almost laugh at his ignorance. The look on his face tells me he really doesn’t have any idea what I’m talking about. Crossing my arms across my chest, I decide to give it to him bluntly.

  “Oh, you know, just the fact that you had your face buried inside that woman’s pussy on your desk” I spit out and I turn towards the closed door. “Are you like this all the time? I mean, trying to fuck anything that moves?” He grabs my arm and this time see the flash of realization on his face. That’s all the evidence I need from him.

  “Amelia…”

  “Save it. I don’t want to know. We’re done. You’re just the arrogant, fucking Daddy’s boy I thought you were” I had to get that out there. I want to get a reaction out of him, try me big guy.

  “I told you what would happen if you ever said that again” he seethes.

  “Oh yeah? Are you going to put me over your knee Liam? Is that it? Office fondling is your thing?” I huff sarcastically.

  “Amelia! You have no idea what you saw!” he almost yells at me and I flinch.

  “Fuck You Liam. The only reason I’m still doing this is because of my company, otherwise we’re done!” I jerk my arm out of his grasp and grab the door handle. I can’t resist the urge to look back, and when I do I regret it instantly. He’s standing there raking his hands through that thick mop of chocolate hair and I feel a little bad for not hearing him out.

  Chapter Five

  My phone vibrates against the glass of my coffee table, I glance at the glowing screen for a second before shifting from my spot on the sofa to see who it is. It’s past 9 who rings you this late? I’d done my fair share of having phone calls from clients at stupid hours after I’d graduated, but that all ended a few years back. The name on the screen is definitely not one I want to see, and certainly not someone I want to talk to. I groan out loud before sliding the carton of ice cream with the spoon stood up right in the middle on the table. I have to answer him, it could be important.

  “Hello?” I drawl, making it clear that I really don’t want to talk to him.

  “I need you to be in my office at 8 tomorrow morning” Liam’s demanding voice booms down the invisible line.

  “The polite way to greet someone on the phone is by saying hello before you start demanding shit”

  “Don’t get funny with me. I’ll see you in the morning”

  “What if I can’t make it?” I counter. What did I say about nipping it in the bud?

  “You will”

  With that Liam hangs up. I gawk at my phone, is this guy for real? I itch to dial him back but decide against it. What good would it do screaming down the phone at him? The guy’s an arrogant prick. I don’t want to start the new business on a shit note with him. This company has to work, I need the cash flow I know it will generate, and the clients we work with open doors to various types of security. I won’t stop until I’m safe from her in every damn well way possible. With that in mind I decide that I will kill him with kindness.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  The Hadleigh offices are still relatively quiet when I arrive at five past the hour the next morning. I hardly slept a wink last night because my mind was full of the possible outcomes for this new merger. Add that to the mixture of cases, old and new and it makes for a shit night’s rest. I’d eventually fallen asleep around three, hence my being late this morning. That damned snooze button is just too tempting in comparison the pompous idiot I’m here to see. My patent, black heels click on the marble beneath my feet as I make my way to the lift. The receptionist desk is empty, I’m guessing she doesn’t start until nine.

  Once inside I catch a look at myself in the mirrored interior, my long black hair falls in loose curls around my shoulders to my breasts, owing to the can of dry shampoo I’d caked on it this morning. I kept my makeup simple during the
week, a natural glow and some mascara. My leather-look black pencil skirt is tight against my hips and my cream camisole top is tucked neatly into it. I’d unwrapped my coat from around myself as soon as I’d gotten into the building, the heat wall had hit me like a slap to the face.

  The lift pings and the doors open onto Hadleigh’s floor where I’m greeted by a none too happy Liam.

  “You’re late” his smooth voice is far too loud for this time of the morning.

  “Good morning to you too” I reply chirpily, stepping out of the lift and into his space.

  “My office” he says deadpan, glancing at me up and down before spinning on his shiny black heel and heading down the hallway.

  “I hope you’ve had it cleaned” I huff, before following him. It doesn’t escape my attention the way his suit trousers pull tightly across his bum, or how his jacket moves with his stride. His whole aura demands attention, and while I scurry behind him like a lost puppy he walks with meaning, and his head held high. He’s a force to be reckoned with, but I’m all for the challenge.

  Once we’re inside he waits before closing the door.

  “Leave your attitude at the door Amelia”

  Ohhh, is the poor little rich boy in a mood? I bite my tongue as I move into his space, placing my coat on the back of a black and chrome leather chair opposite his desk while schooling my features. I paste on my sweetest smile before turning to him.

  “What can I do for you Liam?”

  “I need you to sign some paperwork”

  “Shouldn’t we be with the solicitors for this?” I furrow my brow in question before taking a seat, as he does the same.

  “Probably, but I need these done now” he places a file in front of me on his desk, placing a pen on top.

  “What are they?” I reach for the file, pulling it into my lap before opening it.

  “Contracts”

  I raise my head, glancing at him confused.

  “We’ve already signed the contracts”

  “Yes, but their void”

  “What? Why?”

  “David is no longer going into the merger with you. I am”

  I gawk at him, what the hell is going on? I slam the file shut and wait for him to continue.

  “What?” his eyes flick between the now closed file in my lap and my face.

  “Do you really expect me to sign a new contract without discussing this?”

  “It’s exactly the same, just with my name instead of his”

  “Why?”

  “It doesn’t matter”

  “It does to me” I cross one leg over the other and wait. I’m not stupid, these new contracts could have anything in them. I’ll be damned if I’m signing them without reading them word for word first.

  “My father is leaving the company. He won’t be involved with the new company. All the agreements are the same, it’s only the name that’s changed” he repeats.

  “I need to read these first. Why won’t he be involved?”

  “I fired him” he offers, his eyes landing on mine and staying there.

  “What?” Fired him? I had no idea he could even do that! What the hell has happened in less than twenty-four hours?

  “Stop asking so many questions and read the contract” he huffs before standing and heading to the sideboard against the far wall.

  “Coffee?” he asks over his shoulder.

  “Please, white with one sugar” I flip the file back open and skim the first few pages. It all seems to be the same, but do I trust Liam not to have slipped something in? I thank him as he places the steaming mug of caffeine in front of me before continuing to read. It doesn’t escape my attention that this is probably the first time we’ve been amicable with each other. Liam taps away on his computer in the background, as I read word for word, of the exact same contract I read weeks ago. On the last page it references the new company name as Bellucci&Hadleigh Law. I can’t help the small smile that creeps up my face when I see it. I look up to see Liam watching me intently.

  “Thank you” I say genuinely. He nods at me before sipping at his own coffee.

  “It all looks fine”

  “I told you that” he replies gruffly.

  “And I’m the one with attitude?” I choke on a laugh before signing the bottom of the contract. Sure, enough the only thing that had changed the whole thing was Liam’s name and not David’s. Butterflies start flip-flopping in my stomach at the idea of having to work directly with the younger Hadleigh now, but between his attitude this morning and the defeated look on his face yesterday, I can’t shift the idea that I may have seriously miss-judged him.

  “Why have you fired him?” I ask as I close the file.

  “It doesn’t matter”

  “Oh, for god’s sake” I mutter under my breath. I reach for the coffee he made me and take a welcoming sip.

  “So, have you cleaned this desk?” I question with a raised eyebrow. I’m sure I hear Liam growl and glance up to see his dark as night eyes burning a hole into my skull.

  “I don’t have to explain myself to you” he replies, running his finger across his lip.

  “No, you don’t. But I won’t have this shit in my company”

  “This shit?”

  “Well, your shit. I won’t have those kinds of things happening in my office”

  “But I can do it in my office” he counters with a mischievous glint in his eye.

  “Nice try”

  “Don’t try and pretend that you weren’t a little turned on, if not jealous at what you saw yesterday”

  My mouth drops open and I force myself to shut it.

  “I was not either of those things” I add a shake to my head as I place my mug back down, remembering too well the green-eyed monster who can definitely reared its head yesterday.

  “You’re a shit liar” his facial expression doesn’t change as he rounds his desk and leans up against it. Crossing his legs at the ankles and clasping his hands in front of him. I stand from my chair and round the back of the chair, needing some distance from him.

  “I sometimes lie for a living, or did you forget that?” I place my hands on my hips, this man is starting to really piss me off. Am I going to spend the rest of my working days dreading bumping into him? Or secretly wishing he would bump into me?

  “I’ll give you that, why can’t you lie to me?”

  “I can!” I almost yell, narrowing my eyes at him.

  “Tell me you don’t want me” he says after licking his bottom lip, his baby blues never leaving mine.

  “I don’t want you” I reply too quickly with no emotion in my voice. My dark eyes remain firmly rooted on his as he raises a questioning eyebrow. Moving away from his desk he walks slowly over to where I’m standing, I cross my arms in defiance.

  “Tell me you don’t want me to bend you over that desk, hitch that damned skirt up and rip the lace knickers I know you’re wearing from your body”

  I suck in a breath, damning myself for wearing lace again.

  “How…how do you know I’m wearing lace?” I shake my head, holding my chin up high.

  “Lucky guess, now lie to me” he leans in further, his face only inches away from mine.

  “Tell me, that when I bend you over that desk and slide my fingers between your slit that I won’t find you wet. That you don’t want my cock buried so deep inside you, pounding into you so hard that you won’t be able to sit down for a week” he narrows his eyes as he speaks, and my chest rises and falls as my mouth falls open involuntarily. I glance quickly at the desk in question and squeeze my legs together as creamy wetness pools there. A perfect eyebrow raises and a tilted smile tugs at Liam’s lips.

  “I…. I don’t want that” my voice is cracked and quiet as I drop my arms away from my chest. I don’t want to give him any more reason to doubt my lying capabilities, and showing weakness is one.

  “Do you want to know how I can tell you’re lying to me?” he cocks his head to the side.

  “Enlig
hten me” I roll my lips together. I don’t want to know, but if I’m as shit as he’s saying then I need pointers to improve – for work obviously.

  Raising his long finger, he barely touches my skin as he trails from my cheek bone. I daren’t move, not wanting to lean into his touch and not wanting to run away from it either.

  “Your cheeks are flushed” he moves from my cheek to my lips, leaving a scorching trail with his fingertip.

  “Your lips are plump and open”

  His finger grazes down my neck to my chest.

  “Your swallowing continuously and you have goose bumps across your skin”

  His finger comes to rest between my breasts, although he’s still barley touching me.

  “Your chest is rising and falling far too quickly, and your nipples are hard” he flicks his finger between the two without granting me the release of actually touching them.

  “And I’m betting if I do check between your legs, I’ll find you wet” he narrows his eyes at me before turning on his heel and walking back to his desk. I glance down, my chest is heaving with my erratic breathing. My knees are barely keeping me upright. This room is too small, I need to leave. I need to be as far away from him as possible. Damn this man for making my body feel things it hasn’t for a long time.

  “How much do you want to bet on that?” I question quietly but confidently as he takes a seat. Liam’s lips thin into a straight line as he runs his pointer finger across them. I urge my feet to move, one in front of the other as I close in on his space. Placing my hands flat on the cool glass desk I meet his baby blues.