Wicked Shadows (Steele Security Book 5)
Page 31
“As you know, this position works directly with me. If chosen, you would be my go-to person—that includes making business decisions when I’m not here, acting on my behalf, and taking responsibility for major interactions. I expect each task to be carried out to my strict instructions and I expect you to make the decisions I would make. That requires you to spend an extraordinary amount of time with me, learning my methods, vision, and long-term goals for the company. I have to be able to trust you implicitly. Do you foresee any problems with any of that?” I ask, holding her gaze with a burning intensity in my eyes and giving no room for her to break our eye contact.
“No, I have no problem with any part of those duties. I want to do the best I can possibly do for the company, for you and for myself. I would be honored to spend time with you, learning from you and perfecting my skills. I know there’s a great deal I can learn under your guidance,” she finishes and I’m glad my desk hides the lower half of my body from her view.
“If chosen, when can you start?”
“After a two-week notice. I wouldn’t leave without giving them time to replace me, even if that’s only on an interim basis.”
I regard her for a moment, watching her as she waits for me to reply to her last statement. The truth is, I can’t control my racing thoughts about late nights, early mornings, and out of town trips with the splendid beauty sitting across from me. None of my thoughts are what anyone would consider wholesome and I can’t help but feel that I will ultimately lead her into temptation. I see myself as the serpent and I’m tempting her with the fruit of knowledge—knowledge of a life of which she has no clue. This life could very well be her unraveling, destroying her delicate nature and shattering her innocence.
The intense pull is too much for me to resist, even with my great arsenal of self-control techniques. The devil on my shoulder whispers to me, telling me to teach her everything she wants to learn. He says to let her be the guide and reassures me that Sophia will tell me when it gets too intense for her. He lies to me frequently and I can usually ignore him, but I have to admit to myself that this time I don’t want to ignore him. I want to take him at his word and bring her neck deep into my world.
Giving her my best smile, the one that always works on the ladies, I watch the pink creep up her face again. I know she likes what she sees and it spurs me on in my plans for her. “I’m glad to hear that, Sophia. You’re hired. Report here in two weeks at nine o’clock on Monday morning. Dana will get you set up with all the paperwork and then we will begin your training,” I explain and finish my sentence in my head, in more ways than one.
Sophia stands, grasps my hand in hers, and says, “Thank you so much, Mr. Powers. I am very much looking forward to working with you and learning everything you want to teach me.”
Score one point for Mr. Powers.
Also by A. D. Justice
Steele Security Series
Wicked Games (Book 1)
Wicked Ties (Book 2)
Wicked Nights (Book 3)
Wicked Intentions (Book 4)
Wicked Shadows (Book 5)
The Crazy Series
Crazy Maybe (Book 1)
Crazy Baby (Book 2)
Crazy Love (Book 3, Short Story)
Crazy Over You (Book 4, Date TBD)
Drive Me Crazy (Book 5, Date TBD)
Dominic Powers Series
Her Dom (Book 1)
Her Dom’s Lesson (Book 2)
Immortal Obsession Series
Immortal Envy (Book 1)
Immortal Love (Book 2, TBD)
Immortal Desire (Book 3, TBD)
Stand-alone
Intent
Just One Summer (Novella)
Completely Captivated (Stand-alone, Date TBD)